Ricki Cardenas is the author of two humorous women’s fiction novels, Mr. Right-Swipe and Switch and Bait (Grand Central, 2017 and 2018)—both published under the name Ricki Schultz.
Ricki earned a B.A. in English and an M.Ed. in Secondary Education from John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio.
In addition to writing and freelance editing, she has molded the minds of tweens & teens as a middle school and high school teacher in both the CLE and the ATL—and she also spent a year teaching writing and communications at the college level.
She currently lives in Ohio with her husband and two crazy hound dogs.
Among other publications, she has contributed to Writer’s Digest Books, both interviewing literary agents for the Guide to Literary Agents blog as well as writing various articles for both Guide to Literary Agents and Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market (F+W Media). She has spoken at and critiqued new writers’ work at several conferences and workshops, she’s a former board member of Broadleaf Writers Association, and she was the coordinator of the now-defunct online writing community, the Write-Brained Network.
Her writing is represented by Barbara Poelle of Irene Goodman Literary Agency.
Photography by Paige Molina.
Barbara and Ricki at Renee Ahdieh’s launch of The Wrath and the Dawn.
Ricki Cardenas 
I have finished a manuscript that could be sold as fiction, but in truth it is a memoir of a teen aged girl.
The story begins when she first falls in love at the age of 13 and tracks her on again off again romance until she finally marries the man who was the boy she fell in love with 30 years before. I am the main character.
I have gotten so many rejections for this story as fiction, so I thought perhaps I’d start submitting it as a memoir. Any suggestions?
Trina,
Thanks for the question!
I am going to answer it in my next blog post (which will be this week), because I think it brings up a lot of points writers need to know.
However, if you want to chat beyond my answer in the blog post, I’d be *more than happy* to do so. Just e-mail me at ricki@rickischultz.com
Thanks again!
Ricki
Hi Ricki,
I’ve been looking at the “Guide to Literary Agents,” and my question is does my novel need to be complete when submitting a query to an agent? If not, how close does it need to be to completion?
Thank you,
Elizabeth Leigh
I enjoy “in the Blogosphere” and keeping up with your accomplishments. Reading the notes and checking the links is my usual activity during my brief lunch period.
I learned from Bobbie Christmas as well regarding routine. I carry my manuscript with me to all work assignments and write whenever I have a few spare minutes. Oddly enough, I get more accomplished than when I sit at my desk at home with hours of free time.
Please keep the comments and links coming.
John
Hi John!
Glad my posts are of use to you – that is always GREAT to hear!
I haven’t stuck to a schedule much lately as do the final revisions on my manuscript, but sleeping is overrated, right?
Great to hear from ya, and I hope all is well!
Ricki
Mrs. Scultz,
I recently moved to Staunton and am interested in your writing critique group at the Harrisonburg Barnes and Noble. I currently focus on poetry but might do fiction and/or memoirs in the near future. What does the critique group entail? How does one join?
Thank you,
Kat
Hi, Kat –
Thanks for the comment, and welcome to the area!
Shenandoah Writers meets the first Tuesday of every month at 7pm at the Barnes & Noble at Harrisonburg Crossing. Right now, we are reading a writing book as a group and doing one exercise from each chapter per month. To join, all you have to do is show up in the coffee shop and introduce yourself. No problemo.
As well, I am going to send you an invitation to the online chapter of the group (it’s hosted by Ning), so perhaps you can poke around there and learn more about us. That way, if you’d like to pick up the book we’re reading and do the assignment along with us, you could do so (although I’ve listed the assignment in a previous blog post as well). However, if you’d just like to come and meet us Jan. 5, that’s okay too. We’d love for you to stop on by!
Other than that, please check out my blog posts about Shenandoah Writers, as I tried to be pretty detailed about what it is we’re doing. If something doesn’t make sense or you have any further questions, please e-mail me at ricki@rickischultz.com.
Talk soon!
Ricki
I’ve written things to make you laugh.
That has gone on for some time, I understand humor as much as a scientist as writer. I can have as much fun with it as I have with technology.
A good example is “Crimes Against Commerce”. I like to think that what I did was funny but I took some time and effort to be sure.
Most of us think that we’ll produce better products by hearing out folks in the same profession. I agree with that to a degree, but your target is readers — not pros. These are folks who actually pick up your work and love it.
And buy it.
I worked with a friend to narrow down a group of a dozen readers who actually bought and read books like this. I bounced an early version off them.
I did not identify who wrote the book and that was important. They were asked what they liked and did not like about it without feeling bad about being honest.
I got good and bad reviews and that’s understandable for any project. I tended to focus on comments the majority of them made about something and considered that for the next rewrite.
I did it again. I did some editing again.
“Crimes Against Commerce” was not controlled by readers, it just sought some input from the folks who actually enjoy that kind of work. It was pretty much the same book as I first wrote but I think I communicated with the real readers better.
What do you think?
Sounds like you did your homework – think how much better prepared you are when you go write something similar!
I agree that connecting with the readers is the most important thing. And however one can do that is important.
Thanks for the comment!
Ricki
I have followed your blog silently and think it is time to say hello. Thanks for the time you devote to share insights from inside knowledge.
Cheers,
Romuald
Thanks for finally saying hi, Romuald – and thanks for your kind words about the blog.
Glad you’re liking it!
Don’t be a stranger,
Ricki 🙂
Hi,
I read your blog and really liked it. I am a blogger who reviews books, manga anime etc. on my blog Review Carnival (http://www.reviewcarnival.blogspot.com). I would like to exchange links with you. If interested, e-mail me at elementswater13@yahoo.com and I will add your link.
Thanks for the comment! I’ve just sent you an e-mail.
Looking forward to it!
Hey,
Writerly peep here, love your comment about not worrying about spelling correctly!
? for ya, which age group did you like teaching the best?
CB
Not sure — probably ninth grade? Different ages for different reasons! 🙂
So, you’re the one who stole my domain name! 🙂 I have had this book idea in me since I re-arranged the learning pattern in my son’s head around his missing corpus callosum (the mid part of the brain connecting the two hemispheres), and now want to start the process of creating a platform, the ebook, and a marketing plan! I also have a children’s linguistic poetry rhymes on recess book written, but not submitted, but have published a few articles on the matter. You don’t know how many comedic elements are going through my head as I write this. They told me in college I should be a comedian, but, all my stories would be true. I actually know Susan Lucci, through my cousin, who is a true friend of hers. Write back if you want, I have a ton of comedic fodder to share! Otherwise, have a great writing day!
Wow — that’s crazy! I hope the Looch is hanging in there — it will be strange not to see her every day at 1PM anymore!