Monthly Archives: June 2016

THE KNIGHT AGENCY TWITTER PARTY

Literary

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Next month The Knight Agency will be in business for 20 years! (Happy early anniversary to them!) They are starting their celebration early by having their very first twitter pitch party. This is great news for writers near and far.

The party will start tomorrow (June 29, 2016) between the hours 9am-5pm EST. You must use the hashtag #TKA20 and may use one of the additional tags below (but it’s not necessary).

#RS=Romantic Suspense

#WF=Women’s Fiction

#YA=Young Adult

#MG=Middle Grade

#MC=Multicultural

#M=Mystery

#CM=Cozy Mystery

#LGBT=LGBT fiction or nonfiction

#MM=Male/male Romance

#CR=Contemporary Romance

#PNR=Paranormal Romance

#INSP=Inspirational fiction or nonfiction

#NF=Nonfiction

#MEM=Memoir

They have some specifics on the number of times (5) you can pitch and rules about multiple favorites, so be sure to read their complete guidelines before pitching.

As always, good luck!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

Drue Heinz Literature Prize

Contests, Literary, , , , , , , , ,

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The University of Pittsburgh Press announces the 2017 Drue Heinz Literature Prize for a collection of short fiction. The prize carries a cash award of $15,000 and publication by the University of Pittsburgh Press under its standard contract. The winner will be announced in December (2016) or January (2017). No information about the winner will be released before the official announcement. The volume of manuscripts prevents the Press from offering critiques or entering into communication or correspondence about manuscripts. Please do not call or e-mail the Press.

The award is open to writers who have published a novel or a book-length collection of fiction with a reputable book publisher, or a minimum of three short stories or novellas in magazines or journals of national distribution. Digital-only publication and self-publication do not count toward this requirement.

Eligible submissions include an unpublished manuscript of short stories; two or more novellas (a novella may comprise a maximum of 130 double-spaced typed pages); or a combination of one or more novellas and short stories. Novellas are only accepted as part of a larger collection. Manuscripts may be no fewer than 150 and no more than 300 typed pages. Prior publication of your manuscript as a whole in any format (including electronic) makes it ineligible.

Manuscripts must be received during May and June 2016. That is, they must be postmarked on or after May 1 and on or before June 30.  (That’s right, these are mailed submissions.)

As always, good luck!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

Twitter Contest for Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers

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sffpit-contest

It’s that time of year again for science fiction and fantasy writers to polish their pitches for Dan Koboldt’s #SFFpit writing contest on twitter! It starts tomorrow June 23, 2016 between 8am-6pm EST. This contest allows 10 pitches total and Dan asks that you use them wisely! As usual, it needs to be a 140 character pitch for twitter and includes the hashtag #SFFpit. For all the rules, including how to properly insert the age group and category, go here. And remember to research any agents or editors that favorite your tweet because ANY ONE can trawl the feed!

As always, good luck!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

Writer’s Digest Annual Conference 2016 In New York

Literary, Writing Conferences & Getaways, , , , , , , , , , ,

Writers Digest Conference

The Writer’s Digest Conference will be held in New York August 12-14, 2016 at the New York Hilton Midtown. The program is designed to give you a balanced education in both the craft and the business of being a writer—all in an encouraging, inspiring environment. Customize your experience by mixing-and-matching sessions among these core tracks: Craft, Getting Published, The Business of Being an Author, Platform & Promotion and Genre Studies. And this is the cool place where Pitchslam happens!

Agents/Editors in attendance will be:

Marilyn Allen Allen O’Shea Literary 
Kurestin Armada P.S. Literary
Noah Ballard Curtis Brown, Ltd
Danielle Burby HSG Agency
Tara Carberry Trident Media Group
Kirsten Carleton Prospect Agency
Marisa Corvisiero Corvisiero Literary Agency
Kaylee Davis Dee Mura Literary
Stephanie Delman Sanford J. Greenburger Associates, Inc.
Elise Erickson Harold Ober Associates
Diana Finch Diana Finch Literary Agency
Heather Flaherty The Bent Agency
Caitie Flum Liza Dawson Associates
Roz Foster Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency
Connor Goldsmith Fuse Literary
Mark Gottlieb Trident Media Group
Shannon Hassan Marsal Lyon Literary Agency
Mike Hoogland Dystel & Goderich Literary Management
Andy Kifer The Gernert Co.
Peter Knapp New Leaf Literary
Caitlin McDonald Donald Maass Literary Agency
Kate McKean Howard Morhaim Literary
Penny Moore (FinePrint Literary-website encountering errors but they’re legit)
Dee Mura Dee Mura Literary
Kimiko Nakamura Dee Mura Literary
Beth Phelan The Bent Agency
Tanusri Prasanna HSG Agency
Rita Rosenkranz Rita Rosenkranz Literary Agency
Eric Ruben Eric Ruben
Katharine Sands Sarah Jane Freymann Literary
Lydia Shamah Carol Mann Agency
Alec Shane Writers House
Katie Shea Boutilier Donald Maass Literary Agency
Anjali Singh Pande Literary
Marlene Stringer Stringer Literary
Jaida Temperly New Leaf Literary
Stacy Testa Writers House
John Willig Literary Services
Christine Witthohn Book Cents Literary
Seats are limited so be sure and book right away. As always, good luck!
P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry National Writing Contest

Contests, Literary, , , , , , , , ,

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In partnership with We Need Diverse Books Penguin Young Readers celebrates 40 years of  Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor by launching a debut children’s fiction contest to find talented, ethnically diverse authors writing for readers ages 8-14.

The deadline to enter is June 21, 2016 at 11:59pm. Open to people of color (or those who self-identify as other than white) who are residents of the fifty United States, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories and possessions, aged 18 and older.

Submit your manuscript (25,000-75,000 words) for a book about diversity for ages 8-14 and you could receive a publishing contract from Penguin Random House LLC with an advance of $35,000, plus royalties!

#PBPitch Twitter Contest is Tomorrow!

Contests, Literary, , , , , , ,

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It’s not often picture books get included in twitter contest’s where agents participate to sign a new client, but this one is all about them! If you write or illustrate picture books, mark this event on your calendar. Writers may pitch only twice during the event for each manuscript: once in the morning and once in the evening. This keeps the feed from getting congested. Plus, agents won’t exhaust from reading repeat pitches and ditch the party!

To be clear, the contest starts on June 16, 2016 from 8am-8pm EST. Be sure to include the hashtag #PBPitch in your 140 characters. If your an illustrator/writer be sure and attach one illustration to your COMPLETED manuscript. For all information regarding PBPitch, FAQs, and even a fantastic list of agents who represent picture books, go to the PBPitch website.

As always, good luck!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

Colorado Writing Workshop

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The Colorado Writing Workshop is a special one-day “How to Get Published” writing workshop on Saturday, July 30, 2016, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Denver-Thornton. In other words, it’s one day full of classes and advice designed to give you the best instruction concerning how to get your writing & books published. They’ll discuss your publishing opportunities today, how to write queries & pitches, how to market yourself and your books, what makes an agent/editor stop reading your manuscript, and more. No matter what you’re writing — fiction or nonfiction — the day’s classes will help point you in the right direction. And of course, their are pitch and critique opportunities!

Here are some of the agents participating:

  • literary agent Carlie Webber (CK Webber Associates)
  • literary agent Dawn Frederick (Red Sofa Literary)
  • literary agent Alex Barba (Inklings Literary)
  • literary agent Lisa Abellera (Kimberley Cameron Literary)
  • literary scout Angie Hodapp (Nelson Literary)
  • literary agent Greg Johnson (Wordserve Literary)
  • literary agent Becky LeJeune (Bond Literary)
  • literary agent Samantha Fountain (Corvisiero Literary)
  • literary agent Laura Zats (Red Sofa Literary)
  • and possibly more to come.

As always, good luck!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

Writing From Color & Native Voices Contest

Contests, Literary, , , , , , , ,

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According to the website, there are many paths to publication and one that has risen in popularity is online contests. (Isn’t that the truth!) The W.C.N.V. is such a contest, but also an attempt to directly combat inequality in the industry, by focusing not only on Native characters and characters of color, but authors as well. This contest will feature queries and the first 300 words of COMPLETED, POLISHED manuscripts written by native authors and authors of color. The entry window will be open from 12:00 am (midnight) Eastern June 12, 2016 until 11:59 pm Eastern that same day.

Ge here for submission guidelines and agent/editors (56 so far) participating go here.

As always, good luck!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.

Avalon Writer’s Retreat hosted by Kathleen Temean

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Avalon, NJ

It’s summertime! Who’s up for a writer’s retreat on the beach in Avalon, New Jersey? Kathleen Temean is hosting this fantastic event where writer’s can stay in a house she’s rented on the beach to work on their manuscripts. Even more perfect is that literary agents will be attending to give full  and partial manuscript feedback! She has two sessions arranged:

First Session (Sept. 25-Sept28) has these participating agents:

Agent Kurestin Armada from PS Literary. She is actively acquiring Upmarket and Commercial Fiction, Magic Realism, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Alternative History, Historical Fiction, LGBTQ (any genre), select Young Adult and Middle Grade, Graphic Novels, Mystery (including mystery with elements of SF/F), and Romance.

Second Agent – waiting for confirmation – Building list for Picture books, MG and YA.

Second Session (Sept. 29-Oct. 2) has these participating agents:

Agent Scott Treimel from the Scott Treimel Agency and Jaida Temperly from New Leaf Literary.

Mkay, so this session is already full. But Kathleen will allow you to get on a waiting list if someone has to cancel their spot. What? A waiting list for the agency that represents Veronica Roth’s Divergent Series. Who wouldn’t put their name on the list!

As always, good luck and have a great retreat!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA Fiction

 

 

Midwest Writers Workshop

Literary, Writing Conferences & Getaways, , , , , , , , , , ,

Midwest Writers Group

This workshop will be held July 21-23, 2016 at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. MWW states the mission is to give all writers the opportunity to improve their craft, to associate with highly credentialed professionals, and to network with other writers.

They have more than 45 different instructional sessions with top quality faculty during their three-day program on everything from fiction to nonfiction, marketing, and ways to get your creative juices flowing. Thursday focuses on genre-specific intensive sessions. Friday and Saturday are packed with sessions on the craft of writing and the business of writing.

Some of the faculty includes agents:

Rachel Ekstrom – Irene Goodman Literary Agency
Molly Jaffa – Folio Literary Management
Lauren MacLeod – The Strothman Agency
Jim McCarthy – Vice President, Dystel & Goderich Literary Management
Uwe Stender – TriadaUS Literary Agency
Brent Taylor – TriadaUS Literary Agency

And editors:

April Osborn – Associate Editor at St. Martin’s Press
Liz Pelletier – Chief Executive Officer and Publisher of Entangled

There are even opportunities for pitching and manuscript evaluations, along with query critiques. Think about it, three days socializing with writerly people! What’s not to love!

As always, good luck and happy learning!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.