Monthly Archives: November 2020

#PitMad Is Coming!

November 30, 2020Literary#OwnVoices, #Pitmad, Adult, Age Category, Agents, コンテスト, ประกวด, Brenda Drake, Committee, Concorso, Concours, Concurs, Concurso, Contemporary, Cuộc thi, Disabilities, Diversity, Конкурс, Editors, Event, 경연 대회, Fantasy, Fiction, Genre, Guidelines, Gystadleuaeth, Hashtag, Horror, Διαγωνισμό, kampf, Keppni, Kilpailu, Konkurrence, Konkurs, Kontes, LGBTQIA, Managing Director, Manuscripts, Middle Grade, Mystery, Natjecanje, New Adult, Non-Fiction, Opportunity, paligsahan, Paranormal Romance, Person of Color, Picture Book, Pitch, Pitching, POC, research, Romance, Rules, Science Fiction, Sonia Hartl, Soutěž, Speculative, Submissions, Submitting, Tävling, Twitter, مسابقه, Verseny, Wedstrijd, Wedstryd, Yarışması, 比賽, 比赛, المسابقهpdpabst

Nothing soothes the writerly soul than a good twitter pitch party! This Thursday on September 3, 2020 is the infamous #PitMad founded by Brenda Drake, ran now by Managing Director Sonia Hartl, and a full committee (yeah, it’s grown that much!). This event will run between the hours of 8am-8pm (EDT). Common age category and genre hashtags are below.

Age Categories:
#PB = Picture Book
#C = Children’s
#CB = Chapter Book
#CL = Children’s Lit
#MG = Middle Grade
#YA = Young Adult
#NA = New Adult
#A = Adult

Genres/Sub-genres:
#AA = African American
#AD = Adventure
#CF = Christian Fiction
#CON = Contemporary
#CR = Contemporary Romance
#DIS = Disabilities
#DV = Diversity
#E = Erotica
#ER = Erotic Romance
#ES = Erotica Suspense
#F = Fantasy
#H = Horror
#HA = Humor
#HF = Historical Fiction
#HR = Historical Romance
#INSP = Inspirational
#IRMC = Interracial/Multicultural
#MR = Magical Realism
#M = Mystery
#Mem = Memoir
#LF = Literary Fiction
#NF = Non-fiction
#R = Romance
#P = Paranormal
#PR = Paranormal Romance
#RS = Romantic Suspense
#S = Suspense
#SF = SciFi
#SPF = Speculative Fiction
#T = Thriller
#UF = Urban Fantasy
#W = Westerns
#WF = Woman’s Fiction

Additional hashtags (optional):

#BVM = Black Voices Matter (to be used by black creators)
#POC = Author is a Person of Color
#OWN = Own Voices
#IMM = Immigrant
#LGBT = LGBTQIA+ subject matter
#IRMC = Interracial/Multicultural subject matter
#MH = Mental Health subject matter
#DIS = Disability subject matter
#ND = Neurodiverse subject matter

The rules clearly state to only pitch THREE times per manuscript during the contest. Don’t break the rules and clog the feed! Also, please remember anyone can stalk the pitches. So, do your research before submitting your manuscript. And as always, good luck!

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

Happy Thanksgiving

November 26, 2020LiteraryAbsolute Write, Agents, Authoress, Brenda Drake, Contest Hosts, Family, Food, Friends, Health, Holiday, Jessa Russo, Preditors & Editors, Publishers, Readers, Slush Readers, Thankful, Thanksgiving, Writer's Beware, Writerspdpabst

Thanksgiving is a designated time to remember what we are thankful for in life. For many, it’s having our health to spend time with family and friends while gorging on amazing meals until our stomach feels like it will explode. But there are others who might be joyful they survived a fatal illness to be here celebrating with people they love. Or maybe, there are those thrilled to still have a job, maybe paid a mortgage off, or even happy because they got that iPhone they’ve always wanted.

All of this still holds true amongst this horrible pandemic. We all want to get back to the way life was before this virus, but it sometimes feels like a fantasy with cases starting to soar this season. So, for those that are still having family gatherings, small or large, I pray you stay safe. Wear a mask when required, keep your distance, and taken cautioun before kissing on loved one. (I vote for elbow bumps to be the new kiss!)

As for me, I’d like to thank:

My family and friends who’ve supported me with my writing.
My readers. (Because without y’all, I’d have no reason to have a blog!)
All my critique partners, beta readers, and anyone who has ever glanced at a few pitches/pages/chapters and offered feedback (The list is SUPER long and I LOVE you guys!).
Contest hosts for supplying fabulous opportunities with agents and mentoring, and for selecting me at some point in the past for one thing or another. (For example: Brenda Drake, Authoress, Micelle Hauck, and Jessa Russo.)
Slush readers. (I know your eyes cross and we don’t send enough chocolate!)
The creator’s of Preditors & Editors, Writer’s Beware and Absolute Write Forums. (Trust me when I say they’ll save you from agent and publishing scams.)
And finally (but not last), to God for giving me the strength to get through each day, especially for 2020! (For numerous reasons, but especially my health.)

I’m sure there are many things and other people I may have forgotten, and ask forgiveness if I have. Everyone in my physical and virtual life are very important to me. Y’all give me strength to become the best me. And yes, you complete me! (Go ahead, grab a tissue.)

Whatever your reason for being thankful today, I wish you the Happiest of Thanksgivings!

XOXO

P.D. Pabst
Writer and blogger of MG/YA Fiction

Bath Children’s Novel Award

November 12, 2020Literaryagent, Authors, コンテスト, ประกวด, Bath Novel Awards, Book, Book Deal, Carnegie Medal, Concorso, Concours, Concurs, Concurso, Cornerstone Literary Consultancy, Cuộc thi, Конкурс, Editors, 경연 대회, Feedback, Guidelines, Gystadleuaeth, Hilary Delamere, Independently, Διαγωνισμό, Jane Brittan, Judges, Junior Judges, kampf, Keppni, Kilpailu, Konkurrence, Konkurs, Kontes, Literary Agent, Longlisted, Lucy Van Smit, Macmillan Children's, Manuscripts, Monetary Prize, Natjecanje, Novel, Opportunity, paligsahan, Penguin Random House, Publishing, Rules, Six Figure Deal, Sophie Cameron, Soutěž, Sturan Murray, Submission, Tävling, The Agency, UK, Unpublished, مسابقه, Verseny, Wedstrijd, Wedstryd, Winners, Writers, Yarışması, 比賽, 比赛, المسابقهpdpabst

The Bath Children’s Novel Award is an international writing competition for unpublished and independently published novelists. This years judge is literary agent Stephanie Thwaites of Curtis Brown LTD of UK. The winner will receive £3000 (approximately $3878.40 US). And the most promising longlisted novel, will receive a free place on the Cornerstones Literary Consultancy online 18 week course Edit Your Novel the Professional Way , valued at £1,800 (approximately $2365 US).

Some of the past participants and winners have gone on to getting agents and/or publishing deals. Inaugural winner Lucy Van Smit was swiftly signed by literary agent Sallyanne Sweeney. Jane Brittan attracted a Carnegie Medal nomination for her indie-published debut. Shortlistee Sophie Cameron signed a book deal with Macmillan Children’s after accepting representation with literary agent Hellie Ogden for her YA novel Out of the Blue. Struan Murray signed a six figure deal with Penguin Random House for his novel Orphans of the Tide.

Entry for the award ends November 29, 2020 (and remember, this is UK time zone)! For complete guidelines and entry fee information, go here. As always, good luck!

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

#FaithPitch is Coming!

November 10, 2020Literary#FaithPitch, Adult, Authors, コンテスト, ประกวด, Biblical Worldview, Board Books, books, Christian, Concorso, Concours, Concurs, Concurso, Cuộc thi, Different Denominations, Конкурс, Editors, Encouragement, 경연 대회, Faith Based, Fiction, Gystadleuaeth, Inspirational, Διαγωνισμό, kampf, Keppni, Kilpailu, Konkurrence, Konkurs, Kontes, Little Lamb Books, Manuscripts, Middle Grade, Natjecanje, Opportunity, paligsahan, Picture Books, Pitch Party, Pitching, Publishing, research, Soutěž, Stories, Tävling, Twitter, مسابقه, Verseny, Wedstrijd, Wedstryd, Writers, Yarışması, Young Adult, 比賽, 比赛, المسابقهpdpabst

Faith Pitch is a Twitter pitch event exclusively for faith-based fiction is being hosted by Little Lamb Books on November 12, 2020 between 8am – 8pm CST. This is for board books, picture books, middle grade, young adult, and adult fiction that fall under the categories of inspirational, faith-based, biblical worldview, or Christian. Different denominations, ethnicities, a POV in this niche are encouraged. Be sure to use the hashtag #FaithPitch and only pitch 4 times per manuscript during the pitch window. (Maximum of 4 manuscripts are permitted.)

As with all pitch events, any agent or editor can troll the feed. Be sure to do you research before sending off your book baby! For complete guidelines, go here. And as always, good luck!

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

Philadelphia Writing Workshop

November 1, 2020Literary, Webinar/WorkshopAdult, Advice, Agents, Annie Bomke Literary, Authors, Belcastro Agency, Bond Literary, books, CYCLE Literary, D4EO Literary, Donald Maass Literary, Dystel Goderich & Bourret, Editors, Ethan Ellenberg Literary, Feedback, Fiction, Frances Collin Literary, Howland Literary, Inspiration, Instruction, Jean V Naggar Literary Agency, Jennifer De Chiara Literary, Kimberley Cameron & Associates, L. Perkins Agency, LCS Literary Services, Learning, Literary Agents, Middle Grade, Non-Fiction, Opportunity, P.S. Literary, Paul Levine Literary, Philadelphia, Pitch, Pitching, Prospect Agency, Publishers, Publishing, Raven Quill Literary, Rees Literary, Register, Speilburg Literary, Stories, Stringer Literary, The Knight Agency, The Rights Factory, The Seymour Agency, Trident Media, Trident Media Group, Veritas Literary, Wordwise Media Services, Work Shop, Writers, Writing, Young Adultpdpabst

Per the Philadelphia Writing Workshop website, this online writing event (November 14-15, 2020) is a wonderful opportunity to get intense instruction, pitch a literary agent or editor (optional), get your questions answered, and more. Although online, please note that there are limited spots available (200 total). They will inform everyone directly on the website when seats are closed.

Here are a few of this years faculty that will be in attendance:

Literary agent Sarah Yake (Frances Collin Literary)
Literary agent Jackie Williams (The Knight Agency)
Literary agent Patrick Munnelly (Bond Literary)
Literary agent Carly Kaserza (Bond Literary)
Literary agent Eric Smith (P.S. Literary)
Literary agent Paul Levine (Paul Levine Literary)
Literary agent Kelly Dyksterhouse (Raven Quill Literary)
Literary agent Kortney Price (Raven Quill Literary)
Literary agent Shari Maurer (Stringer Literary)
Literary agent Megan Barnard (Jennifer De Chiara Literary)
Literary assistant Rae Loverde (Donald Maass Literary)
Literary agent Emma Sector (Prospect Agency)
Literary agent Lynnette Novak (The Seymour Agency)
Literary agent Lori Perkins (L. Perkins Agency)
Literary agent Amy Giuffrida (Jennifer De Chiara Literary)
Literary agent Michael L. Joy (The Seymour Agency)
Literary agent Melissa Jeglinski (The Knight Agency)
Literary agent Carrie Howland (Howland Literary)
Literary agent Charlotte Wenger (Prospect Agency)
Literary agent Annie Bomke (Annie Bomke Literary)
Literary agent Ella Marie Shupe (Belcastro Agency)
Literary agent Eva Scalzo (Speilburg Literary)
Literary agent Latoya C. Smith (LCS Literary Services)
Literary agent Michael Carr (Veritas Literary)
Literary agent Emmy Nordstrom Higdon (The Rights Factory)
Literary agent Savannah Brooks (Jennifer De Chiara Literary)
Literary agent Jacqueline Lipton (Raven Quill Literary Agency)
Literary agent Bibi Lewis (Ethan Ellenberg Literary)
Literary agent Megan Manzano (D4EO Literary)
Literary agent Cortney Radocaj (Belcastro Agency)
Literary agent Alyssa Roat (CYLE Literary Elite)
Literary agent Mary C. Moore (Kimberley Cameron & Associates)
Literary agent Alicia Brooks (Jean V Naggar Literary)
Literary agent Leah Pierre (Ladderbird Literary)
Literary agent Amy Bishop (Dystel, Goderich & Bourret)
Literary agent Alyssa Eisner Henkin (Trident Media)
Literary agent Kelly Peterson (Rees Literary)
Literary agent Michelle Lazurek (Wordwise Media Services)
and more to come.

Since the seats are limited, don’t delay in registering.

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

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