Tag Archives: Agents

Manuscript Wish List

Literary, , , , , , , , , , , ,

MSWL Logo

Today I learned someone didn’t know Manuscript Wish List existed. I’ve blogged about it before but decided to readdress since agents updated their requests June 30th, as well as tweeting their wants on the twitter hashtag #MSWL. For those who don’t already know, Manuscript Wish List was created by agent Jessica Sinsheimer for agents (and some editors) to let writer’s know what they’d like to see in their inbox. Yes, it’s that simple! So, before you decide to query that shiny new manuscript, check out the website to see if any agents would be a perfect fit. Even more exciting, they’ve created a sign-up for upcoming newsletters!

We all should thank Jessica promptly! Just sayin’.

As always, good luck!

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

Twitter Contest for Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers

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

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.

#PBPitch Twitter Contest is Tomorrow!

Contests, Literary, , , , , , ,

PBPitch Logo

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

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

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, , , , , , , ,

logo-WCNV

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.

PitMad Is Approaching

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

images (1)

This is a reminder to polish your pitches for Brenda Drake’s #PitMad coming on June 9, 2016 form 8am-8pm (EDT). This is a twitter pitch contest requiring 140 characters (which includes your genre and age category). Only submit polished, finished, and unpublished manuscripts! Rules state to only pitch three times per manuscript for the entire day.  Please don’t break these rules so it will remain easier for agents/editors to surf the feed for favorites. If they see a bunch of repeats, they’ll be more likely to stop looking!

Remember to NOT favorite (heart) a pitch you like unless you are an agent or an editor. While authors are flattered to know you love their pitch (because it’s freaking hard to put a synopsis in 140 characters), they wind up shedding a tear when they realize it wasn’t an agent/editor. Okay, maybe not literally, but they do have a mini-heart attack. (Seriously!)

Although there will be many legitimate professionals searching #PitMad for an awesome story to snag, be aware anyone can trawl the feed. If you get favorited, be sure to check out credentials before submitting.

And finally, not going to be home during the contest? Use TweetDeck to schedule your tweety pitches! As always, good luck!

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

QUERY KOMBAT IS TOMORROW!

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

Query Kombat Logo

Reminding everyone that Query Kombat submissions open tomorrow May 16 (9am) and remain open through May 20, 2016 (closing at noon).  Michelle Hauck is the creator of the contest with Laura Heffeman and Michael Anthony  hosting. You can find the instructions to submit here. They have 21 agents (although Michael’s blog says 29) participating this year, so get those queries and first 250 words polished. And remember, this is for completed and unpublished works.

As always, good luck!

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

The 2016 Cleveland Writing Workshop

Literary, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Houston Writing Workshop

The 2016 Cleveland Writing Workshop will be held on June 4th, 2016 in Cleveland Ohio. According to the website this writing event is a wonderful opportunity to get intense instruction over the course of one day, pitch a literary agent (optional), get your questions answered, and more. Note that there are limited seats at the event (125 total). Some of the agents participating are:

  • Kimiko Nakamura with Dee Mura Literary
  • Mallory Brown with TriadaUS
  • Vicki Selvaggio with Jennifer De Chiara Literary
  • Moe Ferrara with BookEnds Literary
  • Kaylee Davis with Dee Mura Literary
  • Fred Tribuzzo with The Rudy Agency

Be sure to register early since seats are limited, especially if you want to pitch and agent in person.

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

FicFest Writing Contest

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

FicFest

Today the guidelines and theme should be revealed for the FicFest contest on Tiffany Hoffman’s blog. This is another contest where the winners will get help revising their manuscripts for 8 weeks before the agent round.

Update: Go here for guidelines and theme!

Here is a schedule for the event:

March 27, 2016 @ 7:00 PM EST
Meet the Team Leads & Their Members!

April 3, 2016 @ 6:00 PM EST
Agent List Announced

April 17, 2016 @ 7:00 PM EST – 10:00 PM EST
Q & A with Team Leads & Host
(Twitter – Using #FicFest)

April 24, 2016 @ 12:00 AM EST – April 25, 2016 @ 11:59 PM EST
SUBMISSION

April 26, 2016 – May 3, 2016
Teams will chose their finalists/alternate

May 4, 2016 @ 10:00 AM EST
Finalists/Alternate Reveal

May 5, 2016 – June 30, 2016
Revisions

July 8, 2016 @ 12:00 AM EST – July 14, 2014 @ 11:59 PM EST
Agent Round

As always, good luck!

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