Tag Archives: Authors

Chicago Writing Workshop

Chicago Writing Workshop

Per the Chicago Writing Workshop website, this writing event (June 27, 2020) is a wonderful opportunity to get intense instruction over the course of one day, pitch a literary agent or editor (optional), get your questions answered, and more. Note that there are limited seats at the event (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:

 

Since the seats are limited, don’t delay in registering. Have fun and learn lots!

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

Picture Book Party

Holy-moly! It’s another picture book contest. Things are looking up for the PB writers and illustrators, indeed. On March 9, 2020 Michelle Hauck, along with Mindy Alyse Weiss, will host a Picture Book Party. Submissions will open at 3:30pm EST and will remain open for two hours. You need to have a completed and polished PB manuscript and illustrations are encouraged to be submitted (if you’re an illustrator).

Past Participating Agents and Editors

Be sure to checkout the complete guidelines on the website. You can also follow helpful hints for all writers on the twitter hashtag #PBParty.

As always, good luck.

P.D. Pabst

Pass or Pages Contest

PASSORPAGES

Operation Awesome is hosting a Pass or Pages this month. For this round, the category is  for Adult Suspense/Thiller genre. Submissions open between March 9 (6am EST) to  March 13 (6pm EST), 2020. This is an opportunity to get feedback from an agent on your query and first 250 words of your manuscript. Peeps, this is priceless! And as a possible bonus, the agent reserves the right to request your FULL.

The participating agents:

There will be a form for submissions on Operation Awesome when the entry window opens. For complete rules and previous feedback reveals, go here. As always, good luck!

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

#PitMad is March 5, 2020

Nothing soothes the writerly soul than a good twitter pitch party! This Thursday, March 5, 2020 is the infamous #PitMad founded by Brenda Drake, now ran by 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
#LGBT
#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

Nothing soothes the writerly soul than a good twitter pitch party! This Thursday, March 5, 2020 is the infamous #PitMad founded by Brenda Drake, now ran by 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.

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

 

Virginia Festival of the Book

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The Virginia Festival of the Book brings readers and writers together for a five-day celebration of books, reading, literacy, and literary culture. The Annual Festival will be held March 18-22, 2020. Programs range from traditional author readings and book signings to children’s programs and hands-on workshops. All programs are open to the public and, with the exception of a few ticketed events, the majority of Festival programs are free to attend.

An abbreviated list of past participants includes Rick Atkinson, Edward Ayers, David Baldacci, Maureen Corrigan, Edwidge Danticat, Kate DiCamillo, Rita Dove, Alan Furst, John Grisham, Jan Karon, Jim Lehrer, Frances Mayes, Colum McCann, David McCullough, Alice McDermott, Katherine Paterson, Jon Scieszka, Lisa Scottoline, Pete Seeger, Karin Slaughter, Alexander McCall Smith, Lee Smith, Bryan Stevenson, Elizabeth Strout, Judith Viorst, and Charles Wright. For a current listing, go here.

As always, have fun and learn lots!

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

The Restless Books Prize for New Immigrant Writing

Restless Books

The Restless Books Prize for New Immigrant Writing searches for stories written by a first-generation immigrant. The publisher alternates years between fiction and non-fiction. This year they are searching to publish a tale of fiction. A few of the guidelines are:

  • Completed fiction manuscript, or book-length collection of short stories.
  • Candidates must be first-generation residents of their country.
  • All submissions must be in English.
  • Fiction candidates must not have previously published a book of fiction in English.
  • Only one submission per candidate per submission period.

The Prize:

  • $10,000 advance and publication by Restless Books in print and digital editions.

For complete guidelines and information on how to enter, go here. But hurry, the deadline is March 31, 2020. And as always, good luck!

P.D. Pabst

Writer and blogger MG/YA fiction.

Southern Kentucky Book Fest

SOKYBookFest_logo-300x164

The Southern Kentucky Book Fest will be held March 21, 2020. Southern Kentucky Book Fest is one of the state’s largest literary events and is presented by Barnes and Noble Booksellers, Warren County Public Library, and WKU Libraries.

The Kentucky Writers Conference and Teen Writers Conference will occur on March 20, 2020. Information on registration and schedule of events will post sometime this month. Keep a watch for the important information as I’m sure they’ll fill up fast.

Have a great day writing.

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

Alabama Writing Workshop

The Alabama Writing Workshop is a wonderful opportunity to get intense instruction over the course of one day, pitch a literary agent or editor (optional), get your questions answered, and more. Note that there are limited seats at the event, so don’t delay. Here are current faculty:

The event will take place March 6, 2020 from 9:30am-5pm at Embassy Suites by Hilton Birmingham, 2300 Woodcrest Pl, Birmingham, AL 35209. (205)879-7400.

Learn lots and have fun!

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

Pacific Northwest Writers Association Literary Contest

pnwa

The deadline for Pacific Northwest Writers Association Literary Contest is approaching. All unpublished entries must be received by March 1, 2020 (online entries) or March 27, 2020 (paper entries by 6pm). This is also a chance to get feedback on your work. There are twelve categories:

  1. Mainstream
  2. Historical
  3. Romance/Women’s fiction
  4. Mystery/Thriller
  5. Sci-fi/Fantasy/Paranormal
  6. Young adult
  7. Middle grade
  8. Nonfiction/Memoir
  9. Short story
  10. Children’s picture/Chapter book
  11. Adult short topics (articles/essays/memoir)
  12. Screenwriting/TV pilots

There are three monetary prizes:

  • FIRST PLACE: $600
  • SECOND PLACE: $250
  • THIRD PLACE: $150

Eight finalist will receive two critiques on their submissions. The agents and editors participating in the PNWA‘s summer conference will pick winners out of the finalists. Go here for contest details. As always, good luck!

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

#WriteOnCon is Almost Here!

WriteOnCon

The WriteOnCon creators of this marvelous online gathering say this is “A writing conference you don’t even have to wear pants to. (Please wear pants, though.)” And yep, this is my favorite line! The conference isn’t just an opportunity to attend a writing workshop, but it’ll be the cheapest (aside from being free, of course) and closest conference you’ll ever attend. Seriously, you can participate from your home! And while you might have missed the raffles and perks to buy critiques, there is still time to sign up to join. Admission is either $10 (General Admission), $15 (Full Admission), $20 (Extended Admission) or $25 (Time Traveler Admission). You can’t go wrong with any choice!

WriteOnCon is an online conference for kidlit writers and illustrators. Connect with writers, authors, and agents in this event. There will even be SUPERHEREOS (agents and authors) sneaking around the forum to give you feedback on your queries and manuscripts. This year’s heroes are:

SuperAgents:

SuperAuthors and Editors:

Check their disguises out here. There will also be live pitch sessions! Check the schedule for all 3 days and who the speakers will be. But hurry to get registered because it’ll take place Friday-Sunday, February 21-23, 2020.

As always, good luck!

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