Tag Archives: Brenda Drake

Happy Thanksgiving!

November 22, 2018Holiday, LiteraryAdventurous, Authoress, Authors, Blog, Brenda Drake, Celebrating, Coworkers, Critique Partners, Daughter, Diana Debolt Johnson, Editors, Faith, Family, Food, Free Books, Friends, Gathering, God, Grandson, Ham, Happy, Happy Thanksgiving, Health, Healthy, Illness, Job, Juliian Boehme, Kathleen S. Allen, Life, Love, Meals, Mentors, Michelle Hauck, Opportunity, Readers, Religious, Remember, Supporting, Thankful, Thanksgiving, Turkey, Writingpdpabst

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 off a mortgage, or even happy because they got that iPhone they’ve always wanted.

As for me, I’d like to thank:

My family and friends who’ve supported me with my writing. I LOVE you guys!
My daughter and grandson for bringing me joy in my life with their adventurous spirit.
My readers. (Because without y’all, I’d have no reason to have a blog!)
All my past and current critique partners (especially Diana DeBolt Johnson, Kathleen S. Allen. and G.Z Schmidt!). This includes anyone who has ever glanced at a few pitches/pages/chapters and offered feedback (the list is long).
Contest hosts for supplying fabulous opportunities with agents and mentoring, and for those who selected me at some point in the past, for one thing or another. (For example: Brenda Drake, Authoress (Jillian Boehme), and Michelle Hauck.)
The mentors that participated in contests. Your feedback was completely awesome!
All slush readers (agents, editors, mentors, etc.) are the bomb. We don’t send enough chocolate, and I apologize!
The creator’s of Preditors & Editors (linky still down), Writer’s Beware , Absolute Write Forums, Publishers Marketplace, QueryTracker and Manuscript Wish List. (I use them often.)
All the authors that allowed me to participate in their book releases or cover reveals!
For all the ARCs I received, because FREE BOOKS before they’re published is AWESOME!
I have a job and I adore working with all my coworkers!
And finally (but not last), to God for giving me the strength to get through each day.

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. Thank you for being a part of my life!

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

XOXO

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

#PitMad is Coming!

June 6, 2018Contests, Literary, Pitch Event#Pitmad, Adult, agent, Author, books, Brenda Drake, Committee, Editors, Event, Fiction, Genre, Guidelines, Hashtags, Kellye Garrett, Literary Agent, Manuscripts, Middle Grade, New Adult, Non-Fiction, Opportuntiy, Picture Books, Pitch, Pitching, Publishers, research, Rules, Stories, Sub-genres, Twitter, Writer, Writing, Young Adultpdpabst

Nothing soothes the writerly soul than a good twitter pitch party! This Thursday, June 7, 2018 is the infamous #PitMad founded by Brenda Drake, now ran by Managing director, Kellye Garrett, 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
#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

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 feed. So, do your research before submitting your manuscript. And as always, good luck!

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

Brenda Drake’s #Pitmad Is Coming!

March 5, 2018Contests, Literary#Pitmad, Adult, Age, agent, Author, books, Brenda Drake, Category, Childrens Books, Diversity, editor, Fiction, Genre, Guidelines, Hashtag, Kidlit, LGBT, Manuscript, Middle Grade, New Adult, Non-Fiction, Opportunity, Picture Books, Pitch, publisher, Publishing, research, Rules, Stories, Twitter, Writer, Writing, Young Adultpdpabst

Nothing soothes the writerly soul than a good twitter pitch party! This Thursday, March 8, 2018 is Brenda Drake’s infamous #PitMad 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
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 feed. So, do your research before submitting your manuscript!
As always, good luck!
P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA Fiction.

Brenda Drake’s #Pitmad Is Almost Here!

December 5, 2017Contests, Literary#amediting, #amwriting, #Pitmad, Adult, Age Category, Agents, Authors, books, Brenda Drake, Category, Characters, Children's, Editors, Fiction, Genre, Guidelines, Hashtags, Manuscripts, Middle Grade, Non-Fiction, Opportunity, Picture Books, Pitch Party, Pitch Wars, Pitching, publisher, Publishing, Rules, Stories, Sub-genres, Tweet, Twitter, Writers, Writing, Young Adultpdpabst

Nothing soothes the writerly soul than a good twitter pitch party! Thursday, December 7, 2017 is Brenda Drake’s infamous #PitMad 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

As always, good luck!

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

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

November 23, 2017Holiday, LiteraryAbsolute Write, Agents, Authoress, Authors, books, Brenda Drake, Brother, Chapters, Children, Contests, Daughter, Diana DeBolt, Family, Father, Feedback, Friends, Grandkids, Grandson, Happy Thanksgiving, Health, Jessa Russo, Jobs, Joy, Life, Living, Love, Mentors, Michelle Hauck, Mother, Pitches, Preditors & Editors, Publishers Marketplace, Query Tracker, Readers, Sister, Stuffing, Thank You, Thankful, Turkey, Writer's Beware, Writerspdpabst

As for me, I’d like to thank:

My family and friends who’ve supported me with my writing. I LOVE you guys!
My daughter and grandson for bringing me joy in my life with their adventurous spirit.
My readers. (Because without y’all, I’d have no reason to have a blog!)
All my past and current critique partners (especially Diana DeBolt Johnson!). This includes anyone who has ever glanced at a few pitches/pages/chapters and offered feedback.
Contest hosts for supplying fabulous opportunities with agents and mentoring, and for those who selected me at some point in the past, for one thing or another. (For example: Brenda Drake, Authoress (Jillian), Michelle Hauck, and Jessa Russo.)
The mentors that participated in contests. Your feedback was completely awesome!
All slush readers (agents, editors, mentors, etc.) are the bomb. We don’t send enough chocolate, and I apologize!
The creator’s of Preditors & Editors (linky still down), Writer’s Beware , Absolute Write Forums, Publishers Marketplace, and QueryTracker. (I use them often.)
All the authors that allowed me to participate in their book releases or cover reveals!
For all the ARCs I received, because FREE BOOKS before they’re published is AWESOME!
I have a job and I adore working with all my coworkers!
And finally (but not last), to God for giving me the strength to get through each day.

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

XOXO

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

#PitMad hosted by @BrendaDrake

September 4, 2017Contests, Literary#Pitmad, Adult, Agents, Authors, books, Brenda Drake, Children's Lit, Editors, Favorite, Fiction, Manuscripts, Middle Grade, Non-Fiction, Opportunity, Picture Books, Pitch Party, Pitches, Publishers, research, September, Stories, Submissions, TweetDeck, Tweets, Twitter, Writers, Writing, Young Adultpdpabst

Get your pitches ready for one of the coolest events hosted Brenda Drake on Thursday, September 7, 2017 on twitter under the hashtag #PitMad. If you are new to the game of writing, this is where you create a 140 character pitch for your FINISHED manuscript and tweet for agents/editors to read. Things to remember:

Pitch submission time is 8am-8pm EDT (New York time)
You must fit the hashtag of #Pitmad within the 140 characters.
Change tweets up. (Twitter will remove identical ones thinking they are spam.)
DON’T FAVORITE TWEETS! This is for agents or editors only. (If you want to support a friend, do it by retweeting.)
If you won’t be available this day, schedule tweets using Tweetdeck
Only tweet three pitches per manuscript for the day! (This helps to keep feed unclogged.)
Don’t tweet agents and editors directly unless they tweet you first, or openly state it’s okay to tweet them direct.
Scammers can’t be controlled on an open pitch party. DO YOUR HOMEWORK before you submit from an agent or editor’s favorite.

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

For additional tips, go to Brenda’s Drakes Pitmad page. As always, good luck!

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

Pitch Wars Submissions Are Open!

August 2, 2017Contests, Literary2017, Adult, Agents, Authors, Brenda Drake, Donate, Feedback, Fiction, Free Pass, Manuscripts, Mentors, Middle Grade, New Adult, Opportunity, Pitch Wars, Publishing, Scavenger Hunt, Stories, Storytelling, Submissions, Twitter, Writers, Young Adultpdpabst

This is a quick reminder that Brenda Drake’s Pitch Wars submissions opened yesterday and will close August 6 at 10pm EDT (New York time). Go here for the guidelines and here to submit. There are two other ways to get into the contest, a scavenger hunt (scroll to find the info) to get a free pass into Pitch Wars and if you donate at least $20 you can pick two extra mentors. Woot! Note the participating menotrs are on the post with the scavenger hunt information. Lastly, be sure and stop by twitter to watch the #PitchWars feed because they are giving extra mentor prizes away.

A Query Workshop with Agent Jim McCarthy

July 4, 2017Literary, Webinar/Workshop#amquerying, #amwriting, agent, Authors, Brenda Drake, Dystel Goderich & Bourret Literary Agency, Feedback, Insight, Jim McCarthy, Limitation, Pitch Wars, Pre-Submit, Query, Stories, Subjective, Vice President, Webinars, Website, Workshop, Writers, Writingpdpabst

WEBINARS

Pitch Wars Webinars presents a query workshop with agent Jim McCarthy, Vice President of Dystel, Goderich, & Bourret Literary Agency.

Per Brenda Drake’s website: Jim McCarthy invites you to peek behind the curtain and watch exactly what happens when an agent considers your query. Working from your pre-submitted queries, participants will have the chance to read along with him as he decides whether to stop reading or carry on. You’ll see the exact moment in query letters that he perks up or passes.

Date: Tuesday, July 25
Time: 8:30 pm ET
Cost: $25 to attend the workshop
Note: 30 person limitation

This is an excellent opportunity to know if your query letter is working. But you need to hurry if you’re going to attend. Go here for information on how to enroll. And of course, remember this is a subjective market, so what doesn’t work for Mr. McCarthy, might work for another agent.

Brenda Drake’s #PitMad is Tomorrow!

June 7, 2017Contests, Literary#Pitmad, Adult, Age Category, Agents, Authors, Brenda Drake, Chapter Book, Childrens Books, Editors, Fiction, Genre, Hashtags, Manuscripts, Middle Grade, New Adult, Opportunity, Picture Book, Pitching, Polished, Stories, Subgenre, Three Pitches, Twitter, Unagented, Writers, Young Adultpdpabst

Nothing soothes the writerly soul than a good twitter pitch party! Tomorrow is Brenda Drake’s infamous #PitMad 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:

As always, good luck!

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

Midwest Writers Workshop

May 22, 2017Literary, Writing Conferences & Getaways#MWW, @MidwestWriters, Agents, Andrea Brown Literary Agency, Angie Thomas, Authors, Ball State University, Becky Albertalli, Bradford Literary Agency, Brenda Drake, Brooks Sherman, Critiques, Dee Romito, Eric Smith, Evaluations, Feedback, Harlequin, Harper Collins, Hone Your Craft, Indiana, Jennifer De Chiara Literary, Jennifer Laughran, Jessica Sinsheimer, Jessica Stawser, John Gilstrap, L.A. Pittenger Student Center, Lauren Smulski, Manuscripts, Marketing, Midnight Ink, Midwest Writers Workshop, Monica Odom, Muncie, Networking, Opportunity, P.S. Literary, Pitching, Professionals, Query, Rena Olsen, Roseanne Wells, Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency, Terri Bishoff, Writer's Digest, Writerspdpabst

Often in the universe of writers, there is talk of conferences and workshops. Most of the time they seem to be located in New York or Los Angeles because there are beaucoup agencies in these cities. However, occasionally a few are held in the Midwest.

Midwest Writers Group

One such event is called the Midwest Writers Workshop and will be held July 20-22, 2017 at L.A. Pittenger Student Center in partnership with Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. You can find them on twitter @MidwestWriters or the hashtag #MWW to keep up on news. 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 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. The workshop is packed with sessions on the craft of writing and the business of writing.

Some of participants will be:

AGENTS

Roseanne Wells, The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency
Jessica Sinsheimer, Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency
Monica Odom, Bradford Literary Agency
Brooks Sherman, Janklow & Nesbit Associates
Jennifer Laughran, Andrea Brown Literary Agency
Eric Smith, P.S. Literary

EDITORS:

Terri Bischoff, Acquisitions Editor at Midnight Ink
Lauren Smulski, Assistant Editor at Harlequin/Harper Collins
Jessica Strawser, Editorial Director of Writer’s Digest, the author of Almost Missed You

AUTHORS:

Becky Albertalli – author of the award-winning young adult novel, Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (now in film production from Fox 2000 Pictures) and The Upside of Unrequited
Brenda Drake – NYT Bestseller of young adult novels and creator of #PitchWars Contest
Angie Thomas – author of the New York Times bestseller young adult novel The Hate U Give (film optioned from Fox 2000 Productions)
Dee Romito – author of middle grade novel, The BFF Bucket List, and other novels, also guru for Scrivener writing software.
Rena Olsen – author of thriller novel The Girl Before The Girl Before
John Gilstrap – bestselling author of the Jonathan Grave thriller series; two of the first three in the series were nominated for ITW’s prestigious Thriller Award, and for Private Eye Writers of America’s Shamus Award

To see all the faculty, go here. There are even opportunities for pitching and ma nuscript 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.

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WEBINARS

Pitch Wars Webinars presents a query workshop with agent Jim McCarthy, Vice President of Dystel, Goderich, & Bourret Literary Agency.

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