Tag Archives: Inspiration

Philadelphia Writing Workshop

Chicago Writing Workshop

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:

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

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

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Boston Online Writing Workshop

Chicago Writing Workshop

Per the Boston Writing Workshop website, this writing event (October 3, 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 (200) at the event, even with it online.

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.

Pitch Wars Query and First Page Workshop

PitchWars Logo

Pitch Wars is offering a critique workshop for your query and first page. That’s right, both will get critiqued this year! They have mentors lined up, and ready to give you feedback. So, if you are entering Pitch Wars, or just need extra eyes on your material, you can enter the Rafflecopter for a chance to win.

Available age categories are:

  • Middle Grade
  • Young Adult
  • New Adult
  • Adult

Deadline for entry is August 16, 2020 at 11:59pm EST. Winners will be announced on August 17, 2020 at 10am EST. As always, good luck!

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

Books by #BlackAuthors #BLM

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I have been quiet for several weeks because I have felt overwhelmed between my uncle dying, Coronavirus, worrying about my job, and distressed about police brutality. But honestly, I think my  brain started shutting down when the Pandemic struck. Then, as things progressed with continued bad news, I became numb. But it’s time to officially announce my stance. I support the Black Lives Matter movement. I might lose some followers, but I won’t need to mingle with those racist piece of poops anyway. Hopefully, I will gain new followers with amazingly diverse backgrounds!

Since I am a writer, I thought one of the ways I could show support is by posting some books by black authors. And since my taste revolves around the strange, most (not all) of these stories have strange creatures, ghosts, zombies, witches, mermaids, dragons, aliens, cursed people, super heroes, or people full of magical skills! If you know more, please feel free to mention them in the comments below.

As for the ones I’m posting, I have pasted a copy of the beautiful covers and embedded a link. If you click an the image, you will be directed to a purchase site where you can read the blurb to see if you want to buy the book. Okay, so here we go:

The Forgotten Girl

A Blade So Black (The Nightmare-Verse Book 1) by [L.L. McKinney] Children of Blood and Bone (Legacy of Orisha) by [Tomi Adeyemi] The Jumbies by [Tracey Baptiste]

A Phoenix First Must Burn: Sixteen Stories of Black Girl Magic, Resistance, and Hope by [Patrice Caldwell] The Good Luck Girls by [Charlotte Nicole Davis] A Song Below Water: A Novel by [Bethany C. Morrow]

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by [Roseanne A. Brown] The Fifth Season (The Broken Earth Book 1) by [N. K. Jemisin] Dread Nation by [Justina Ireland]

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky (Tristan Strong Novel, A Book 1) by [Kwame Mbalia] Akata Witch by [Nnedi Okorafor] The Rage of Dragons (The Burning Book 1) by [Evan Winter]

You Should See Me in a Crown by [Leah Johnson] Kingdom of Souls by [Rena Barron]

Lagoon by [Nnedi Okorafor] The Sound of Stars by [Alechia Dow] Fate of Flames (The Effigies Book 1) by [Sarah Raughley]

Feyi Fay and the Case of the Mysterious Madam Koi Koi by [Simisayo Brownstone] The Girl Who Looked Beyond The Stars (Sheena Meyer Book 1) by [L. B. Anne] Ghost Boys by [Jewell Parker Rhodes]

Hurricane Child by [Kacen Callender] American Spy: A Novel by [Lauren Wilkinson] The Deep by [Rivers Solomon, Daveed Diggs, William Hutson, Jonathan Snipes]

Some of these authors have more than one book out, so if you don’t like the one I’ve posted, check out their other stories. Or, you can buy them all. Happy Reading!

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

Ireland Writer Tours

The Emerald Forest

Oh my gosh in chocolate heaven! There is an Ireland Writer Tours not just once this year but several times! How can someone choose which one to attend?

June 28-July 5, 2020

The tour will be hosted by author, screenwriter, and forensic specialist  JENNIFER DORNBUSH and literary agent from Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency JILL MARR.

July 12-19, 2020

This tour will be hosted by multi-published & award-winning author & Writers’ Digest instructor Donna Russo Morin and agent & editor with Marsal, Lyon Literary Patricia Nelson

The tours are mini-writers’ conferences that help get your manuscript ready for publication. With dinner in a haunted castle and visits to a mysterious lake, ancient forest and a cave with eerie true stories, the tour is filled with enchantment and enough creepy to spark your writing juices.  Combine this with professional critiques and editing advise and you’ve got one helluva trip! And don’t forget you can write this off at tax time since it’s a learning event.

Get your passports ready! And happy day writing.

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.

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.

Iceland Writers Retreat 2020

The Iceland Writers Retreat states that over the course of the retreat, each participant is enrolled in a total of five two-hour small-group writing workshops (max. 15 participants) led by internationally acclaimed authors, a Q&A panel with all faculty, and numerous readings and social functions. But there are only a few seats left, so you better hurry!

Each of their Featured Authors teaches two different workshops, and you have plenty of time to interact with faculty, including those with whom you do not have any workshops. The retreat takes place April 29-May 3, 2020 and costs approximately ISK 261,920 (approximately $2064 US dollars) per person. Prices exclude airfare and airport transportation.

Langjokull-Glacier-Mountaineers-of-Iceland

But between all the intimate workshops and lectures, writers will have the opportunity to tour the spectacular Golden Circle, sit in cozy cafes of Reykjavik, soak in geothermal hot springs, listen to new Icelandic music, meet contemporary Icelandic writers, and learn about the country’s rich literary tradition. And remember, if researching for a novel or just wanting the workshops to improve your craft, this retreat is tax deductible! For complete registration inclusions, go here.

As always, have fun and learn lots!

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

Pikes Peak Writers Conference

Pikes Peak logo

Pikes Peak Writers Conference is an opportunity to get literary advise from a professional in the business or get invaluable feedback on your manuscript. The conference will be April 17-19, 2020 held  in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

  • Delilah Dawson (New York Times bestselling author of Star Wars: Phasma and more!)
  • Laura DiSilverio (National bestselling and award-winning author of 21 mystery, suspense and young adult sci-fi novels.)
  • Mary Jo Putney (New York Times bestselling author, won ten RWA RITA nominations, two RITA wins, and received RWA’s 2013 Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award.)
  • Chuck Wendig (New York Time bestselling author of Star Wars: Aftermath, alongside other works across comics, games, film, and more.)
  • Reavis Wortham (Spur Award winner and author of historical mysteries and contempory westerns.)

ACQUIRING EDITORS:

AGENTS:

For more authors and specialist, go here. And be sure to register before the workshop fills up and make your reservations at the DoubleTree by Hilton Colorado Spring. As always, have fun!

P.D. Pabst

Barcelona Writing Retreat

Writing-Retreat-in-Barcelona

The Pink Panged writing retreat in Barcelona is for women only during November 27-December 1, 2019. If you’re looking for inspiration for your next novel, this might be the spot. The retreat is filled with adventure, culture, art, shopping, restaurants, and history. During Pink Panged writing retreat in Barcelona authors will:

  • Express themselves through the written word
  • Experience Venice’s age-old beauty
  • Immerse themselves in Italian culture
  • Participate in Pink Pangea’s interactive workshops
  • Connect with participants from all over the world
  • Feel emotionally refreshed and physically rejuvenated

If you’re wanting to visit this scenic place and write your novel, hurry because seats are filling fast! And, enjoy your writing vacation.

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