Tag Archives: Marketing

Remote Internship: Penguin Random House

Penguin Random House is offering their first paid remote internship! It will be available for their adult or children’s editorial department. Editors decides whether or not to pursue stories for acquisition and works with authors to turn their manuscript into a finished book. They negotiate contracts, edit the books for content, structure and on a line-by-line basis, and collaborate with internal departments on how to package, market, and publicize the book.

Specific responsibilities may include:

  • Reading, evaluating, and responding to slush, agented submissions, and contracted works
  • Writing reports and copy
  • Updating title information sheets
  • Attending virtual meetings with department
  • Researching consumer interests and identifying trends via social media and other outlets
  • Competitive title research

Fall interns work 14 hours per week and are paid $20hr. Intern schedules will be flexible to account for candidates who may be located in a variety of time zones. To be eligible, you can be a rising college senior, a graduate; and/or any candidate available for full-time employment within 6 months to 1 year. (You need not be enrolled in college or have a degree to apply to the internship program.) No experience is required! The Fall 2020 Remote Internship Program is intended to provide opportunities for racially/ethnically underrepresented groups in the publishing industry.

The internship program runs from September 28, 2020 – November 20, 2020 and the application deadline is August 16, 2020. To apply, submit your resume using their online application process. Cover letters are encouraged and they suggest that you indicate if you have a preference for working with adult or children’s books, or if you are particularly interested in any genre(s).

As always, good luck!

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

Advertisement

Philadelphia Writing Workshop

Philadephia Writing Workshop

Writing workshops are great to get professional advise on writing, marketing, and how to land an agent. The Philadelphia Writing Workshop will be held on November 14, 2020 and is now ONLINE.  This year’s faculty so far includes:

As always, book your virtual seat right away because seats they are limited.

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

Virginia Festival of the Book

image

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.

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

Remote Internship: Don Congdon Associates

image.png

This remote internship opportunity will be to work with an agent at Don Congdon Associates. The intern is to be detail-oriented and well-read in contemporary titles. Responsibilities include evaluating client and potential client manuscripts and query letters in genres and ages ranging from literary fiction, narrative non-fiction, middle grade, and young adult. Classes and independent projects will be assigned based on ability and interest (including publishing contracts, author marketing, and client/editor research).

The intern will be expected to work remote at least two full days per week September through December. The agency wants someone who has confidence in their reading ability, will take initiative, and can represent the agency professionally. The application deadline is July 26, 2019.

Submit a cover letter and resume in the body of an email to Katie Grimm at kgrimm@doncongdon.com with FALL INTERNSHIP in the subject line. In the cover letter, offer examples of recent titles you’ve read, your favorite authors, and/or anything which will help them get a sense of your reading interests and taste. (No email attachments.)

As always, good luck!

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

Hachette Imprint Open for Submissions!

Hodder & Stoughton

Hodder & Stoughton, John Murray Press (Hachette Imprint) will be opening for unagented submissions on December 1, 2017 (12am GMT) and close on December 7, 2017 (11:59pm GMT) for THE FUTURE BOOKSHELF! Although this is an United Kingdom publisher, they will be taking international submissions for fiction and non-fiction. This is an exciting opportunity because big houses don’t often open their doors to unagented writers.

Some of the authors Hodder & Stoughton publishes is Stephen King, Martina Cole, Jodi Picoult, The Sidemen, Stieg Larsson, Trevor Noah, David Mitchell, Andrea Levy, Katie Piper, Mo Farrah, Graham Norton, and many more. Wouldn’t it be awesome to be one of the great writers added to this list?

If chosen, you will get paid an advance and royalties. They’ll set you up with an editor and publicist, as well as have a marketing campaign. So, you’ll get all the perks of a bestselling author! A few of the rules are:

  • Must be over 18.
  • An underrepresented writerly category (see their guidelines for descriptions).
  • Fiction (any genre) and non-fiction works must be over 50,000 words.
  • Must be written in English.

But they have more requirements than this. For complete rules and how to submit, go here. As always, good luck!

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

#PBPitch is Tomorrow!

It’s time for another picture book twitter party using the hashtag #PBPitch! So, if you write or illustrate picture books, this is the event for you. This party will take place Thursday, June 22, 2017 from 8am-8pm EST. But remember, anyone can trawl the feed, so be sure and do your research! There will be legit agents and editors popping in and out, including those that haven’t confirmed attendance. But those that have confirmed are:

  • ​Liza Fleissig, Liza Royce Agency
  • Stephanie Fretwill-Hill, Red Fox Literary
  • Natascha Morris, BookEnds Literary
  • Kari Sutherland, Bradford Literary
  • Erica Rand Silverman, Stimola Literary
  • Cindy Uh, Thompson Literary
  • Jessica Sinsheimer, Sarah Freymann Literary
  • Rena Rossner, Deborah Harris Literary Agency
  • Editors from The Innovation Press
  • Roseanne Wells, Jennifer DeChiara Literary
  • Jennie Dunham, Dunham Literary

Be sure and only pitch once before 2pm and once after! (Yes, twice is all you get per manuscript!) If you’re an illustrator, you can attach an image to the pitch. For complete rules and proper hashtags, go here.

As always, good luck!

 

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

#ShoreIndie Contest

#ShoreIndie Contest

Thinking about self publishing your manuscript? Have you noticed the contest buzz for #ShoreIndie on twitter? It’s a contest supporting emerging indie authors! Oh yes, you heard me write…I mean right. This new 2017 contest helps by providing quality editing services and book marketing resources, creating a Twitter-based learning community for established as well as emerging indie and hybrid authors, and connecting with existing online communities that share their mission of supporting the development of writing craft as well as the technical and business skill and knowledge needed for a successful indie author career. (Phew! That’s a mouth full.)

GRAND PRIZE PACKAGE (est. value: over $3,465 USD):

  • Up to 100K words of copy editing on one manuscript by Laura Dennison at Book Light Editorial
  • Cover design and interior design/formatting for ebook and print by CardboardMonet
  • A graphic design package of five promo images and cover design consultation by USA Today bestselling author and former graphic designer and marketing director Elise Kova
  • Mentorship from USA Today bestselling indie author Rebecca Syme in the form of two video chats and some email availability
  • One month of New Author Marketing Counsel with Cynthia T. Luna
  • A one-month listing on NetGalley, donated by Weapenry
  • A copy of Write! distraction-free word processing software
  • How to Market a Book (3rd ed., ebook) by Joanna Penn
  • Self-Publisher’s Legal Handbook (ebook) by Helen Sedwick
  • Supercharge your Kindle Sales (ebook) by Nick Stephenson

RUNNER UP PRIZE PACKAGE (est. value: over $1,780 USD):

  • Up to 100K words of copy editing on one manuscript by Tayna Jarvik
  • Cover design by one of Reedsy’s professional cover designers
  • A graphic design package including FB & Twitter headers and two promo post graphics by Balance Less Author Assistant Services
  • Mentorship from indie author Scott Burtness in the form of three 1-hour voice or video chats
  • A copy of Write! distraction-free word processing software
  • How to Market a Book (3rd ed., ebook) by Joanna Penn
  • Self-Publisher’s Legal Handbook (ebook) by Helen Sedwick
  • Supercharge your Kindle Sales (ebook) by Nick Stephenson

ADDITIONAL GIVEAWAYS:

  • 6 authors will win half an hour of marketing brainstorming with Cynthia T. Luna
  • 5 writers will win a copy of Write! distraction-free word processing software
  • 5 lucky winners will receive How to Market a Book (3rd ed., ebook) by Joanna Penn
  • 5 indie authors will win Self-Publisher’s Legal Handbook (ebook) by Helen Sedwick
  • 5 ShoreIndie community members will win Supercharge your Kindle Sales (ebook) by Nick Stephenson
  • We’re also ecstatic to be running giveaways of books written by each of our Featured Authors and our Judges!

 

Submissions begin on June 3rd (9am EST) and end on June 5th (9am EST), 2017. Don’t forget to check out their additional savings to all the ShoreIndie community on Write! software and services from Reedsy. Please note, this is for previously unpublished novels AND novellas (YA, NA, and Adult). As always, good luck!

P.D. Pabst

Blogger and author of MG/YA fiction

Inspiration from Writer’s Rejections

Image result for writer rejection

Rejection hurts no matter who or what you do, but if you’re going to be a writer you’d better develop some thick skin. While there are circumstances of instant acceptance and overnight fame, it’s rare. Writers get rejected a LOT.

First it starts with the manuscript. Writers send their book babies on submission to agents and get a lot of “not right for me” form rejections. If they’re lucky enough to land an agent, eventually the manuscript will go on submission to publishers. And sorry folks, that’s not an instant deal just because they have an agent. Publishers reject agents too. And even after a publisher picks up a novel, the fans can reject the story. For example, The Great Gatsby didn’t become famous until soldiers of World War II wrote home about the story, of which the government had sent to them to have something to read.

Writing is a lot of belief in the story and that it deserves to be told. They hold onto the dream that one day an agent and publisher will agree. They don’t let rejections allow them to quit. After all, giving up is the sure way to not succeed.

But all those rejections keep piling up! And from the dark corners of a writer’s mind, they hear “you’re a fraud” and “stop already”. So I offer encouragement. Not everyone succeeded their first try. Heck, many famous authors took years to get published. Here are a few to inspire writers to keep pushing forward.

  • John Grisham: A Time to Kill was rejected by 16 publishers.
  • James Patterson: Rejected by more than a dozen publishers.
  • J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter was rejected by 12 publishing houses.
  • William Faulkner: Sanctuary was said couldn’t be published.
  • Nicholas Sparks: The Notebook was turned down by 24 literary agencies.
  • Louisa May Alcott: The author of Little Women had been told to stick to teaching.
  • Margaret Mitchell: Gone With The Wind faced 38 rejections.
  • Frank Herbert: After 20 rejections, Dune was finally published.
  • Jack Canfield & Mark Victor Hansen: Chicken Soup for the Soul had 134 rejections.
  • Kathryn Stockett: The Help author got rejected at least 61 times.

And sometimes it just takes years!

  • Alex Haley: After writing daily for EIGHT years, the Roots author found success.
  • Gertrude Stein: Submitted poems for TWENTY-TWO years before one got pubbed.
  • Elizabeth Jolly: Wrote about 30 years before her first publication.

So, as you can see, successful writing takes perseverance. And while there are success stories of writers who self publish, that’s a story for another day. For now, I hope this is enough encouragement for writers today!

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

2017 Tennessee Writing Workship

Tennessee Workshop

The Tennessee Writing Workshop  will take place July 22, 2017 and is a wonderful opportunity to get intense instruction over the course the event, pitch a literary agent or editor (optional), get your questions answered, and more. The event is held at the Embassy Suites by Hilton in Nashville, Tennessee.

Some of the agents participating are:

 

Note that there are limited seats at the event (150 total). So hurry if you want to attend, especially if you want to pitch to an agent!

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