Tag Archives: Middle Grade

Himalayan Writing Retreats

March 21, 2018Literary, Webinar/Workshop, Writing Conferences & GetawaysAdult, Advice, Authors, books, Calendar, Chats, Events, Exercise, Feedback, Fiction, Fireside, Himalayan, Himalayan Writing Retreats, Inspiration, Instruction, Long Walks, Manuscripts, Mentors, MG, Middle Grade, Mountains, Non-Fiction, Retreat, Stories, Writerly Stuff, Writers, Writing, YA, Young Adultpdpabst

Want to whisk away to the Himalayan mountains for inspiration while writing your next novel? Then sign up for one of the Himalayan Writing Retreats, or one of the writing weeks (depending on your level of expertise). There is instruction, exercises, fireside chats, long walks, and writerly chats.

If you are looking for advise or simply inspiration for your next book, be sure to check out the Himalayan Writing Retreats/Weeks event calendar. They have more than one to enroll during the year 2018. Have fun and happy writing!

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

AUTHOR MENTOR MATCH #AMM

March 12, 2018Contests, Critiques, Literary, Mentor Program#AMM, Alexa Donne, Author, Author Mentor Match, BIOS, Category, Editing, Enter, Feedback, Fiction, Form, Genre, Guidelines, Heather Kaczynski, Hone Your Craft, Invaluable, Kidlit, Manuscript, Mentor, Middle Grade, Opportunity, Publishing, Query, Rules, Stories, Submissions, Submit, Synopsis, Writer, Young Adultpdpabst

Author Mentor Matchup was created by Heather Kaczynski and Alexa Donne. The object is to match new writers with authors further along in the publishing process and gain invaluable mentoring! That’s right, this is an opportunity to get your manuscript critiqued (for free) before submitting to agents!

Authors can select up to four mentors during the submission window between March 16, 2018 through March 21, 2018. Watch for the mentor BIOS to be posted to learn what age groups and genres they wish to see in their inbox!

Please note there is a two-step process for entering:

Fill out the submission form. (I believe the form will appear during the sub window period.)
Email the proper information to authormentormatch@gmail.com:

A query (pasted in the body of the email!)
The first 50 pages/3 chapters of your novel (whichever is longer & can be attached)
A synopsis

Be sure to include in the subject line the manuscripts Age Category +Genre + Title. (ie: YA Sci-Fi – Mars Plants are the Bomb) on the email submission. And check out the site in order to know how to select the mentors you wish to submit because it isn’t clear quite yet. (I’m guessing this might be part of the submission form.) 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.

Virginia Festival of the Book 2018

March 3, 2018Literary, Webinar/Workshop, Writing Conferences & GetawaysAdult, Artists, Author Readings, Authors, Book Signings, books, Celebration, Children's Programs, Festival, Fiction, Literacy Culture, Middle Grade, Non-Fiction, novels, Readers, Reading, Stories, Storytelling, Virginia Festival of the Book, Workshops, Writers, Writing, Young Adultpdpabst

VaBookFest2018-Horiz-Dates-Color-3

The Virginia Festival of the Book brings readers and writers together for a five-day celebration of books, reading, literacy, and literary culture. The 24th Annual Festival will be held March 21-25, 2018. 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.

Chicago Writing Workshop 2018

March 1, 2018Literary, Webinar/Workshop3 Seas Literary, Adult, Agent Assistant, Agents, Allium Press, Attendance, Authors, BookEnds Literary, books, Books and Such, Chicago, Chicago Writing Workshop, Corvisiero Agency, D4EO Literary, Editors, Faculty, Feedback, Fiction, Folio Literary, Jennifer De Chiara Literary, June, Learning, Literary Agents, Manuscripts, Middle Grade, Non-Fiction, Opportunity, Pitch Session, Pitching, Publishing, Red Sofa Literary, Register, Sourcebooks, Stories, Storytelling, The Bent Agency, The Purcell Agency, The Seymour Agency, Trace Literary Agency, Writers, Writing, Young Adultpdpabst

Chicago Writing Workshop

Per the Chicago Writing Workshop website, this writing event (June 23, 2018) 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:

Literary agent Cynthia Ruchti (Books and Such)
Literary agent Michelle Grajkowski (3 Seas Literary)
Editor Anna Michels (Sourcebooks)
Literary agent Moe Ferrara (BookEnds Literary)
Literary agent Kelly Van Sant (D4EO Literary)
Literary agent Tracy Brennan (Trace Literary Agency)
Literary agent Gemma Cooper (The Bent Agency)
Literary agent Dawn Frederick (Red Sofa Literary)
Editor Grace Menary-Winefield (Sourcebooks and Sourcebooks Landmark)
Literary agent Alexandra Weiss (Jennifer De Chiara Literary)
Literary agent Marcy Posner (Folio Literary)
Editor Emily Clark Victorson (Allium Press)
Literary agent Tina P. Schwartz (The Purcell Agency)
Agent assistant Lesley Sabga (The Seymour Agency)
Literary agent Kortney Price (Corvisiero Agency)
and more to come.

Since the seats are limited, don’t delay in registering. Hopefully, I’ll see you there!

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

The Color of Children’s Literature Conference in New York

February 28, 2018Critiques, Literary, Writing Conferences & Getaways#Kweli18, #OwnVoices, @bottomshelfbks, Agents, Angela Johnson, Announcements, Artists, Authors, Cheryl Klein, Children's Publishing, Conference, Design, Editors, Facult, Feedback, Gallt & Zacker Literary, Hachette Book Group, Hashtag, Heidi Heilig, Illustrators, Inspiration, Javaka Steptoe, Joanna Cardenas, John Parra, Julie Flett, Kait Feldmann, Kate Sullivan, Kazu Kibuishi, Kheryn Callender, Kidlit, Kurestin Armada, Kweli Journal, Lee & Low Books, Linda Camacho, Manuscripts, Middle Grade, Network, New York, New York TImes Best Sellers, Nic Stone, P.S. Literary, Panels, Penguin Random House, Penguin Young Readers, People of Color, Picture Books, publisher, Publishing, Renee Watson, Rita Williams Garcia, Samira Ahmed, Scholastic, Stories, The Color of Children's Literature Conference, The Graduate Center/CUNY, Twitter, Vashti Harrison, Workshop, Writers, Young Adultpdpabst

Kweli Journal celebrates and support #OwnVoices with The Color of Children’s Literature Conference in New York. On April 7th at The Graduate Center/CUNY, join top editors, agents, authors & illustrators in the children’s publishing world. Their spring conference is an excellent opportunity for writers and illustrators of color to learn, get inspired and network with others in the industry.

They are also offering critiques from some of the faculty. Some of those participating are:

Associate agent Kurestin Armada, P.S Literary
Associate Editor Kheryn Callender, Hachette Book Group
Literary agent Linda Camacho, Gallt & Zacker Literary
Literary agent Beth Phelan, Gallt & Zacker Literary
Editor Joanna Cardenas at Kokila Books, a new imprint of Penguin Young Readers
Editor Cheryl Klein, Lee & Low Books
Senior Editor Kate Sullivan, Delacorte Press of Penguin Random House
Associate Editor Kait Feldmann, Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine Books
Junior agent Serene Hakim, Ayesha Pande Literary
And many, many more! (See the full list here.)

They have an exciting line up with keynote address by MacArthur “Genius” ANGELA JOHNSON, and panels and workshops with award-winning and New York Times bestselling authors and illustrators SAMIRA AHMED, JULIE FLETT, RITA WILLIAMS GARCIA, VASHTI HARRISON, KAZU KIBUISHI, JOHN PARRA, JAVAKA STEPTOE, NIC STONE, RENEE WATSON, HEIDI HEILIG, and others. Keep watch on the #Kweli18 hashtag on Twitter as @bottomshelfbks announces more that aren’t currently showing on the list. It’s going to be a fabulous event! Go here to register.

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

#FaithPitch Twitter Event For Faith-Based Fiction

February 26, 2018Contests, Literary#FaithPitch, Adult, Agents, Author, Biblical Worldview, Board Books, books, Category, Christian, CST, Denomination, Editors, Encouragement, Ethnicities, Event, Faith Based, February, Fiction, Guidelines, Hashtag, Inspirational, Little Lamb Books, Manuscripts, Middle Grade, Opportunity, Picture Books, Pitch, Pitching, Polished, Positive, research, Stories, Twitter, Writer, Writing, Young Adultpdpabst

A Twitter pitch event exclusively for faith-based fiction is being hosted by Little Lamb Books on February 28, 2018 between 8am – 8pm CST. This is for board books, picture books, middle grade, young adult, and adult fiction that fall under the categories of inspirational, faith-based, biblical worldview, or Christian. Different denominations, ethnicities, a POV in this niche are encouraged. Be sure to use the hashtag #FaithPitch and only pitch 4 times per manuscript during the pitch window. (Maximum of 4 manuscripts are permitted.)

As with all pitch events, any agent or editor can troll the feed. Be sure to do you research before sending off your book baby to them! For complete guidelines, go here. And as always, good luck!

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

Pacific Northwest Writers Association Contest 2018

February 19, 2018Contests, LiteraryAdult Short Topics, Agents, Authors, books, Chpater Book, Critiques, Editors, Feedback, Fiction, Finalists, First Place, Guidelines, Historical, Literary contest, Mainstream, Manuscripts, Memoir, Middle Grade, Monetary Prize, Mystery, Non-Fiction, novels, Opportunity, Pacific Northwest Writers Association, Paranormal, Picture Book, PNWA, Poetry, Romance, Sci-Fi, Second Place, Short Story, Storytelling, Third Place, Thriller, Unpublished, Winners, Women's Fiction, Workshops, Writers, Writing, Young Adultpdpabst

pnwa

The deadline for Pacific Northwest Writers Association Literary Contest is approaching. All unpublished entries must be received by March 23, 2018. This is also a chance to get feedback on your work. There are twelve categories:

mainstream
historical
romance/women’s fiction
mystery/thriller
sci-fi/fantasy/paranormal
young adult
middle grade
nonfiction/memoir
poetry
short story
children’s picture/chapter book
adult short topics (articles/essays/memoir)

There are three monetary prizes:

FIRST PLACE: $600
SECOND PLACE: $300
THIRD PLACE: $100

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 complete details. As always, good luck!

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

Revise & Resub #10Queries Event

February 12, 2018Contests, Literary#10Queries, #RevPit, Adult, Authors, books, Carly Bornstein-Hayward, Critique, Editing, Editors, Elizabeth Buege, Ellen Brock, Feedback, Fiction, First Pages, Hone Your Craft, Jeni Chappelle, Kaitlyn Johnson, Katie McCoach, Manuscript, Middle Grade, Opportunity, Pitch, Query, Rafflecopter, Revise & Resub, Sione Aeschliman, Stories, Submit, Writers, Writing, Young Adultpdpabst

#RevPit

In preparation for the upcoming #RevPit event, the editors of Revise & Sub have decided to do a round of #10Queries via a Rafflecopter drawing opening February 16, 2018 and closing on February 20th, 2018. The winners will submit their query and first five pages for critique on the twitter hashtag. (Names will not be posted. Editors will send emails to winners regarding which pitch was theirs.) But have no fear, there will be more than ten winners because each editor will select ten each! Participating editors are:

So, if you’re wondering how strong your query and first pages are, this will be a good event to find out! Read all the information here. As always, good luck!

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

Note: The hashtag used during this event is #10Queries and not the #tenqueries most often used by agents and editors. Be sure to watch the correct hashtag if selected.

LIBRARIES PAY AUTHORS! (Worth Mentioning Again.)

January 30, 2018Literary, UncategorizedAdult, Authors, books, Books in Libraries, Fiction, Ireland, Joanne Phillips, Lending, Lending books, Libraries, Library, Middle Grade, Money, New Adult, Non-Fiction, novels, Payment, PLR, Public Lending Right, Readers, Reading, Stories, United Kingdom, Writers, Young Adultpdpabst

book-spines

I wrote a post once about libraries paying authors. It’s definitely worth mentioning again for United Kingdom and Ireland PLR systems. You can see my original post via LIBRARIES PAY AUTHORS?

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

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