Tag Archives: Stories

#PitchMAS Blog Contest

December 9, 2016Contests, Literary35 Words, Agents, Blog Contest, contest, December, Editors, Jessa Russo, Literary Cheer, Manuscripts, Pitch, PitchMAS, Publishers, Stories, Submissions, Tamara Mataya, Winners, Writerspdpabst

PitchmasLogo

Oh yes, it’s that holly-jolly Pitchmas time! You know? The best time of the year! Where agents and editors stalk the feed to give you literary cheer!

Jessa Russo and Tamara Mataya are at it again! To submit, you’ll need a 35 word pitch for your finished, polished and unpublished manuscript! They will take submissions by email only, starting Sunday 12/11/16 at 9am PST and ending Monday 12/12/16 at 6pm PST. The winners will go live on the blog December 15, 2016.

You can find this years participating agents and editors here. And don’t worry if you don’t make the contest. There will be a twitter pitch party for everyone on December 16, 2016. Be sure and use the twitter hashtag #Pitchmas (I’ll post a reminder). As always, good luck!

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

Dan Kobolt’s #SFFpit is Tomorrow!

December 6, 2016Contests, Literary#SFFpit, Age Category, Agents, Authors, Dan Koboldt, December, Editors, Fantasy, Genres, Hashtags, Manuscripts, Pitch Party, Publishers, Research Requests, Science Fiction, Stories, Subgenre, Twitter, Unagented, Unpublished, Writerspdpabst

It’s that time of year again for science fiction and fantasy writers to polish their pitches for Dan Koboldt’s #SFFpit writing contest on twitter! It starts tomorrow December 8, 2016 between 8am-6pm EST. This contest allows 10 pitches total and Dan asks that you use them wisely! As usual, it needs to be a 140 character pitch for twitter and includes the hashtag #SFFpit. For all the rules, including how to properly insert the age group and category, go here. And remember to research any agents or editors that favorite your tweet because ANY ONE can trawl the feed!

As always, good luck!

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

Queries That Worked

December 4, 2016LiteraryAgents, Angst, books, Charlotte Dillon, Chuck Sambucnino, Contract, Dream, editor, Hopeful, Inquiry, Letter, Manuscripts, Paragraphs, publisher, Query, Query Sample, rejections, Snubby, Stories, Successful, Successful Queries, Summorizing, Words, Writer's Digest, Writers, Writingpdpabst

Every writer knows the angst of summing their fantastical manuscript into a couple brief paragraphs. This grueling step is necessary to write an intriguing query letter. (For non-writers, this letter is the introduction to a manuscript to swoon a literary agent and/or publisher into reading a writer’s story with hopes of being signed.) Writerly folks can spend hours, days, weeks, and months forming words together, rearranging, and deleting until the paragraphs are just right. And honestly, some writers struggle knowing when the query is the absolute best for sending out into the world.

And sometimes, the problem isn’t always summing up the story. With nearly 130 million books published in the world, it’s likely someone already wrote something similar. So a writer needs to know what makes their story different and highlight that in their query letter. And trust me, this isn’t necessarily as easy as it sounds.

Knowing the struggles of query letters, I decided to inform my readers of a couple places to view query letters that have worked in hopes it’ll help a few writers.

Successful Queries via Chuck Sambuchino at Writer’s Digest. The reason I love this sight is because he also lists commentary from the agent that signed the author and why it worked for them.
Query Samples via Charlotte Dillon.

And for authors receiving rejections, here are a few best sellers that got snubby rejections but went on to sell millions of copies! Don’t let go of your dream!

P.D. Pabst

Blogger and writer of MG/YA Fiction.

Tomorrow is #Pitmad on Twitter

November 30, 2016Literary#Pitmad, Adult, Age Category, Agents, Brenda Drake, Chapter Book, Children's, Editors, Fiction, Genre, Hashtags, Manuscripts, Middle Grade, New Adult, Nonfiction, Picture Book, Pitches, Rules, Stories, Subgenre, Three Pitches, Twitter, Unagented, Unpublished, Writers, Writing, Young Adulutpdpabst

Nothing soothes the writerly soul than a good twitter pitch party! Tomorrow is Brenda Drake‘s infamous #PitMad between the hours of 8am-pm (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.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

November 24, 2016Literary, UncategorizedAbsolute Write, Adventurous, Agents, ARCs, Authoress, Beta readers, Brenda Drake, Chocolate, Critique Partners, Daughter, Debt, Editing, Editors, Family, Feedback, Free Books, Friends, Grandson, Happy Thanksgiving, Health, Illiness, Jessa Russo, Love, Mentors, Michelle Hauck, Mortgage, Pitches, Preditors & Editors, Publishers Marketplace, QueryTracker, Readers, Reading, Samantha Fountain, Stories, Thankful, Thanksgiving, Writer's Beware, 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. (And a special shoutout to Keith and Chris for donating on my GoFundMe page!)
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 critique partners, beta readers, and anyone who has ever glanced at a few pitches/pages/chapters and offered feedback (I LOVE you guys!).
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, Michelle Hauck, Samantha Fountain, 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, Writer’s Beware , Absolute Write Forums, Publishers Market Place, 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 their 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

Writer’s Digest Short Story Competition

November 9, 2016Contests, LiteraryAuthors, Early Bird, Guide to Literary Agents 2017, Marketing, Monetary Prize, Novel & Short Story Market, Paid Trip, Publication, Publishing Contest, Short Story Competition, Short Story Manuscripts, Stories, Writer's Digest, Writer's Digest Conferencepdpabst

wd-short-story-competition

Writer’s Digest is hosting a writing competition for short stories (1,500 words or less) with a grand prize worth $3,000, a feature in Writer’s Digest magazine and more.

Make it bold. Make it brilliant. Most importantly, make it brief.

One First Place Winner will receive:

$3,000 in cash
Their short story title published in Writer’s Digest magazine’s July/August 2017 issue
A paid trip to the ever-popular Writer’s Digest Conference!
A copy of the 17th Annual Writer’s Digest Short Short Story Competition Collection
A copy of the 2017 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market
A copy of the 2017 Guide to Literary Agents

There will also be monetary prizes, books and/or certificates given to 2nd-25th place winners! (There is a fee for entering.) If your interested in submitting, go here by the Early-Bird Deadline of November 15!

As always, good luck!

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

HELP RAISE FUNDS FOR #EDITING

November 5, 2016Contests, Critiques, Literary, UncategorizedCover Art, Critques, Editing, Editor Needed, Facebook, Feedback, Fiction, Giveaway, Go Fund Me, Help Raising Funds, Instagram, Manuscripts, Marketing, Middle Grade Fiction, Monetary Giveaway, Money, Non-Fiction, P.D. Pabst, Resubmit, Revise, Stories, THIS SCARY MANOR BLOWS, Tumblr, Twitter, Wordpress, Writers, Young-adult fictionpdpabst

Okay, I’ve thought about this for a long time and it wasn’t an easy decision to make. No one likes airing their troubles. NO ONE! So, without whining about my various trips to the hospital over the past few years, my car breaking down, my daughters car breaking down, I’ll move right along to my purpose.

I received revise and submits from two different agents a while back and have been sitting on top of them because I don’t have the funds to pay a professional editor. (And this could be golden, but I need to edit before they forget about me.) Then, I thought about my other writerly friends who have had troubles with tumors, lupus, chronic depression (yes, this IS a disease folks), houses burning down, and the list goes on-and-on-and-on of things that can strap any of us financially. So, my thoughts were wouldn’t it be great to not only pay for my edits but have some giveaways for other writers to pay for THEIR edits too? (Oh, you know it would be!)

While beta readers and critique partners are great, they aren’t always available or they just don’t mesh with your style. There are various reasons this doesn’t always work out. So, I created a GoFundMe account to help raise money for my manuscript THIS SCARY MANOR BLOWS (and my other two manuscripts), as well to have giveaways for other writers. So, if you’re feeling generous, please donate to the GoFundMe account. Even the tiniest of donations can help myself and other writers.

And when you read the story on GoFundMe, you’ll notice that if I don’t get signed with the agents that requested the R&R’s, I’m going to spend some of the money on cover art and marketing to self publish. Which can always be an alternative route for those that will win the editing giveaways when I have them. After all, even literary agents recommend being hybrid authors. (For non-writer’s, this means to traditional publish and self publish.)

And lastly, for anyone wanting to know my writing style and if donating is worth it, I’ve decided to post my first chapter to THIS SCARY MANOR BLOWS. Go here to view it.

Please share this on twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, WordPress, and any other social media you may be on! Remember, this isn’t just for myself, I hope to pay this forward to other writers. It might just be YOU!

Thank you for reading and any donations that you contribute! And if you can’t contribute, then please-please, share on your social media accounts. Again, thank you!

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

Images That Inspire Me

July 11, 2015LiteraryAuthors, Beast, BLACK FOG, Character Description, Fiction, Inspired Images, Locations, Middle Grade, Pictures, Stories, THIS SCARY MANOR BLOWS, Writing, Young Adultpdpabst

Most of you have read my article THE IDEA-TOILET PAPER and know I can get ideas from anywhere. However, I’ve been asked to share some pictures that have inspired me. I decided a place to start would be my banner, which you can also see in other places like my twitter and Facebook author accounts.

I have another at a different angle for the other accounts. (And just so y’all know, I took this picture.) It inspired the location for my middle grade story BEAST, which is a twisted fairytale retelling of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. This is a snapshot at the edge of a lake I walk and the cemetery across from the east side of the path. At the right moment of the day, when a white mist hovers over the lake, the area can look quite haunting. And although it inspired the location, it did not inspire the story’s premise. BEAST is an expansion from a story I wrote during English class nearly twenty years ago. And yes, I still have the graded paper!

I came across this manor while googling old structures to get a better sense of design while writing THIS SCARY MANOR BLOWS. The home Agnes’ family inherits is somewhat similar to this one, except hers has turrets, secret passages, and hidden rooms, oh and ghosts! Also, the main floor has more height and a lengthier staircase leading to the front door. Agnes fell in love with old buildings because her dad was an architect. It was important for me to get descriptions right through her eyes because she missed her dad so much.

I wrote BLACK FOG after a vivid dream, much like a very long movie trailer. Back when I wrote the story, I had googled images of black fogs to help me describe the appearance of the creature. While I can’t find the original image I used, it was very similar to the one above. Now add life to the blackness by imagining the ominous fingers billowing around your chest and dissolving your flesh to ash. Voila! My character was born.

As much as I’d like to show photos all day, I won’t post a never ending blog. Just know, authors use various tools to help them describe the images they see in their head. Whether it be drawings, pictures, paintings, statues, trains, objects in their home or a hotel, the sky, their yard, the list is endless. And of course, sometimes writers use nothing but their noggin because the character or place is already so vivid. Either route an author takes is fine by me, I just want to be sucked into a story that seems plausible.

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

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