Tag Archives: Writers

THE LOUISE MERIWETHER FIRST BOOK PRIZE

June 15, 2018Contests, Literary$5000, Authors, Book Prize, Contract, Editors, Feminist Press, Fiction, First Time Authors, Louise Meriwether, Manuscripts, Monetary Prize, Narrative Memoir, Nonbinary Writers, Opportunity, People of Color, Publishing, Publishing Contract, Short Story, Submissions, Submit, TAYO Literary Magazine, Women, Writerspdpabst

Feminist Press

Once again, the Feminist Press has partnered with TAYO Literary Magazine for a contest seeking the best debut books by women and nonbinary writers of color to celebrate author Louis Meriwether’s achievements. This contest is for first time authors. Submit your complete manuscript of fiction (including novels and short story collections) or narrative memoir between 50,000 and 80,000 words. Capture their attention with your words to receive $5,000 and a publishing contract from the Feminist Press!

The third annual Louise Meriwether First Book Prize entries will close on June 30, 2018. To learn how to enter and complete guidelines, go here. As always, good luck!

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

SavvyAuthors Hot Summer Pitchfest

June 11, 2018Literary, Pitch EventAdult, Agents, Authors, Blog, books, Editors, Ficiton, Format, Genre, Guidelines, Hot Summer, June, Literary Agents, logline, Manuscripts, Middle Grade, New Adult, Non-Fiction, Opportunity, Pitch, Pitchfest, Pitching, Publishers, research, SavvyAuthors, Stories, Writers, Young Adultpdpabst

Agents and editors are taking live pitches on the SavvyAuthors blog! What you will need is a three line pitch (unless stated differently on their personal pitch page). Be sure to state the title, genre, word length, and your author name. Then post your pitch below that information. The format should look like this:

Title: This Scary Manor Blows
Genre: Middle Grade Paranormal
Length: 48,000 words
Author: P.D. Pabst

Agnes plays pretend in an old manor to keep her father’s memory alive and learns she must solve the murder of an eight-year-old ghost—daughter of Franz San Galli, the inventor of the radiator. Her non-believing brother wants her to grow up but she must convince him to acquire his help. After all, it’s not safe to play in secret passages and hidden rooms when a sinister specter threatens her.

Be sure to read the guidelines thoroughly before pitching. And don’t forget to research each editor/publisher and agent to make sure your manuscript fits their wish list. To pitch editors/publishers, go here. To pitch literary agents, click here. And don’t delay! The Pitchfest runs June 13 – 16, 2018.

As always, good luck!
P.D. Pabst

WNDB Walter Grant Applications Ending

June 8, 2018Awards, Literary#1 New York Times Bestseller, Adult, Age 18, Angie Thomas, Authors, books, Chapter Books, Cultural, Disabled, Diversity, Early Reader, Elgibility, Fiction, Film, Financial Support, Graphic Novels, Guidelines, LGBTQIA, Manuscripts, Marginalized Voices, Middle Grade, Minority, Native American, Non-Fiction, Opportunity, Person of Color, Picture Books, Poetry, Program, Religious, Residents, Stories, Submissions, The Hate U Give, United States, Unpublished, Walter Grant, We Need Diverse Books, Writer, Writers, Young Adultpdpabst

See the source image

We Need Diverse Books applications for the Walter Grant program will be ending on June 15, 2018. This is an opportunity to receive financial support for diverse authors. This year they will award FIVE $2000 grants. If you are unfamiliar with this grant, you can read how THE HATE U GIVE author, Angie Thomas, used this to buy a computer to complete her manuscript, which is now a #1 New York Times Bestseller and film releasing this fall.

ELIGIBILITY:

Applicants must identify as diverse (defined below).
Applicants must be unpublished as illustrators and/or authors. This includes both trade publishing and self-publishing. If the applicant has a book deal for an as yet unpublished book, the applicant is considered published for purposes of this grant. Essays, short stories, and articles do not render an applicant ineligible.
Applicant must be working toward a career as a children’s author and/or illustrator. This includes but is not limited to: Picture Books, Early Reader Books, Chapter Books, Middle Grade Books, Young Adult, Graphic Novels, Non-Fiction, Poetry.
Applicant must be a U.S, resident.
Applicant must be at least 18 years in age.

DIVERSE MEANING:

Person of color
Native American
LGBTQIA+
Person with a disability
Marginalized religious or cultural minority

So, if you are a diverse author, this might be the boost you need to finish that manuscript. For submission guidelines, go here. And as always, good luck!

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

#DVPit Hosted by Lit Agent Beth Phelan

April 21, 2018Contests, Literary, Publishing Opportunity#DVpit, Adult Fiction, Authors, Beth Phelan, books, Category, Chapter Book, Children Books, Commercial, Disabled, Diversity, Editors, Galt & Zacker Literary Agency, Genre, Graphic Novel, Illness, LGBTQIA, Literary Agent, Log Line, Manuscripts, Marginalized Voices, Middle Grade, Native People, novels, Opportunity, People of Color, Picture Book, Pitches, Pitching, Religious, Stories, Teen, Twitter, Underrepresented Cultures, Writers, Writing, Young Adultpdpabst

The search for diversity within books has increased, not just with secondary characters but main characters. The world wants to see a fabulous palette of colors and cultures among the stories they read and the publishing industry is responding! This prompted literary agent Beth Phelan of Galt & Zacker Literary Agency to create DVpit.

According to the site, #DVpit is a twitter event created to showcase pitches about and by marginalized voices. This includes (but is not limited to): Native peoples and people of color; people living and/or born/raised in underrepresented cultures and countries; disabled persons; people with illness; people on marginalized ends of the socioeconomic, cultural and/or religious spectrum; people identifying as LGBTQIA+; and more.

The next event will spread over two days:

April 25th will be for Children’s & Teen Fiction/Nonfiction (picture books, chapter books, graphic novel, middle grade, young adult).
April 26th will be for Adult Fiction/Nonfiction (all genres, commercial and literary).

Each day the event will run from 8am-8pm ET using the hashtag #DVpit. Be sure and pitch your manuscript on the correct day because agents/editors will search the feed on the specific day of the category and genres they represent/acquire.

As always, good luck!

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

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.

Poetry Contest

March 14, 2018Contests, LiteraryApril, Authors, Free, Funny, Honorable Mentions, Humorous, Judges, Monetary Prize, No Fee, Poems, Poetry, Poets, Published, Publishing, Rhyme, Unpublished, Wergle Flomp Humor, Winning Writers, Writers, Writingpdpabst

Winning Writers

Winning Writers is sponsoring the Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest , which ends April 1, 2018. This contest seeks today’s best humorous poems. There isn’t a fee to enter, and even better, it’s for published or unpublished work! That’s right, even if the authors works was already published, it’s still eligible.

The judges will award a first prize of $1,000 and a second prize of $250. Ten Honorable Mentions will receive $100 each. The top 12 entries will be published online. To enter, submit a funny poem of no more than 250 lines. As always, good luck!

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

Become an Agent Assistant at Paradigm Talent Agency

March 7, 2018Literary401K, Adrien Brody, Adult, agent, Agent Assistant, Agents, Antonio Banderas, Assistant, Book Department, Book Job, Book Publishing, books, California, Candidate, Danielle Steele, Dental, Digital, Entertainment Industry, Fiction, Full Time, Health, Insurance, Jada Pinkett Smith, Job, Kidlit, Literary, MG, Money, Motion Picture, movies, Music, New York, Non-Fiction, Organization, Paradigm Talent Agency, Pardigm, Position, Publishers Marketplace, Publishing Department, Reading, Stephen King, Stories, Television, Theatre, Voiceover, Writers, YApdpabst

According to the post on Publishers Marketplace, Paradigm Talent Agency is seeking a highly motivated and qualified assistant to support an agent in their Book Publishing department. In addition to being organized and efficient, candidates should possess a strong understanding and interest in the entertainment industry and will be expected to thrive in a fast-paced, highly competitive and demanding environment.

This full time position will offer health, dental, and 401K. It lists the location as New York/CA, so I’m not certain exactly where it will be. But with offices in Los Angeles, New York City, London, Monterey, Nashville, San Diego, Berkeley, Austin, Chicago, and Toronto, Paradigm provides representation with a personal and purposeful touch to clients across various areas of entertainment including television, music performances, motion picture, theatre, book publishing, digital, commercial/voiceover, content finance, media rights, brand partnerships and beyond.

Some current author’s represented by Paradigm Talent Agency are Stephen King and Danielle Steele. They also represent famous actors as Adrien Brody, Antonio Banderas, and actress Jada Pinkett Smith.

For qualifications and how to apply, go here. 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.

Secret Agent Contest via Authoress is Coming!

March 2, 2018Contests, LiteraryAuthoress, Authors, Book Deal, Commercial, Community, Entry, Family Saga, Fiction, Genre, Guidelines, Immigran Stories, Jillian Boehme, Literary Agent, Literary Fiction, Manuscripts, March, Miss Snark's First Victim, Mystery, No Fee, Prize, Random Winners, Secret Agent, Stories, Submissions, Thriller, True Identity, Unveiling, Upmarket Women's fiction, Words, Writers, Writing, YA, Young Adultpdpabst

Authoress

Authoress (aka Jillian Boehme) is hosting a round of Secret Agent on her popular Miss Snark’s First Victim site. If you’ve followed Authoress for several years, then you know that she only unveiled herself because she finally got her first book deal! (And this was her one condition she had promised herself before unveiling her true identity.) And many of us are so excited for her because she has given back to the community for so-so-so long! (Thank you Jillian!)

Now, for a few basic details of the contest:

Submissions open between Noon & 11:59 pm EDT, March 5th, 2018
This is a lottery. The BOT will draw 50 random names.
Only the First 250 words will be submitted.
Only completed and polished manuscripts may be entered.
Only ONE entry per person!

As always, there is no fee to enter the contest. This month’s contest will include the following genres only:

Mystery
Thriller
Literary Fiction (family saga, immigrant stories, etc.)
Upmarket Women’s Fiction
YA (literary and commercial)

For complete guidelines and entry form, go here. As always, good luck!

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.

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