Category Archives: Writing Tips

On Rejection

Posted on December 9, 2016 by PB Rippey

Recently I was lucky enough to have a conversation with someone I deeply respect and I was moaning a little about rejections I’ve received lately. The person suggested I stop calling them ‘rejections’ and refer to them instead as ‘No … Continue reading →

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The Women’s National Book Association

Posted on March 1, 2014 by PB Rippey

I was made aware of the WNBA/LA thanks to my middle grade writing mentor, Kathryn Fitzmaurice (ask me if I am lucky to have her as my mentor and you will hear amplified hell yeah’s). She gave one of this … Continue reading →

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Mini-Break 2: Undertow (with Wheels)

Posted on July 16, 2013 by PB Rippey

Children blinking through binoculars, squealing at scuttling lizards, swinging very, very high on playground swings, holding hands, but running too fast towards crosswalks, scaling small boulders, building sandcastles for naked Barbies and a collection of Skylander figurines that should never … Continue reading →

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To All Rejections

Posted on March 14, 2013 by PB Rippey

To all rejections: I am building a cathedral. I am building a cathedral. I am building a cathedral. I am building a cathedral. I am building a cathedral. I am building a cathedral. I am building a cathedral. I am … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Children's Books, Fiction, middle grade, Poetry, Quotes, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress, Writing Publications, Writing Tips, WTF, YA Novels | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Quote For The Weekend (Super Late Edition)

Posted on December 2, 2012 by PB Rippey

This time of year is also, always, about how against all humanly odds, there was enough oil to keep the Menorah lit after the temple in Jerusalem was sacked. And how–well, you know the pitch: let there be light, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Children's Books, Fiction, Quotes, Writer quotes, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress, Writing Publications, Writing Tips | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Gopher Genius

Posted on November 30, 2012 by PB Rippey

Today, over on Nebula, writer Beth Hull’s website, Colonel Shifty offers up some vital, handy-dandy definitions  of publishing terms. Secretly (or not) I am hoping that Colonel Shifty’s next post will be to announce the launch of his gopher T-shirt line–perhaps similar to … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Children's Books, Fiction, Steps In Promotion, Writer quotes, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress, Writing Publications, Writing Tips, YA Novels | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Quote For The Weekend (Saroyan Edition)

Posted on August 18, 2012 by PB Rippey

How do you write? You write, man, you write, that’s how, and you do it the way the old English walnut tree puts forth leaf and fruit every year by the thousands. . . . If you practice an art … Continue reading →

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Quote For The Weekend (Make Believe Edition–Or IS it)

Posted on August 11, 2012 by PB Rippey

When it was decided (When was that again, and by whom?) that we were all supposed to choose between fiction and nonfiction, what was not taken into account was that for some of us truth can never be an absolute, … Continue reading →

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Links Time

Posted on August 2, 2012 by PB Rippey

It’s been a week of discovering useful blog links. I’ve hopped from link to link and then some, pausing only to drop the boy off at summer camp, pick him up, play Batman & Dinosaurs, fix dinner, twist myself into … Continue reading →

Posted in Avoiding My Writing, Children's Books, Fiction, middle grade, Writing, Writing Tips | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Spring Spirit Conference, 2012

Posted on April 25, 2012 by PB Rippey

What a delightfully smooth, well-run, 1 day conference. As I drove away, the GPS taking me on a spooky off-the-freeway-then-back-on mini-adventure, as I sped past miles of crops (previously mist-blanketed, cooling off from a day of baking in 93 degrees), … Continue reading →

Posted in Children's Books, Fiction, middle grade, Steps In Promotion, Writer quotes, Writing Progress, Writing Tips, YA Novels | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Book Bits (Courtesy of NPR)

Posted on March 19, 2012 by PB Rippey

You’ve probably already been here  as I’m never the earliest anywhere except the zoo, museums, playgrounds and places in which excessive queuing is involved. But here is an excerpt anyway and you can listen to the whole interview with Jonah Lehrer … Continue reading →

Posted in Avoiding My Writing, Fiction, Writer quotes, Writing Tips | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Middle Grade Tidbit

Posted on March 16, 2012 by PB Rippey

In case you’re missing it, agent Michael Bourret from Dystel & Goderich and editor Molly O’Neill are conversing via their blogs about middle grade novels–what they look for, what they like, what middle grade is or might be or possibly isn’t but … Continue reading →

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Critique Etiquette

Posted on March 2, 2012 by PB Rippey

  The ever-interesting Beth Hull offers some valuable critiquing advice at her blog today. I highly recommend you check in–especially if, like me, you are gearing up for the Rocklin Spring Spirit conference, where critiquing will be in the air, … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Writing, Writing Tips | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Quote For The Weekend (Tide Pool Edition)

Posted on February 12, 2012 by PB Rippey

“If a child is to keep his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in.” —Rachel Carson … Continue reading →

Posted in Avoiding My Writing, Children's Books, fish, ocean related, Quotes, Santa Barbara, Writer quotes, Writing, Writing Tips | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Quote For The Weekend (Seminar Edition)

Posted on January 28, 2012 by PB Rippey

Some writers, critics, and other assorted literati sniff at plotting as a tool of craft. A synonym of plotting, in this mindset, is slumming, something decent people just don’t do.   —James Scott Bell Whose seminar I attended this morning in … Continue reading →

Posted in Children's Books, Fiction, Quotes, Writer quotes, Writing Tips | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Bit Of Info

Posted on December 20, 2011 by PB Rippey

From Writer’s Digest. Because I, anyway, always learn something (except how to make the perfect cup of coffee, I can never seem to learn that…): The 18 Most Popular Articles on Writing of 2011 We posted more than 1,300 articles … Continue reading →

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