Tag Archives: fiction writing

Prep: SCBWI Writers Day 2024

Posted on February 27, 2024 by PB Rippey

Writers Day 2024 is my favorite SCBWI annual event as it’s held at the Skirball (therefore sentimental–when my teen was a toddler I took him to the museum’s Noah’s Ark exhibit, often). Lunch is included with the price and is … Continue reading →

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Conference Wrap-Up

Posted on February 15, 2024 by PB Rippey

My only criticism of this conference: No critique groups should have been held in the lobby/lounge area of the hotel. The noise level there was distressing. Critique groups held in faculty suites should have been the norm (deeper critique shared … Continue reading →

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Cannery Row & Pacific Grove

Posted on February 9, 2024 by PB Rippey

Pre-kidlit conference exploration of Cannery Row and dinner in Pacific Grove. Visiting Pacific Marine Laboratories never gets old as I can never not seem to romanticize Ed Ricketts. Never actually explored neighboring P. Grove before–its views are, to plop a … Continue reading →

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All The Lovely Prepping

Posted on February 7, 2024 by PB Rippey

This weekend is the Big Sur Children’s Writing Workshops/conference in Monterey. I’m going up a day early. But first is house-prep, setting up the guest room for my inlaws, baking stuff for the ravenous teen for the entire 3.5 days … Continue reading →

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Latest Kite Tales

Posted on January 31, 2024 by PB Rippey

Read the latest edition of Kite Tales (tri-region SCBWI blog) and the interview with April Halprin Wayland via Paige Vinten Taylor. Valuable (IMO) advice/insights packed into one interview–excellent. Yours in keeping creative minds humming, PB

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SCBWI Retreat (San Simeon Edition)

Posted on January 20, 2024 by PB Rippey

I’ve been successful in tearing my eyes away from the ocean in order to revise my new novel, the same I’m taking to the Big Sur Children’s Writing Workshops and that placed (tooting my horn again) in the SCBWI Sue … Continue reading →

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Writing Retreat!

Posted on January 19, 2024 by PB Rippey

January is good.

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Happy New Year

Posted on January 2, 2024 by PB Rippey

Hummingbird on a branch, seen on my first powerwalk of 2024. The only bird that can fly backwards. Did you know they also catch insects with their whip-tongues? Yours in birds as symbols of hope in 2024 (except when crows … Continue reading →

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NYE 2024

Posted on December 31, 2023 by PB Rippey

Survived Trader Joe’s this morning (oh–you too?). Watched closely by the cats, occasionally removing them from boxes, we de-Christmased the house. “WHAT ALREADY???” my friend texted. But we’ve had Christmas since 11/23, when we decorated our faux tree. As much … Continue reading →

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Posted on December 28, 2023 by PB Rippey

Happy Everything Nice as we rocket towards 2024! Yours in beloveds, PB

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Noel

Posted on December 17, 2023 by PB Rippey

When I close my laptop and the house isn’t stirring, not even a cat (or a teen), tiredx10 from walking the crazy girl earlier in the day, bleary-eyed from revising topics I must believe in because I keep on writing … Continue reading →

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INSERT HO-HO-HO HERE

Posted on December 14, 2023 by PB Rippey

Yours in staying active this holiday season, PB

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Holiday Pteranodon

Posted on December 12, 2023 by PB Rippey

Welcome to December! aka Revisionmas! Which has everything to do with this photo. Yours in Christmas decorations up since Thanksgiving Day, a return to writing at night in addition to weekday dawns, and yours in the art and agony and … Continue reading →

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So: November

Posted on November 6, 2023 by PB Rippey

Daylight Savings Time; my dad would have been 83 today; it’s 87F in my neck of the woods until maybe midweek; we are prepping for our son’s 16th birthday party–I have purchased glow-in-the-dark beachballs that can have the s*** pounded … Continue reading →

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A Tardy Boo

Posted on November 3, 2023 by PB Rippey

Am late to every party. Sad, that. Happy last Halloween! Yours in using an awl to punch holes in your jack-o-lantern for a different effect, PB

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Just Call Me: Revision

Posted on October 18, 2023 by PB Rippey

I’ve got a pretty good rhythm going revising: 2 kidlit/eco-fiction novels and 2 women’s fiction novels. I am a morning person now–not sure I’m TRULY a 5:30a.m. morning person? But that alarm seems to work if I want to feel … Continue reading →

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Hi, It’s Me, It’s I’m-Revising-It Me

Posted on September 28, 2023 by PB Rippey

Right now? I could be a NYTimes Connections puzzle, complete with the requisite 4 answers: Through-line. Grammar. Deep Breaths. In N Out French Fries. Hint: What PB Rippey does after Momming around town and pacifying the mini-zoo. Theme: Revision. Answers: … Continue reading →

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MONSTER PLACES 4TH

Posted on August 2, 2023 by PB Rippey

I went from stepping away (previous post) to receiving 4th place in this year’s SCBWI Sue Alexander Grant competition for my MG novel THE MONSTER AT ELIZABETH LAKE. I am beyond thrilled. Nothing like good news to keep my butt … Continue reading →

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On Stepping Away

Posted on July 19, 2023 by PB Rippey

You know how so many books on creativity, or self-help books by therapists, psychologists, or self-help websites and apps advise stepping away from your work and going on an artist-date with your creative-self in order to receive fresh ideas, answers … Continue reading →

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July 4th ’23

Posted on July 4, 2023 by PB Rippey

Recently we drove from Valencia (mountains) to Ventura (ocean!!!) on the 126 Hwy, which took us through good old Fillmore (fields, strip malls/classic train depot…). My husband and I were stunned by the number of popup fireworks booths Fillmore displayed … Continue reading →

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May, June Swoon, Hi July

Posted on June 29, 2023 by PB Rippey

As June comes to a close, my son paused by my computer, touched my shoulder, whispered with dread: Mom–what’s the date today? I told him: Dude, it’s only barely almost July. He was clearly relieved the summer was still before … Continue reading →

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Summertime &

Posted on June 9, 2023 by PB Rippey

School’s out for summer & we’re living on a timetable, this helmet-of-grey-clouds-June crammed with little trips here/there + revising revising revising my work + swimming laps 4-7 days/week+ reading Demon Copperhead. I’LL TAKE IT! Yours in keep-on-writing-in-summertime, PB

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Monsters

Posted on May 4, 2023 by PB Rippey

Not a monster, but a Pteranodon (framed photo), and has everything to do with the novel I’m currently revising, which has everything to do with monsters–human, animal, extinct, imagined and otherwise. As I may have mentioned. Yours in continuous revision, … Continue reading →

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Revision

Posted on May 1, 2023 by PB Rippey

Dropping this pic here as I revise my current novels as at this moment, this picture describes my writing life. Layered, themed, complicated/not complicated, weirdly satisfying, a constant work-in-progress. Revision is hard, right? But also gratifying. Long live the Mojave/Mitchell … Continue reading →

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Festival Weekend 2023

Posted on April 17, 2023 by PB Rippey

I’m going. Are you? Sunday I’m helping out at the SCBWI booth. Both days have a great lineup of kidlit authors signing books. Poetry tent will be quietly rockin’. Lots to explore, as usual. See you there!

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