Tag Archives: middle grade writing

Conference Time

Posted on February 10, 2024 by PB Rippey

2nd day, Big Sur Children’s Writers Workshops held not in Big Sur–Hwy 1 such a mess this time of year–but in Monterey, 4.5 hrs from home. I arrived in Monterey with my husband the day before the conference started. Mini-break … 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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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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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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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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Fielding Distractions

Posted on February 28, 2023 by PB Rippey

SoCal rainstorms, SNOW!!!, and my (feels-like-95th) birthday have distracted me from completing important tasks since Valentine’s Day (also a distraction), such as wiping puppy noseprints from windows, or filling in gopher holes. However, I’m not distracted from my creativity–writing, submitting, … Continue reading →

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December Writing Challenge Results

Posted on January 16, 2023 by PB Rippey

December ’22 was a zephyr on steroids, for me. For you, too? And yet–Christmas Day passed in slow motion: walks, long phonecalls with out of town family, cooking-while-socializing (sans panic), everyone snoozing by 10pm (except for the gaming teenager). So–Nephele … Continue reading →

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The Flexible Writing Schedule

Posted on December 29, 2022 by PB Rippey

I love when authors I admire share writing schedules/non-schedules. Most seem to have a set routine–which I marvel at as I tend to ricochet around the hours–or the hours ricochet around me when I’m at my computer. I’m most focused … Continue reading →

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Solstice Check-in

Posted on December 21, 2022 by PB Rippey

December 21st and I’ve written or revised novels every day this month except for 1, when I was in the throes of that chest cold going around. Still feeling the chest cold. Writing anyway, keeping to agent Nephele Tempest’s December … Continue reading →

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O Holy Decor!

Posted on December 20, 2022 by PB Rippey

World’s tiniest Santa Claus tries to break into our house! Every night! Through January!

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