Tag Archives: middle grade writing

Bathroom Reading (Scouring Edition)

Posted on December 4, 2013 by PB Rippey

While holiday cleansing the bathroom, on my knees scrubbing corners usually in my blind spot, I glance up and notice books also, apparently, usually in my blind spot. I have no idea when Dylan Thomas arrived. Definitely wasn’t me who … Continue reading →

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The Truth Is…(Maintenance Edition)

Posted on October 29, 2013 by PB Rippey

The truth is, I’m way too busy to blog—sprawling on the couch eating bonbons takes up a lot of time. And let me make this extremely clear: NOT milk chocolate bonbons with cherries tucked inside them. If I was even … Continue reading →

Posted in Children's Books, Fiction, middle grade, Pets, Poetry, To Explain, Writer's Angst, writing, Writing Progress | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

On Roald Dahl’s Birthday

Posted on September 15, 2013 by PB Rippey

Sometimes I let the agent I’m querying know who my literary heroes are. Only ‘sometimes’ as my query letters tend to change. Evolve? Products of endless, restless experimentation…On Roald Dahl’s birthday I was thinking: I always forget to put Roald … Continue reading →

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In the Wake of a Rejection

Posted on July 29, 2013 by PB Rippey

The last day of July hurtles into focus as I prepare for mini-break #4: single-mommying 3 kids for 3 days. Will be intriguing to see how I fit in writing time. I’m thinking between breakfast and the day’s planned outing, all outings … Continue reading →

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Mini-Break 3: There and Back Again

Posted on July 20, 2013 by PB Rippey

The doctor said a slight fever would come. “Reaction” to a shot. He was feverish for a day. The next, he sneezed and went a little hoarse. But the fever was gone and he was uber-perky and when I meekly told him that maybe … 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 →

Posted in Children's Books, Fiction, middle grade, Poetry, Writer's Angst, writing, Writing Tips | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

NaNaNana Hey Hey Hey NaNa

Posted on April 11, 2013 by PB Rippey

Written next to the flower (see previous post): Tipping between lost and grateful; never traveling with grace or without sound doubt; raking up luck-bits when the world sleeps in its stifling old box; kissing the future into strum; hunkering down, … Continue reading →

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Update 2: NaMeSitDif (etc.) Projekt

Posted on April 10, 2013 by PB Rippey

Since I forgot to Na on Monday, as I promised myself, and since I didn’t Na on Tuesday due to pressing engagements (Target, the teeth people), upon leaving the stables today I stopped at a No’ridge Starbucks on my way home, hobbling delicately inside, … Continue reading →

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Update: NaMeSiDifStaDaiWri(expletive)Po

Posted on April 9, 2013 by PB Rippey

I forgot to go on Monday. Ummm…And here is a cat.

Posted in Avoiding My Writing, Children's Books, Fiction, middle grade, Poetry, Writer's Angst, writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

NaMeSiDifStarDaiWri%#*Po Week (Partial Week Edition)

Posted on April 3, 2013 by PB Rippey

Next week (because my son resumes PreK after a 2 week spring break) is National PB Sit in a Different Starbucks Daily and Write a (insert expletive) Poem Week. Well, at least monday through thursday. Actually not tuesday because that’s when I … Continue reading →

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Courage! (Neigh Edition)

Posted on March 19, 2013 by PB Rippey

I was late to retrieve the boy from school because I Face Sucked like a fiend AND watched the latest episode of “Once” on hulu AND in another open hulu tab caught up on the latest episode of “Revenge” WHILE checking … 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

Clues

Posted on March 3, 2013 by PB Rippey

So it’s time to leave the Little House and tear him away from several days of precious Pottery Barn living and Angry Birds on the Kindle at odd hours and foods we don’t normally eat at home, like grated-cheese-and-nitrate-free-bacon-quesadillas-for-breakfast-with-1-maraschino-cherry-on-top, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Children's Books, dog, Fiction, Me and Us, ocean related, Poetry, Santa Barbara, Writer's Angst, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Beach Break

Posted on January 14, 2013 by PB Rippey

This was last weekend, all Winter beachness, crisp, clear light, air cold enough for us to wear sweaters we haven’t seen in over a year, sweaters with jeans and sweats and bare feet as we ran on glassy beach, Anacapa, … Continue reading →

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2013: Resolute

Posted on January 1, 2013 by PB Rippey

1. Stand taller. 2. Be wiser. 3. Mother better. 4. Honor date nights. 4a. find a babysitter after 5 years of not        4b. either more or less caffeine @8pm any Friday night—search for successful eye-propping balance! Ha ha! Fun! 5. … Continue reading →

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Writing Advice

Posted on November 16, 2012 by PB Rippey

Just when I think I’ve read it all (which usually means it’s time to read more), the YA Muses post this. Loads of advice from debut authors. In fact, all week the Muses have been posting helpful writing advice from … Continue reading →

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Space Aliens Blow Up Fast Food Joints

Posted on November 7, 2012 by PB Rippey

Or: Writing In Increments (daylight edition) Between the post-workout shower and the trip to Redbox to return movies you suddenly noticed on the bookshelf as you craned your neck to see if your leg was straight as it pulsed to … Continue reading →

Posted in Avoiding My Writing, dog, Fiction, To Explain, writing, Writing Progress | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Good Morning Boo

Posted on October 26, 2012 by PB Rippey

I know it’s a grand revising day when I sit down at the computer to check email, but end up obsessed with the Word document on the desktop instead, until my son reminds me it’s time to brush his teeth so … Continue reading →

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Once Upon A Time In Gloomy Oxford

Posted on September 19, 2012 by PB Rippey

1970-something, bookstore, downtown Oxford, England. Cloudy, moody late afternoon (there were so many, which makes the memories of sunny days–sky a blue to gasp over, cottonball clouds, Radcliffe Camera’s dome sunsparked, even musty old Carfax Tower rinsed and bright—stand out all the … Continue reading →

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Coasting From One Weekend Quote To The Next

Posted on September 9, 2012 by PB Rippey

Maybe I’m a writer because I’m desperately trying to clean up my mess. Other people go into therapy or become psychiatrists just to clean up the mess. Well, I couldn’t afford therapy at the time I needed it the most, … Continue reading →

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What Beauty Gets You

Posted on August 28, 2012 by PB Rippey

I returned from Big Sur with a line in my head that needed to be inserted into a poem I’m working on. I am lucky the line didn’t leave me, creative synapses firing long and repeatedly enough for me to … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, ocean related, Poetry, Writer's Angst, writing, Writing Progress, WTF | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Dear Lucky Agent Contest

Posted on August 22, 2012 by PB Rippey

I’m going to enter. Are you? Follow the link below for complete details. Link: Lucky Agent Contest CONTEST DETAILS This contest will be live for approximately 14 days—from Aug. 13, 2012 through the end of Monday, Aug. 27, 2012, PST. … Continue reading →

Posted in Children's Books, Fiction, middle grade, writing | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Snow White Revisted (Part II)

Posted on August 15, 2012 by PB Rippey

I drove up to Santa Barbara by myself, for a change. High school reunion—the first I’ve ever been to, but not the first my friends have been to and it’s only because of Tdoll and Ddazzle and our nearly life-long … Continue reading →

Posted in Avoiding My Writing, Faction, Fiction, Santa Barbara, writing, WTF | Tagged , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

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 →

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Quote For The Weekend (Yet Another “Revision” Edition)

Posted on July 29, 2012 by PB Rippey

I work hard, I work very hard. All the books at leat 30 revisions. —Ha Jin In working on a poem, I love to revise. Lots of younger poets don’t enjoy this, but in the process of revision I discover … Continue reading →

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