Tag Archives: personal goals

Gentle Jurassic Giant

Posted on May 21, 2011 by PB Rippey

Largest fish in the ocean Wonderful piece in the June Smithsonian about whale sharks. If, like me, you are an ocean fanatic (often more than just the armchair variety) and in the throes of revising your middle-grade novel that has everything … Continue reading →

Contest Winner

Posted on May 21, 2011 by PB Rippey

In a previous post I mentioned the YA Muses were holding a very generous contest. Winners would have the first 15 pages of their WIP or NIPR (novel in perpetual revision) read by one of the Muses. The grand prize … Continue reading →

Posted in books, middle grade, Steps In Promotion, To Explain, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress | Tagged children's literature, fiction, fiction writing, middle grade writing, personal goals, writer, writing contests | Leave a comment

Help

Posted on May 15, 2011 by PB Rippey

Kathryn Stockett on her rejections and perseverance in More. Memorable quotes: A year and a half later, I opened my 40th rejection: “There is no market for this kind of tiring writing.” That one finally made me cry. After rejection … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult writing, Book Club, books, Fiction, Writer's Angst, Writing | Tagged fiction, fiction writing, personal goals, writer, writing | 2 Comments

Quote For Forever

Posted on May 8, 2011 by PB Rippey

“People always say that to be a good writer you have to read; that sounds like they’re collecting ideas and information. But what it ought to mean is that you have to be able to read what you write critically. … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Writing, Writing Progress | Tagged chaos, fiction, fiction writing, personal goals, writer, writing | Leave a comment

No Whining

Posted on May 6, 2011 by PB Rippey

No whining when it’s hard to write/revise because: 1. because a dog charged your cats at 6:00a.m. and in her haste to control her animal, the owner, lunging across your front yard and bashing into the wall below your kitchen … Continue reading →

Posted in Avoiding My Writing, dog, Fiction, Me and Us, middle grade, ocean related, To Explain, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress, WTF | Tagged beach, children's literature, dog, domestic bliss, domestics, fiction, fiction writing, life, middle grade writing, ocean, personal goals, writer's block, writing | Leave a comment

YA Muses Contest

Posted on May 4, 2011 by PB Rippey

If, like me, you welcome critique on your WIP, which is actually a complete novel you can’t stop revising, then visit the YA Muses and participate in their contest. The prizes are very generous. I hope I win. Something. Thank … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Fiction, middle grade, Parakeet, Writing | Tagged 2011, children's literature, fiction, fiction writing, life, middle grade writing, personal goals, writer, writing | 2 Comments

Welcome Vibrations

Posted on March 31, 2011 by PB Rippey

A striking thing happened this morning after dropping my son off at his preschool. I returned home, did not check email, vacuum up dog hair, make a Trader Joe’s list, stare intently at Yahoo news while groaning at the spelling … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult writing, dog, Fiction, Me and Us, middle grade, Parakeet, Steps In Promotion, To Explain, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress, WTF | Tagged children's literature, dog, domestic bliss, domestics, fiction writing, life, middle grade writing, personal goals, preschooler, toddlers, Trader Joe's, writer, writing | Leave a comment

Fever!

Posted on February 28, 2011 by PB Rippey

I need the sort of writing fever that allows multi-tasking. I need to be able to be ill AND revise a novel and engage the 3 year old and toss the tennis ball for the dog, fold laundry, garden (i.e. yank … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult writing, Avoiding My Writing, dog, Faction, Fiction, Me and Us, Poetry, Steps In Promotion, To Explain, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress, WTF | Tagged 2011, beach, chaos, cornwall, doc martin, dog, domestic bliss, domestics, fiction, fiction writing, flu, guilt, life, middle grade writing, multi-tasking, novels, personal goals, poetry, toddlers, writer, writer's block, writing | Leave a comment

Writing Fever

Posted on December 21, 2010 by PB Rippey

It’s going to take longer for me to reach my number one goal. I can’t rush this revision, even if I wanted to. Yes, domestics ALWAYS come into play when it comes to writing, such as: My son’s flu, this … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Me and Us, middle grade, Poetry, Steps In Promotion, To Explain, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress, WTF | Tagged cats, children's literature, dog, domestic bliss, domestics, fiction, fiction writing, labrador, life, middle grade writing, personal goals, poetry, toddlers, writer, writing | Leave a comment

Books Interlude

Posted on December 13, 2010 by PB Rippey

Have you visited YA Muses? They are a lovely, helpful, inspiring quartet, all with backgrounds, current writing-situations and future-talk I appreciate. They inspire me. They give me hope, or remind me that there is hope when it comes to writing … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, middle grade, Steps In Promotion, To Explain, Writing, Writing Progress | Tagged children's literature, fiction, fiction writing, life, personal goals, SCBWI, writer, writing | 1 Comment

Hi Ho!

Posted on December 3, 2010 by PB Rippey

My little shining writing-prize moment of 2010 made the Kite Tales newsletter. I am the giant on the far right. (???) I will never forget hearing the name of my book called out and almost falling off the auditorium chair, … Continue reading →

Posted in Avoiding My Writing, Fiction, middle grade, Steps In Promotion, To Explain, Writing, Writing Progress | Tagged children's literature, fiction, fiction writing, life, middle grade writing, personal goals, SCBWI, toddlers, Trader Joe's, writing | Leave a comment

Ready, Set, Write!

Posted on November 21, 2010 by PB Rippey

Preschool is a go! (See my other blog—or, not) I now have 3 hours 3 days a week to write. Am very confident that by next week (after the holiday excitement dies down around here) I will have my Number … Continue reading →

Posted in dog, Me and Us, middle grade, Steps In Promotion, To Explain, Writing, Writing Progress | Tagged cats, children's literature, dog, domestic bliss, domestics, fiction, fiction writing, labrador, life, pecan cheesecake pie, personal goals, roughhead blenny, SCBWI, toddlers, writer, writing | 1 Comment

Poet Distracted By Whales

Posted on November 9, 2010 by PB Rippey

Had to take a break from editing Trouble. Did so by editing a new poem. It’s almost 9p.m. My spouse has once again passed out with the toddler when putting him to bed. There is nothing to distract me from editing … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult writing, Avoiding My Writing, Me and Us, Poetry, Steps In Promotion, To Explain, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress, WTF | Tagged chaos, children's literature, life, personal goals, poetry, SCBWI, toddlers, whales, writer, writer's block, writing | Leave a comment

When You’re Writing…

Posted on November 4, 2010 by PB Rippey

My official “Trouble” roughhead blenny mascot returns The good news is, I haven’t been posting because I am going over Trouble Beneath The Waves. I do this while my son eats his meals. I do this when my husband returns … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Me and Us, middle grade, To Explain, Writing, Writing Progress | Tagged children's literature, dog, fiction, fiction writing, life, personal goals, roughhead blenny, SCBWI, toddlers, writer, writing | 1 Comment

Writer’s Day Approach(eth)

Posted on October 29, 2010 by PB Rippey

I am ready to attend tomorrow’s SCBWI Writer’s Day in Thousand Oaks. I just finished submitting my printing order(s) to whatever Kinko’s is now called, so that I may swing by in the morning and pick up stuff that may … Continue reading →

Posted in Me and Us, middle grade, Steps In Promotion, Writing, Writing Progress | Tagged children's literature, fiction, fiction writing, personal goals, SCBWI, writer, writer's retreat, writing | Leave a comment

Time (said in 3 syllables)

Posted on October 25, 2010 by PB Rippey

Currently difficult to impossible to fathom where the time is going, has gone. October nearly vanished, we are actually moving into the hyper-acceleration months of November and December, when Thanksgiving and Christmas bleed into one and my son turns 3. Another year … Continue reading →

Posted in Avoiding My Writing, To Explain, Writer's Angst, Writing Progress, WTF | Tagged life, personal goals, writer's block, writing | 1 Comment

Pack Leader

Posted on October 22, 2010 by PB Rippey

I have not posted of late. See picture on left. We brought him into our pack and I have been adjusting to the dog element as it relates to freaked out housecats and a toddler with beaucoup d’energy. Le French … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult writing, Avoiding My Writing, dog, Faction, Fiction, Me and Us, middle grade, Poetry, Steps In Promotion, To Explain, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress, WTF | Tagged beach, Big Sur, children's literature, dog, domestics, fiction, fiction writing, Henry Miller Library, labrador, life, personal goals, poetry, toddlers, writer, writer's retreat, writing | Leave a comment

New Workings

Posted on October 11, 2010 by PB Rippey

Depending on who you talk to (my spouse, Facebook, my infernal muse, ABC.com…) I am working on a new poem. As proof, and in danger of ex-ing myself from the writing genre, here are some lines from this new poem … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult writing, Avoiding My Writing, Me and Us, Poetry, Steps In Promotion, To Explain, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress, WTF | Tagged domestic bliss, domestics, Facebook, fiction, fiction writing, life, personal goals, poetry, toddlers, Trader Joe's, TV, writer, writer's block, writing | Leave a comment

Boo, Moan, Woo

Posted on October 9, 2010 by PB Rippey

On the heels of a rejection, I finished editing my short story and submitted it today—thanks to my spouse whisking the boy to Zuma Beach for the afternoon, leaving me to my laptop in my quiet bedroom office—quiet but for … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult writing, Fiction, Me and Us, Steps In Promotion, Writing, Writing Progress | Tagged domestics, fiction, fiction writing, Halloween, life, personal goals, toddlers, writer, writing | Leave a comment

About Ready Is My Middle Name

Posted on August 30, 2010 by PB Rippey

I am about ready to record my Moth Radio submission. Also about ready to mail my BB submission tomorrow morning. Feels. Like. I’m! Ploughing. Through. Serious goo. (Said using Captain Kirk cadence.) I’m not as swift as I used to … Continue reading →

Posted in Steps In Promotion, To Explain, Writing Progress | Tagged fiction, life, moth radio, personal goals, writer, writing | 4 Comments

Distraction

Posted on August 25, 2010 by PB Rippey

I know all about distraction. Writers are always griping about it at conferences and on their writing blogs—about dusting behind headboards and vacuuming behind toilets and taking walks in heatwaves to buy lottery tickets and FBing, IMing, texting, checking email every 5 mintues, about gazing at People.com and clipping toenails and making popsicles and hanging out at Big Foot websites analyzing Big Foot photos and downloading bizarre Big Foot screams, instead of you-know-what. Continue reading →

Posted in Avoiding My Writing, Me and Us, Writing Progress | Tagged Big Foot, fiction, life, personal goals, toddlers, writer, writer's block, writing | Leave a comment

Away Again

Posted on August 22, 2010 by PB Rippey

I returned from the Writer’s Retreat Intensive (see previous post) only to depart for another intensive involving many mothers away from their husbands and children for 2 days and 2 nights. During this intensive, I did not write. I did, however, … Continue reading →

Posted in Me and Us, To Explain, Writing Progress | Tagged fiction, life, personal goals, toddlers, writer, writer's retreat, writing | Leave a comment

Writer’s Retreat Musings…

Posted on August 19, 2010 by PB Rippey

I. I reclined on a chaise longue on a Spanish-style patio (meaning wide, faux-adobe tile and iron and wood furniture), appreciating water chiming from the mouth of a stone lion—not a spooky, Lil’ Orphan Annie-eyed stone lion, but a handsome one—sun and … Continue reading →

Posted in Me and Us, To Explain, Writing Progress | Tagged children's literature, fiction, life, personal goals, writer, writer's retreat, writing | 1 Comment

Retreat…

Posted on August 16, 2010 by PB Rippey

For the next few days I will be away on a writer’s retreat, an intensive, an all-writing-all-the-time sort of deal—but with my son and no husband, so what this really means is time alone with my Toshiba next to a … Continue reading →

Posted in Me and Us, Writing Progress | Tagged beach, fiction, life, personal goals, writer's retreat | 1 Comment

My Gift For Blab…

Posted on August 15, 2010 by PB Rippey

9:46 pm. I don’t have it! That gift of easy-going gab. And yet—when I read what I’ve written for Moth Radio’s handy recording-a-submission feature, I carry on for two days instead of the minute they require. Who am I?

Posted in Adult writing, Faction, Steps In Promotion, To Explain, Writer's Angst, Writing Progress, WTF | Tagged fiction, life, moth radio, personal goals, writer, writer's block, writing | Leave a comment