Tag Archives: writing

Launchings

Posted on April 2, 2024 by PB Rippey

Been busy since this post, meeting self-imposed deadlines and requests for my writing. But now it’s spring break for my teen. Not going on a lengthy trip this year (last year: Route 66/Mitchell Caverns and other oddities). Instead we’re visiting … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged #amwritng, 2024, art, books, cats, children's literature, fiction writing, middle grade writing, personal goals, photography, poetry, Rockets, Santa Barbara, Space X, Spring Break 2024, travel, writing | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Writing | Tagged #amwriting, 2024, Big Sur Children's Writing Workshops Monterey, children's literature, Critique, editing, feedback, fiction, fiction writing, Harry Potter, middle grade writing, personal goals, writer, writing, Writing Tips | Leave a comment

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 came to Monterey the day before the conference started and with … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged #amwriting, 2024, art, books, children's literature, fiction, kidlit, Literature, middle grade writing, Monterey CA, personal goals, poetry, writer, writing | 1 Comment

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 →

Posted in Writing | Tagged #amwriting, 2024, Big Sur Children's Writing Workshops Monterey, Cannery Row, Ed Ricketts, fiction, fiction writing, kidlit, middle grade writing, Monterey CA, poetry, Steinbeck, writer, writing | Leave a comment

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 to prep. But before any conference prep is house-prep, cleaning the guest room for my inlaws, baking for the ravenous teen–mini pizzas, egg/bacon … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged #amwriting, 2024, Big Sur, Big Sur Children's Writing Workshops, California, children's literature, fiction writing, middle grade writing, personal goals, poetry, writing, Writing conferences | Leave a comment

SCBWI Retreating! (San Simeon Edition)

Posted on January 20, 2024 by PB Rippey

So far I’ve been successful in tearing my eyes away from the ocean in order to revise my new novel, the same novel I’m taking to the Big Sur Children’s Writing Workshops next month, the novel that placed (tooting my … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged #amwritingkidlit, 2024, Big Sur Children's Writing Workshops, books, children's literature, creative-writing, fiction writing, middle grade writing, Pacific Ocean, personal goals, personal goals 2024, poetry, San Simeon CA, SCBWI, writing, writing retreat | Leave a comment

Writing Retreat!

Posted on January 19, 2024 by PB Rippey

January is good.

Posted in Writing | Tagged 2024, caliornia coast, children's literature, fiction writing, middle grade writing, ocean, personal goals, writing | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Writing | Tagged 2023, cats, children's literature, fiction, fiction writing, life, middle grade writing, NYE 2023, personal goals, poetry, writer, writing | Leave a comment

Posted on December 28, 2023 by PB Rippey

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

Posted in Writing | Tagged 2023, cats, children's literature, domestic life, fiction, fiction writing, middle grade writing, personal goals, poetry, writer, writing | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Writing | Tagged 2023, children's literature, Christms 2023, fiction, fiction writing, middle grade writing, Noel, personal goals, poetry, writing | 1 Comment

INSERT HO-HO-HO HERE

Posted on December 14, 2023 by PB Rippey

Yours in staying active this holiday season, PB

Posted in Writing | Tagged 2023, children's literature, Christmas in California, fiction writing, life, middle grade writing, poetry, writing | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Writing | Tagged #amwriting, 2023, children's literature, Christmas Spirit, fiction writing, middle grade writing, poetry, Pteranodons, The art of revision, writer, writing | 1 Comment

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 →

Posted in Writing | Tagged 2023, Bambi, children's literature, Cujo, Death, dog training, fiction writing, middle grade writing, Mr. Beast cookies, November, parties, personal goals, Pets, pizza, poetry, revising, Teenagers, writing | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Writing | Tagged 2023, children's literature, fiction, fiction writing, Halloween 2023, middle grade writing, poetry, writer, writing | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Writing | Tagged Best In Show, children's literature, coyotes, eco-fiction, fiction writing, keynote speakers, kidlit, middle grade writing, personal goals, Pets, poetry, revision, women's fiction, writer, writing | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Writing | Tagged 2023, children's literature, Connections, fiction writing, Grammar, In N Out fries, It's Me, middle grade writing, mini-zoos, minivan moms, Moms, New York Times, personal goals, poetry, Taylor Swift, Wordle, writer, writing | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Writing | Tagged #kidlit, 2023, fiction writing, kidlit, middle grade writing, SCBWI, Sue Alexander Grant, writer, writing | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Writing | Tagged #amwriting, #staysafe, 2023, bad decisions, beach, children's literature, fiction writing, Fireworks, July 4th 2023, life, Los Angeles County, personal goals, ridiculous people, Socal fireworks, Valencia, Ventura, Ventura County, writing | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Writing | Tagged #amwriting, #summervacation2023, 2023, California, faction writing, fiction writing, kidlit, middle grade writing, personal goals, Santa Rosa Island, writing, Writing life | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Writing | Tagged #amwriting, 2023, Dinosaurs, Elizabeth Lake, fiction writing, High desert, middle grade writing, personal goals, Pteranodons, revision, Southern California, writer, writing | Leave a comment

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!

Posted in Writing | Tagged #amwriting, 2023, fiction writing, food trucks!, kidlit authors, LA Times Festival of Books 2023, Los Angeles, Middle Grade Fiction, poetry, USC, writing | Leave a comment

Spring Break: High Desert (Mojave Edition)

Posted on April 11, 2023 by PB Rippey

Last year I thought we’d spend this year’s spring break in Costa Rica, but Rte 66 and the Mojave National Preserve were shall we say more 2023 practical: I hate you Covid. Mitchell Caverns. Calico Ghost Town. The Jenny Rose … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged 2023, Alien movies, Calico Ghost Town, California High Desert, children's literature, Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch, fiction writing, Jenny Rose, Leaving Las Vegas, Mitchell Caverns, Mojave National Desert, Peggy Sue's Diner, poetry, Providence Mountains, Sheryl Crow, spring break 2023, writer, writing | 3 Comments

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 →

Posted in Writing | Tagged #amwriting, 2023, children's literature, fiction writing, life, middle grade writing, personal goals, poetry, SoCal snow, Valencia, women's fiction, writing | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Writing | Tagged 2023, adultlit, fiction writing, kidlit, Literary Agents, middle grade writing, Nephele Tempest, personal goals, Santa Barbara, womens fiction, writer, writing, Writing challenges, writing goals, Writing life | Leave a comment

O Loglines!

Posted on January 6, 2023 by PB Rippey

To be 100% honest, I hate writing them. I tell myself: fantastic writing exercise! Or: you’ve just written 5 potential maybe-winners! Or: it’s midnight WTH. And: time to pay somebody. Query letter, synopsis, logline are sometimes the ONLY bits in … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged 2023, fiction writer, kidlit, New Year Resolutions 2023, poetry 2023, proofreaders, query letter writing, synopsis writing, womens fiction, writing, writing loglines, writing resolutions, writing submissions | Leave a comment