Tag Archives: middle grade writing

STARTING NOW

Posted on December 13, 2019 by PB Rippey

I mean, why wait? W.R.I.T.I.N.G.

Posted in Writing | Tagged 2019, 2020, art, books, happy new year, Inspiration, Let it snow, life, Literature, Middle Grade Fiction, middle grade writing, Resolutions, Thanks, Wow, writer, writing | 1 Comment

As I continue revising, it’s good to take breaks, even if only for a few minutes, as you probably know. If I’m working in a Starbucks or a library, I bring up pictures on my laptop that are gaze-inducing and … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged 2019, beach, fiction writing, Inspiration, middle grade writing, poetry, revision, Santa Barbara, writing | Leave a comment

REVISION

Posted on July 28, 2018 by PB Rippey

I finished my novel. All the writing, beach walks, and kitten-breaks seem to have paid off. I’m finished. Let the revising begin. Actually I’ve been revising all along. I adopted a habit of backing up a few chapters, reading/revising them … Continue reading →

Posted in Children's Books, Writing | Tagged 2018, books, cats, children's literature, fiction, Inspiration, life, Literature, middle grade writing, revision, Thanks, unicorns, universe, Wow, writing | 3 Comments

Lost Time

Posted on July 3, 2018 by PB Rippey

Yesterday I was driving home from Trader Joe’s, my mind deep in my novel. I am SO close to finishing it I can see the end and I was excited about what I was seeing. Then a street sign yanked … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Faction, middle grade, Writing | Tagged 2018, books, Inspiration, life, Literature, middle grade writing, Trader Joe's, writing | 2 Comments

Crucial Weekends (Moaning Myrtle Edition)

Posted on May 14, 2018 by PB Rippey

There is still only finishing my middle-grade novel (see previous post). However, life outside writing continues to happen– my mother-in-law’s 80th birthday AND Mother’s Day, during which I was presented with a Hufflepuff hoodie, a Mother’s Day card … Continue reading →

Posted in Children's Books, Faction, Fiction, Me and Us, middle grade, Writing, Writing Progress | Tagged 2018, books, Butterbeer, Dobby, English Breakfast, Gryffindor, Harry Potter, Hogsmeade, Hufflepuff, JK Rowling, Luck, middle grade writing, Moaning Myrtle, Mother's Day 2018, Three Broomsticks, Universal Studios Hollywood | Leave a comment

How It Is

Posted on May 2, 2018 by PB Rippey

There is only finishing my middle-grade novel. Getting my son to school, helping him finish his science project and get it to school; hurtling towards summer–school, science projects, math tests, helping at the school book fair, end-of-school-year requirements and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Avoiding My Writing, Children's Books, Writing | Tagged 2018, books, domestics, Family, Inspiration, life, Literature, middle grade writing, writing | 2 Comments

Writer’s Retreat: What Was It Like?

Posted on September 27, 2017 by PB Rippey

SCBWI Working Writer’s Retreat, September, 2017 The “working” aspect in Working Writer’s Retreat (for me)=the retreat provided printers, so there was no excuse (for me) for not sprinting to my sparse (sweetly existential) weekend bedroom after a workshop, whipping open … Continue reading →

Posted in Children's Books, Faction, Fiction, middle grade, Writing | Tagged 2017, books, children's literature, Encino CA, Family, Holy Spirit Retreat Center, humanity, Karaoke, kittens, Los Angeles, middle grade writing, oak trees, SCBWI, SCBWI So Cal, Vegetarian, Working Writers' Retreat 2017, writing | Leave a comment

MAY DAY (BLOOMING LATE EDITION)

Posted on May 4, 2017 by PB Rippey

On May Day! May Day! May Day! (a few days late, but—-) 90+ degrees today, again. My Spring yard is shriveling. I thought this wouldn’t happen until next month. Silly me! When the Arctic is melting! Doh. The box turtle and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Children's Books, Fiction, Parakeet, Pets, Writing | Tagged 2017, animals, books, California, deadlines, Family, life, Literature, May Day, middle grade writing, Muses, revision, Starbucks, writing | Leave a comment

Third Eye (April Edition w/Cat)

Posted on April 28, 2017 by PB Rippey

Woke up at 430am, pressed on with the last 40 pages of revision, my 3rd eye drowsy, but game. Now that I’m wide awake, overly caffeinated and the little boy is at school and the husband is off to heroic … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Children's Books, Fiction, Pets, Poetry, Writing | Tagged 2017, books, cats, Critique, Family, Literature, middle grade writing, Muses, Pets, poetry, revision, The New Yorker, Third Eye, writing | 2 Comments

Heat Wave Revision

Posted on April 21, 2017 by PB Rippey

Today’s spring temperature high is predicted as: 86F. Which, in my sweltering valley, probably means: at least 90F. If not more. The MG novel I’m almost finished revising (this time around) has everything to do with global warming, pollution, the (mis)use … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult writing, books, Children's Books, Faction, Fiction, middle grade, Writing | Tagged 2017, Climate Change, crab claws, fish, global warming, middle grade writing, Santa Barbara, sea life, spring | 2 Comments

Coffee Kick & Go (Tremble Edition)

Posted on April 12, 2017 by PB Rippey

It may be poetry month in the USA, but here at PB Writes the author was up late revising her MG novel, prepping it for the agent requesting a read. This sweet, cool and sunny spring morning–after creating pancakes-secreted-with-carrot-puree for the boy, feeding … Continue reading →

Posted in Children's Books, Fiction, Pets, Poetry, Writing | Tagged 2017, books, cats, coffee, Dogs, Family, fiction, life, Literature, Los Angeles, middle grade writing, muse, Pets, poetry, Poetry Month, revision, spring | 2 Comments

April Is Poetry Month (As If You Didn’t Know)

Posted on April 7, 2017 by PB Rippey

At the recent SCBWI Writers & Illustrators Day (see my SCBWI piece), editor Pam Gruber had her workshop attendees write down a bit of world building. In honor of all those writing a poem a day this month (I am … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry, Writing | Tagged 2017, April Poetry Month, cats, middle grade writing, poetry, Poets, Santa Barbara, writing | Leave a comment

SCBWI-LA Writers & Illustrators Day 2017 (Links Edition)

Posted on March 20, 2017 by PB Rippey

I was asked by SCBWI-LA to write about my experience at the recent WID. The piece is up on the Kite Tales blog. 1, 2, 3: LINK. Such a luxury for me to discard certain hats (taxi-mama, chef of sorts, … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Children's Books, Faction, Fiction, Poetry, Writing, Writing Progress | Tagged 2017, books, Kate Messner, life, Lisa Cron, Literature, Los Angeles, middle grade writing, Picture Books, SCBWI, SCBWI Writers & Illustrators Day, Skirball Cultural Center, Wired for Story, Writers Conferences, writing | 2 Comments

SCBWI

Posted on December 11, 2016 by PB Rippey

Have you registered for the (Los Angeles chapter) SCBWI Writers & Illustrators Day 2017? It’s happening February 25th at the Skirball Cultural Center, a venue I once frequented in order to exercise my former toddler in the intriguingly lit Noah’s Ark … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Children's Books, middle grade, Writing | Tagged 2016, children's literature, Los Angeles, middle grade writing, Mulholland Dr, Noah's Ark, Picture Book writing, SCBWI Writers & Illustrators Day, Skirball Cultural Center, Writer resources | Leave a comment

Seasonal Conundrums

Posted on August 14, 2016 by PB Rippey

Researching summer camps for my 8 year old, round about last March/April, I became frustrated: Sports camp in triple digit heat? No. Great white shark and hammerhead shark sightings along our southern coast. Surf camp? No. Science Camp? He loves … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Children's Books, Fiction, Writing | Tagged beach, children's literature, fiction writing, life, Los Angeles, middle grade writing, ocean, personal goals, poetry, Santa Barbara, shark sightings, writing | Leave a comment

O Summer!

Posted on August 5, 2016 by PB Rippey

I’ve been quiet since May, after a brief, powerful writer’s retreat. I’ve been busy this summer with what the retreat inspired: Writing. Revising. Writing. Revising a new short story, one screaming for edits of late. It’s almost ready for submission. Compiling … Continue reading →

Posted in Writing | Tagged 2016, beach, fiction, Kauai, life, Los Angeles, middle grade writing, ocean, personal goals, poetry, writer, writer's angst, writing | 1 Comment

Snooze House

Posted on March 31, 2015 by PB Rippey

Lately, instead of writing at night I’ve resorted to rising early in order to revisereviserevise certain projects and I’ve realized: The loudest sound in the house at 5am? Despite our small zoo? And the programmable coffee maker’s generous peeps? And the refrigerator … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult writing, books, Children's Books, dog, Faction, Fiction, ocean related, Poetry, Quotes, Santa Barbara, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress | Tagged 2015, children's literature, dog, fish, globa warming, labrador, life, Los Angeles, middle grade writing, Santa Barbara, writer's block, writing | 1 Comment

Screens

Posted on November 15, 2014 by PB Rippey

Staring at my writing, I heard what I thought was our younger cat pulverizing the bedroom window’s screen, as he does when he’d like to be let inside, despite the little Hobbiton upside-down-U’s we had cut in pertinent doors, just for … Continue reading →

Posted in Avoiding My Writing, Children's Books, dog, Faction, Writing, WTF | Tagged children's literature, dog, domestic bliss, fiction writing, hobbits, life, Los Angeles, middle grade writing, personal goals, poetry, writer's block, writing | 2 Comments

All Schedules Thrown

Posted on June 12, 2014 by PB Rippey

And, suddenly, for a week, until summer camp started, the newly ex-Kindergartner and I were face to face over our morning pancakes, not an elementary school deadline in sight. “Let’s go to the beach!” he suggested. We did. “Museums!” We went there, … Continue reading →

Posted in Avoiding My Writing, Faction, Fiction, Writing | Tagged 2014, Balboa Island, beach, children's literature, domestics, Hurricane Harbor, middle grade writing, personal goals, writing, Yelp | 2 Comments

Spring Break Snoozing (Wide Awake Edition)

Posted on April 18, 2014 by PB Rippey

During this luscious week of no school for the Kindergartner, we snooze well. Except when we are awakened from chasm-sleep somewhere between 2a.m. and maybe 4:30a.m.—after the bars have closed, but before the rooster across the alley busts its lungs—after we’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult writing, Avoiding My Writing, books, Children's Books, dog, Faction, Fiction, Me and Us, middle grade, Pets, Poetry, Writer's Angst, Writing, Writing Progress, WTF | Tagged 2014, cats, children's literature, dog, domestic bliss, fiction writing, Kindergarten, Kindle Fire, labrador, life, Los Angeles, middle grade writing, personal goals, poetry, writing | 1 Comment

A Weekend Of “Instead-Of’s” (Big Beach Edition)

Posted on April 13, 2014 by PB Rippey

Instead of the LA Times Book Fest, the beginning of my son’s Spring Break: Instead of the LA Times Bookfest Poetry Tent, this: Also a cave (!): This: Er–and this (at a different beach–a short while later–if whiles can be short–why … Continue reading →

Posted in Children's Books, dog, Faction, Fiction, Poetry, Santa Barbara, To Explain, Writing, Writing Progress | Tagged 2014, beach, children's literature, fiction writing, Kindergarten, middle grade writing, ocean, poetry, Santa Barbara, writer's retreat, writing | 1 Comment

Discoveries (Balancing Edition)

Posted on March 26, 2014 by PB Rippey

The huge benefit of being thrown by a horse and not being able to exercise for over a week or lie down on the bed without screaming in pain or do anything in between carrying on as a mother except … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult writing, Children's Books, Faction, Fiction, middle grade, Poetry, Writing | Tagged 2014, chaos, children's literature, domestics, fiction writing, John Dos Passos, life, Los Angeles, middle grade writing, personal goals, poetry, writer's retreat, writing | 2 Comments

Article At ‘Through The Tollbooth’!!!

Posted on March 20, 2014 by PB Rippey

My writing mentor, Kathryn Fitzmaurice, was interviewed by Catherine Linka (I’ve heard Catherine speak at SCBWI events–she is positively famous in our SCBWI Los Angeles circles) over at Through The Tollbooth. The interview is about Kathryn’s mentoring experience–er, of me! … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Children's Books, Fiction, middle grade, Writing | Tagged 2014, Catherine Linka, children's literature, fiction writing, Kathryn Fitzmaurice, Los Angeles, middle grade writing, personal goals, SCBWI, SCBWI CA/North Central, Through The Tollbooth, writing | 3 Comments

The Women’s National Book Association

Posted on March 1, 2014 by PB Rippey

I was made aware of the WNBA/LA thanks to my middle grade writing mentor, Kathryn Fitzmaurice (ask me if I am lucky to have her as my mentor and you will hear amplified hell yeah’s). She gave one of this … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Children's Books, Faction, Fiction, middle grade, Writing, Writing Progress, Writing Tips | Tagged 2014, children's literature, Destiny Rewritten, fiction, fiction writing, Kathryn Fitzmaurice, middle grade writing, ocean, poetry, SCBWI, SCBWI CA/North Central, Women's National Book Association/LA, writing | Leave a comment

Staying The Course

Posted on February 17, 2014 by PB Rippey

Saturday morning I rose when our son (impossible to wake on a school day) woke at 5:30a.m. to begin a weekend of attending birthday parties, completing school projects, and constant verbalized hankering for Minecraft (it was Survivalcraft, until we realized the … Continue reading →

Posted in Adult writing, books, Children's Books, Faction, Writing, Writing Progress | Tagged 2014, children's literature, Dragons Love Tacos, faction, fiction writing, Iggy Peck Architect, Los Angeles, middle grade writing, personal goals, poetry, Quackenstein Hatches a Family, writer's angst, writing | 6 Comments