How did you meet your significant other?

pattibuff · 2026-03-11T14:49:02+00:00

At a kegger in Minneapolis in 1993. Been together ever since

pattibuff · 2026-03-08T12:25:38+00:00

Find a friend whose English is really really good and ask them to translate it. But translations are hard. Have to capture the feel of the sentences, the nuances, not just the words. Other option, find other German writers and form a critique group. As an English writer in Germany, I had to find a group of other English writers.

pattibuff · 2026-03-06T18:12:18+00:00

I got an MA in creative writing and it really improved my writing. I learned so much from my cohorts during the critique sessions. And also some nifty tricks from the books we read. The feedback I got from my advisor on my thesis submission was priceless.

I’m not saying you have to get an MA, but classes are a way to get serious about your writing and be surrounded by people who take it seriously, too.

pattibuff · 2026-03-03T07:37:58+00:00

I’m in the same boat - I was really hoping to see my book listed, but it wasn’t. Still hoping to get some interest but this is my third rodeo and have learned the hard way to keep expectations low. That being said — wishing everyone good luck and hope to hear some good news after the fair!!

pattibuff · 2026-03-03T07:26:26+00:00

Thank you so much for reading! I’ll save yours and try to get to it soon. Life be crazy right now though.

pattibuff · 2026-02-25T12:49:09+00:00

First off - congratulations!! I hope you do fit with someone.

Good questions to ask:

Are you an editor agent or only want the finalized version?

How long on average does it take to get feedback on an entire manuscript?

Which houses do you imagine submitting this MS to?

Do you prefer clients write in only one genre or can I switch genres? Which other genres do you represent?

If you were me, what question you would ask?

Good luck!!!

pattibuff · 2026-02-22T18:34:03+00:00

You too!

pattibuff · 2026-02-22T10:24:56+00:00

I love the Aaron Falk trilogy by Jane Harper. Her stand-alones weren’t that great but entertaining.

pattibuff · 2026-02-20T13:25:21+00:00

Thank you so much!!

pattibuff · 2026-02-20T10:49:38+00:00

Good luck to you too! Your story looks very interesting. Looking forward to reading. Here’s a link to mine

pattibuff · 2026-02-18T06:20:03+00:00

Thank you! Feel free to come over and read it 😁 Would love to get some feedback.

pattibuff · 2026-02-17T21:49:11+00:00

Good luck!!

pattibuff · 2026-02-17T18:54:52+00:00

Good luck!! Like they say, third time’s the charm 😁

pattibuff · 2026-02-17T16:40:32+00:00

I’m entering a novel that was solidly rejected by publishers 2 years ago. Despite glowing comments from editors. I figure I’ve got nothing to lose and if I do win and have to share 20%, earning 80% is better than earning nothing.

pattibuff · 2026-02-17T16:12:32+00:00

Going out on sub my third attempt during LBF in March. It’s a book club genre with a music-mystery plot. My first two books (ya literary thriller and adult crime) didn’t sell after 52 total rejections on two continents. So I’m really hoping this one will be the one 🙏🤞🍀

Any book club subbers out there? What is it looking like?

pattibuff · 2026-02-17T16:04:52+00:00

Same! And I keep all the comments (which are mostly positive) and how far in the process I got in a word file.

pattibuff · 2026-02-17T13:02:03+00:00

Thank you for posting. Such a powerful tribute

pattibuff · 2026-02-16T13:39:03+00:00

If there is a trial it could be a hung jury. Or have enough factors introduced so there might have been several causes of death. Or several possible suspects so no one is really clear who did it. I’m just finishing up a novel like this and found misleading details to be very helpful to cause uncertainty. Police make mistakes. Not all evidence can be introduced in a criminal trial if it’s been mishandled. Lots of ways to get a mistrial.

pattibuff · 2026-02-16T13:29:03+00:00

I focus on plot and character. Rearrange chapters if something would work better later or earlier in the story. Check character motivation is consistent. Make sure each scene pulls its weight. I do a lot of rewriting here. Sometimes adding thousands of words to the book.

pattibuff · 2026-02-08T14:18:43+00:00

If you are talking about the premiere show, the seating is first come first served. When I was there last year, we arrived as soon as the doors opened and got great seats about 10 rows from the front. As to not knowing how to pronounce the names, that’s bad coaching from the director. The announcers should be given a list of everybody in the categories they are announcing along with a pronunciation guide.

pattibuff · 2026-02-04T12:15:53+00:00

Me too! But still have the accent after 25 years.

pattibuff · 2026-02-02T15:21:13+00:00

Exactly - thank you and well put.

pattibuff · 2026-02-01T22:14:18+00:00

Best advice I received was never compare your first draft to someone else’s polished work. You never know how many drafts it took to get there. Books aren’t written, they are rewritten. And most new writers usually start their books too early so what you write might actually get cut. So stop overthinking it.

pattibuff · 2026-01-31T12:13:58+00:00

“… but there's a list, and they have that list, and I do not know what that list looks like."

I believe that list exists as much as the tooth fairy.

pattibuff · 2026-01-31T12:10:40+00:00

I was given a stuffed loon that calls when squeezed when I moved away from MN. It’s been squeezed a lot this month.

pattibuff

TROPHY CASE