• Skip to main content
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer

The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World…Word by Word

The Steve Laube Agency

The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World Word by Word

  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Interview with Steve Laube
    • Statement of Faith
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
  • Guidelines
  • Authors
    • Who We Represent
    • Awards and Recognition
  • Resources
    • Recommended Reading
    • Christian Writers Market Guide Online
    • Christian Writers Institute
    • Writers Conferences
    • Freelance Editorial Services
    • Copyright Resources
    • Research Tools
    • Selling What You Write
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Twitter
  • FaceBook
  • RSS Feed
  • Get Published
  • Book Proposals
  • Book Business
  • Writing Craft
    • Conferences
    • Copyright
    • Craft
    • Creativity
    • Grammar
  • Fun Fridays
Home » Archives for October 2018

Archives for October 2018

A Writer’s Phobias

By Bob Hostetleron October 31, 2018
Share
Tweet
40

This world can be a scary place. It is filled with “ghoulies and ghosties and long-leggedy beasties and things that go bump in the night,” as the old Scottish prayer puts it.

It can be especially scary for writers, believe it or not. Even though we don’t get out much. Maybe because we don’t get out much.

Sure, there’s a phobia for just about everything; but some are more acute or common among people who write. The following is just a short list (some of which are officially recognized by VSP—very smart people—and some of which I made up):

Agentophobia: the fear of literary agents. Also exists in more specific forms, the most common of which is Stevephobia.

Amazophobia: the fear of bad reviews, especially those that appear online. From mean people. Who apparently have issues.

Anthropophobia: the fear of people—especially the fear of meeting new people, instead of just staying at home with the dog, the cat, and the computer.

Bibliophobia: the fear of books. Some people really do have a fear of books, bookshelves, and bookstores. But this phobia can also be experienced by writers who confine themselves to writing articles, devotions, short stories, etc. But a whole book? Whoa, Nelly. How many words did you say it should be?

Catagelophobia or katagelophobia: the fear of being ridiculed. This fear may hinder a writer from writing, inviting critique, submitting, etc.

Deuterophobia: the fear that your second book won’t be anywhere near as good as your first. Also the fear of long and difficult books of the Bible.

Enterophobia: the fear of hitting “send” on an email submission.

Glossophobia: the fear of public speaking, such as speaking up in a classroom or critique group, at a speaking engagement, in a radio or television interview, etc. May also refer to a fear of 8×10 glossy photos.

Graphophobia: the fear of writing itself, or of handwriting. Especially when it causes flashbacks to being made to write on the chalkboard, in second or third grade, in cursive, while the teacher looked on. With a ruler in her hand. Or a bazooka.

Interophobia: the fear of the internet. Or technology in general. Isn’t it just better to write with a rock and a chisel? Sure, it’s slower, but it just feels right.

Peniaphobia: the fear of poverty. A very real phobia afflicting writers everywhere.

Phobiaphobia, the fear of fear itself. Also known as FDRaphobia.

Plagiarophobia: the fear of someone stealing my idea, which is the first of its kind in the history of the world—or at least in the history of human language.

Publiophobia: the fear of being published, which is closely related to catagelophobia.

Redinkophobia: the fear of editors, editing, and marked-up manuscripts.

SASEphobia (pronounced “sassyphobia”): the fear of rejection, named for the self-addressed, stamped envelopes that presaged the dreaded pink slips of rejection, back in the olden days.

Scriptophobia: the fear of writing in public. Seriously, it’s a real thing. Writers are a little like vampires; we shrink from the light of day.

Tropophobia: the fear of making changes. May also be related to egotism. Or pride. Or an unbiblical view of inspiration.

Do any of those hit home with you? Or are you afraid to say so (see what I did there)? What would you add to the list?

 

Leave a Comment
Category: Fun Fridays, The Writing Life

A New Association for Christian Retailers

By Steve Laubeon October 29, 2018
Share
Tweet
15

Last week, in “response to changes in the industry,” one of which I addressed in the post “Rumbles in CBA,” a new retail association has been formed. The Munce Group has long been a strong collection of Christian retailers who used their combined buying power to market and sell more products in their local stores. With the uncertainty of the ICRS (International Christian Retail Show) and the …

Read moreA New Association for Christian Retailers
Category: Book Business, Conventions, Publishing News

Fun Fridays – October 26, 2018

By Steve Laubeon October 26, 2018
Share
Tweet
7

This is fun! Watch the whole thing and see if you are a good observer.

Read moreFun Fridays – October 26, 2018
Category: Fun Fridays

Character Quirks

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon October 25, 2018
Share
Tweet
30

This blog is part two of six in a series designed to hone character development of protagonists in your fiction. When on its own and free to be itself, my hair curves into waves that the Atlantic Ocean would envy. Prodigious effort must be made to tame it. That prodigious effort originates in the form of a professional blowout. When trying to preserve a blowout, I have found that the perfect room …

Read moreCharacter Quirks
Category: Writing Craft

The Worst Parts of Being an Agent

By Bob Hostetleron October 24, 2018
Share
Tweet
40

I’m not one to complain. Although I didn’t sleep too well last night, and my coffee was a little weak this morning. And I spilled some on my shirt. But I mean, otherwise, I’m not one to complain. After all, there are many great things happening in my life right now, some of which pertain to me being a literary agent—which I posted about last week (“The Best Parts of Being an Agent“). …

Read moreThe Worst Parts of Being an Agent
Category: Agency, Agents, Book Proposals

Lessons Learned As a Literary Agent

By Dan Balowon October 23, 2018
Share
Tweet
36

Dan is leaving the agency at the end of this month to focus his attention on the work of Gilead Publishing, the company he started in 2016. Here are some parting thoughts. _____ I’ve been a literary agent for about 2,000 of the 13,000 total days spent working with and for book publishers over the last thirty-five years. It’s been a great experience, for sure; but as I look back at the thousands of …

Read moreLessons Learned As a Literary Agent
Category: Agents, Book Business, Branding, Career, Conferences, Craft, Creativity, Encouragement, Inspiration, Marketing, Personal, Pitch, Platform, Self-Publishing, Social Media, The Publishing Life, The Writing Life, Writing Craft

Changes in the Agency

By Steve Laubeon October 22, 2018
Share
Tweet
22

The Greek philosopher Plato, in quoting Heraclitus, wrote, “Everything changes and nothing stands still.” Some say it another way, “The only constant is change.” In 2016 Dan Balow started a small publishing company called Gilead Publishing, which he has been overseeing in his “spare time” while simultaneously being a great literary agent. After many long conversations, it became apparent, as …

Read moreChanges in the Agency
Category: Agency

Fun Fridays – October 19, 2018

By Steve Laubeon October 19, 2018
Share
Tweet
8

Tim Hawkins is a favorite comedian. This new video is no exception! HT: Dan Balow (blame this one on Dan) For more video fun by Tim Hawkins, visit his site: https://timhawkins.net/blogs/video  

Read moreFun Fridays – October 19, 2018
Category: Fun Fridays

Prized Possessions

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon October 18, 2018
Share
Tweet
42

This blog is part one of six in a series designed to hone character development of protagonists in your fiction. I own a few possessions that I prize though they aren’t worth much moneywise. These possessions represent the love someone has for me. That love is far more valuable to me than the few dollars I could earn from selling my memories on eBay. Take the small trinket box my grandmother …

Read morePrized Possessions
Category: Writing Craft

The Best Parts of Being an Agent

By Bob Hostetleron October 17, 2018
Share
Tweet
30

I’ve been a literary agent now for just over fifteen months. I pretty much know it all at this point. As Foghorn Leghorn would say, “That’s a joke, son.” If you don’t know who Foghorn Leghorn is, you’re too young for us to be friends. But seriously, folks, I’ve learned a lot since becoming an agent; and number one on the list is how much I have yet to learn. Insanely much. As I’m often asked by …

Read moreThe Best Parts of Being an Agent
Category: Agency, Agents
  • Page 1
  • Page 2
  • Page 3
  • Next

Sidebar

Get Blog Updates

Enter your email address to get new blog updates delivered via email. You can unsubscribe at any time.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Grow as a Writer


Find Out More →

Popular Posts

Top Posts on Book Proposals
  • Hints for a Great Cover Letter
  • The Keys to a Great Book Proposal
  • What Steve Laube is Looking For
  • Book Proposals I’d Love to See – Tamela Hancock Murray
  • What I’m Looking for – Bob Hostetler
  • What I’m Looking for – Dan Balow
  • What I’m Looking for – Lynette Eason
  • What’s the Best Way to Submit My Self-Published Book?
  • What Is the Agent Doing While I Wait?
  • God Gave Me This Blog Post
Top Posts on The Business Side
  • When Your Book Becomes Personal
  • The Myth of the Unearned Advance
  • How Long Does it Take to Get Published?
  • What Are Average Book Sales?
  • Can You Plagiarize Yourself?
  • Never Burn a Bridge
  • Who Decides to Publish Your Book?
  • That Conference Appointment
  • Goodbye to Traditional Publishing?
  • Who Owns Whom in Publishing?
  • Ten Commandments for Working with Your Agent
  • Writers Beware! Protect Yourself
Top Series
  • Book Proposal Basics
  • Publishing A-Z
  • A Defense of Traditional Publishing
Top Posts on Rejection
  • The Slush Pile: Enter at Your Own Risk
  • Even the Best Get Rejected
  • Five Reasons Why You May Never Get Published
  • The Unhelpful Rejection Letter
  • Writers Learn to Wait

Blog Post Archives by Month

  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Interview with Steve Laube
    • Statement of Faith
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
  • Guidelines
  • Authors
    • Who We Represent
    • Awards and Recognition
  • Resources
    • Recommended Reading
    • Christian Writers Market Guide Online
    • Christian Writers Institute
    • Writers Conferences
    • Freelance Editorial Services
    • Copyright Resources
    • Research Tools
    • Selling What You Write
  • Blog
  • Contact

Copyright © 2025 · The Steve Laube Agency · All Rights Reserved · Website by Stormhill Media