Archives for 2022

Fun Fridays – August 26, 2022

By Steve Laubeon August 26, 2022

You may not enjoy this video as much as I do. The reason is that I played basketball in high school and was able to dunk. In addition, I had the fun of going to State as a high jumper. But this video is highest-level stuff (pun intended). When I see things like this I’m stunned at the sheer athleticism.

Metaphor? You may be good, but there will always be someone better based on certain measurements. However, comparison will get you nowhere. Instead, celebrate others’ success and be grateful for whatever measure you have achieved.

(If you cannot see the embedded video in your newsletter email, please click the headline and go directly to our site to view it.)

The Mystery of Book Data

By Dan Balowon August 25, 2022

The book-publishing market has an element of mystery to it, and not only in the category of books called mysteries. Many things are not as scientific as you might think. Prominent book-bestseller lists are based on data from a sampling of booksellers, rather than comprehensive information outputs from all channels. Industry-status reports from publishing trade associations use a similar sampling …

Category: Book Business, Technology, The Publishing Life

Against Laziness (A Writer’s Prayer)

By Bob Hostetleron August 24, 2022

God, save me from laziness as a writer. Save me from the error of thinking my first draft is good enough. Save me from settling for second best. Save me from low standards, pedestrian thoughts, stale words, and pat answers. Grant me the grace to reread and rewrite with diligence and insight. Grant me the courage to invite and accept valuable and insightful critique from others. Grant me the …

Category: Encouragement, Inspiration, Theology

The Woman Beside the Man

By Steve Laubeon August 22, 2022

Forty-one years ago today, a beautiful young lady said “I do”; and we have been married ever since. They say that beside every good man is an even better woman. I couldn’t agree more. Through the ups and downs of life, my wife, Lisa, has been the foundation of our home and raised three incredible daughters (and now two grandsons are part of the extended family!). I can safely say …

Category: PersonalTag: Personal

Fun Fridays – August 19, 2022

By Steve Laubeon August 19, 2022

When professionals take a moment to have fun, we can enjoy the spectacle. See what I mean with today’s video of a doubles match held at Wimbledon earlier this summer. Is there a writing metaphor here somewhere? Add your ideas in the comments below. (If you cannot see the embedded video in your newsletter email, please click the headline and go directly to our site to view it.)

Category: Fun Fridays

Ditch the Deadlines

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon August 18, 2022

Writers want deadlines to keep us on track to: Submit a proposal Write a book Edit a book Approve the final version of the book Market the book. Rinse and repeat, we hope! Too many? Since we have so many deadlines in our writing lives, do we need more in our personal lives? Of course, we may encounter deadlines whether we want them or not. But I’ve found that taking a different, less goal-oriented …

Category: The Writing LifeTag: Deadlines

Just the Facts

By Dan Balowon August 17, 2022

With the omnipresence of social media and other ways for people to directly express opinions, Christian writers should take extra care to be aware of the facts when it comes to both theology and society. Since Christians actually believe there is truth and it is knowable, Christian writers should be a lot more like classic journalists, researching, studying, and reporting truth, rather than simply …

Category: Reading, The Writing Life, Trends

Rejection: A Fact of the Writing Life

By Steve Laubeon August 15, 2022

Rejection is a fact of life. Especially the writing life. As one crusty publishing veteran said: “Welcome to the industry that will break your heart.” Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy, doesn’t it? But let me put a little perspective on it. I admire writers. You put your souls on a few pages and send them to strangers and pray for acceptance. How do you do that, day in and day …

Category: RejectionTag: Get Published, Rejection

Fun Fridays – August 12, 2022

By Steve Laubeon August 12, 2022

World’s fastest typist. Watch this lady type 185 words a minute and the awe of the students. Put it this way. Stella Pajunas in 1946 set, and still holds, the world record for typing at 216 words per minute. The average person types around 40 words per minute. (See the infographic on this page.) My high-school typing teacher could do 80 wpm on a manual typewriter, the kind I learned on. If …

Category: Fun Fridays

You Can Be the Best

By Bob Hostetleron August 11, 2022

I’m not the best. At anything, it seems. I flunked out of C Ball in Little League. I squeezed four years of high school into five. I’ve written a lot and even won a few awards, but many others are far better writers than I am. I strive for excellence in virtually everything I do; but as a writer, speaker, preacher, literary agent, and blogger, I fall short of “the best.” Maybe you can identify. …

Category: Encouragement, Inspiration, The Writing Life