• 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 » Blog

Blog

A Novel Idea

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon August 20, 2015
Share
Tweet
16

As followers of this blog know, I have just returned from a wonderful conference in Oregon. Many of the questions and my interactions there caused me to re-evaluate my way of approaching how and what I read during my personal time. Please note: I am in no way changing my philosophy regarding what I represent as an agent. I’m still focusing on all forms of Christian romance and representing other select categories from fantastic authors in fiction and nonfiction.

But since I’m a reader, I’m sure you can imagine how much reading material I consume in a day. I’m grateful for this challenge regarding my personal reading, even though the very cool people I was talking to had no idea they were taking me into new territory. It’s good to step back and rethink old habits every now and again, and I’m grateful for this exercise. So hence, today’s post.

Of course we know that a novel is a work of fiction. But of course, as an adjective, “novel” means new. An untried idea.

So here is the question I’ll pose today:

What is the best published novel — with the freshest idea — you have recently read? This can be general market or CBA. This is a no-judgment zone. Let us know what you think!

Leave a Comment
Category: Craft, Get Published, ReadingTag: Ideas, Reading Craft

Doing Dialect Well

By Karen Ballon August 19, 2015
Share
Tweet25
16

“Aym t’inkin’ ye tol’ me, didna ya, dat dere be tips ‘n’ tricks ta doin’ de dialect da wey ye shud in buks?” Just in case you haven’t figured it out, here’s the translation of this bit of brutal brogue: “I’m thinking you told me, didn’t you, that there are tips and tricks to doing dialect the way you should in books?” There are, indeed. And the first line of this blog is the perfect example of …

Read moreDoing Dialect Well
Category: Craft, Writing CraftTag: Craft, dialect, Writing Craft

Are You Writing Out of Order?

By Dan Balowon August 18, 2015
Share
Tweet36
28

Generally speaking, if you want to write a book, sitting down at a computer, opening a Word document and starting to write it is not the first thing you should do. Certainly, every writer should write and keep writing. In the same vein, every runner should run, every person interested in being a chef should prepare food and so on. But writing a book is not the first thing you should do if you …

Read moreAre You Writing Out of Order?
Category: Book Proposals, Career, Get Published, Platform, Writing CraftTag: Craft, Get Published, Platform

Family Christian Stores Survive Bankruptcy

By Steve Laubeon August 17, 2015
Share
Tweet
10

In case you missed the news, last Tuesday the court approved the sale of the Family Christian Stores (FCS) to FCS Acquisitions. The new owner is basically the previous owner since Richard Jackson was part of that company too (which I have written about before-click to read). This sale, in essence, wipes clean over $120 million in debt that the stores owed. Their $75 million in assets will be …

Read moreFamily Christian Stores Survive Bankruptcy
Category: Book Business, Legal IssuesTag: bankruptcy, Book Business, family christian stores, Legal

Fun Fridays – August 14, 2015

By Steve Laubeon August 14, 2015
Share
Tweet
6

Since Karen wrote a blog on dialect I thought this video was appropriate this week. Take a deep breath and for seven minutes be mesmerized by the language differences around the world. If you are writing a novel set in one of these places…be very careful with your regional research! Wow.

Read moreFun Fridays – August 14, 2015
Category: Fun Fridays

I’ve Been There and Now I’m Going There – For You

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon August 13, 2015
Share
Tweet15
17

In this era of, “What can an agent do for you?” I thought a blog about the intangible benefits of visibility and relationships would be worth your time. As a literary agent, I am blessed to speak with a great number of talented authors. Many of them are where I once was — mothers with young children at home. They are lucky to have any time to write. Travel to a writers …

Read moreI’ve Been There and Now I’m Going There – For You
Category: Agents, Book Business, Career, Communication, Get PublishedTag: Agents, Get Published, Relationships

Speaking of Dialect—Yea or Nay?

By Karen Ballon August 12, 2015
Share
Tweet24
33

I’ve had a number of people ask me lately about dialect in fiction. Next week we’ll talk about how to do dialect well, but for today, since I’m at the Oregon Christian Writers’ conference in Portland, Oregon, sitting in a hotel room with my roomie and buddy, Susan May Warren, writer par excellence and the mastermind behind My Book Therapy (pause to take a breath) I figured this was the perfect …

Read moreSpeaking of Dialect—Yea or Nay?
Category: Craft, Writing CraftTag: Craft, dialect, Writing Craft

Bad Reviews

By Dan Balowon August 11, 2015
Share
Tweet
28

This post isn’t about what you think. I am not going to address how to handle the emotional sting of a bad review. Instead, I am going to talk about those closest to you, showing how your friends and family can hinder your writing career. If you cannot stand the thought those you love may be undermining your career, stop reading now and go make yourself a smoothie and relax. For those of you who …

Read moreBad Reviews
Category: Book Proposals, Book Review, Career, Get PublishedTag: Family and Friends, Get Published, reviews

Fun Fridays – August 7, 2015

By Steve Laubeon August 7, 2015
Share
Tweet
2

This isn’t something you see every day. A musical combo of Recorder and Beatbox. Think of the hours of practice that went into his expertise! Do you spend as much time perfecting your writing craft?

Read moreFun Fridays – August 7, 2015
Category: Fun Fridays

Your Agent’s Brand (And Why You Should Care)

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon August 6, 2015
Share
Tweet21
17

I’ve been privileged to have a career as a literary agent for many years now, and early on, I developed a brand and stuck with it. No, I didn’t hire a consultant to sit down and figure out what my “brand” is. And it’s not a tag line I put on business cards, or even anything I say aloud or post on social media. But most people who study agents have an idea about me …

Read moreYour Agent’s Brand (And Why You Should Care)
Category: Agents, Branding, Career, Get PublishedTag: Agents, Branding, Get Published
  • Previous
  • Page 1
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 239
  • Page 240
  • Page 241
  • Page 242
  • Page 243
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 330
  • 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