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The Steve Laube Agency

The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World Word by Word

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Home » Archives for Bob Hostetler

Bob Hostetler

You Can Be the Best

By Bob Hostetleron August 11, 2022
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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. “The best” is a “hard row to hoe,” as someone more “country” than I might say. And no matter how gifted or blessed you might be as a writer, there are probably others who are more so.

But guess what? You can be the best. It’s a matter of focus. Wisdom. Choice.

In fact, no matter how disadvantaged you may be—or feel—and regardless of how many rejections or frustrations you face, I think I can identify at least twenty things that you can be “the best” at as a writer, if you so choose:

  1. Praying
  2. Writing bad first drafts
  3. Starting over
  4. Reading widely
  5. Reading deeply
  6. Receiving critique
  7. Welcoming (e.g., in your writers group or at a conference)
  8. Helping
  9. Listening
  10. Encouraging other writers (on social media, for instance)
  11. Hoping
  12. Smiling
  13. Laughing
  14. Trying
  15. Caring
  16. Complimenting
  17. Waiting
  18. Reviewing (e.g., posting ratings or reviews of others’ books)
  19. Rejoicing with others
  20. Persevering

When you look at it like that, the strains and struggles of the writing life become much brighter, don’t they? There may not be many contests to enter or awards to earn for the list above; but if you were to choose to be the “prayingest,” “encouragingest,” or “smilingest” writer out there, you’d have a great shot. And you’d have a great time as you do, instead of all that gloomy focusing on submissions and contracts and publishing. Am I right? Of course, I’m right. Because I’m the best at being right.

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Category: Encouragement, Inspiration, The Writing Life

Mysteries of the English Language

By Bob Hostetleron August 3, 2022
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I love the English language. It’s been very good to me. But it can be a booger too. For example, you know that a slim chance and a fat chance are the same, right? And a wise man and a wise guy don’t mean the same thing? It’s a crazy language. And those who must learn it as a second language face many strange twists and turns—as do those of us who try to speak and write with something resembling …

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Category: Humor, Language

My 10 Favorite Writer Movies

By Bob Hostetleron July 21, 2022
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I would rather read than watch a movie; but my wife, the lovely Robin, is a lover of movies. So I’ve seen more than a few. I lean toward comedy and away from fantasy. And far away from horror. And I especially enjoy an occasional movie about a writer or the writing life. So, since I know that some readers of this blog have nothing else to do with their time, I’d like to offer a Top Ten List of my …

Read moreMy 10 Favorite Writer Movies
Category: Inspiration, Personal, The Writing Life

Stop Procrastinating—Right Now!

By Bob Hostetleron July 13, 2022
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In my last post on this amazing blog (Steve Laube requires me to say that at regular intervals), I opined about seven consequences of procrastination. You may not have gotten around to reading it yet, but I promised in that post to follow up with some helpful tips or techniques for preventing procrastination. So, without further ado or delay, here are some ideas: Pray. Of course, right? But …

Read moreStop Procrastinating—Right Now!
Category: Career, Inspiration, The Writing Life

I’ve Put Off Writing This Blog Post Long Enough

By Bob Hostetleron June 30, 2022
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I wear many hats (so to speak) as an author, blogger, game writer, speaker, literary agent, and man-about-town. People sometimes ask me how I get it all done. Usually I answer with something self-effacing, such as, “I’m just awesome that way.” But when pressed, I’ll attribute whatever productivity I have to careful organizing, scheduling, and—most importantly—maniacally avoiding procrastination. …

Read moreI’ve Put Off Writing This Blog Post Long Enough
Category: Career, The Writing Life

4 Ways to Lose Me Quickly

By Bob Hostetleron June 22, 2022
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As a literary agent, I review a lot of book pitches. A lot. And, not to belabor the point, but a lot. Despite the overwhelming volume of submissions demanding my attention, I try to give each one a fair shake. Sure, if the recipient field of your email has a hundred email addresses in it, it makes it easier for me to say, “No thanks.” But, while that may be the quickest way to disinterest me, it …

Read more4 Ways to Lose Me Quickly
Category: Book Proposals, Common Questoins, Pitching

Count More Than Words

By Bob Hostetleron June 9, 2022
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Writers count words. That probably comes as no surprise to the readers of this blog, but still. Those who write for publication count words. It comes with the territory, as Professor Harold Hill might say (or sing). Writers-for-publication know that published articles, stories, and books in certain genres must meet certain word counts. For example, a two-page spread in a magazine is typically …

Read moreCount More Than Words
Category: Inspiration, The Writing Life

A Writer’s Prayer: Words and Language

By Bob Hostetleron June 1, 2022
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Thank you, God, for words and language,for the mental, tactile, and often emotional pleasure of words on paper. Thank you for the joy of a well-turned phrase,the satisfaction of just the right word, the beauty of an artful description, or finely tuned sentence. Thank you for the honor of reflecting your image (2 Corinthians 3:18)in thinking and wording things into being (John 1:1), bringing dead …

Read moreA Writer’s Prayer: Words and Language
Category: Inspiration

The Writers Conference Bell Curve

By Bob Hostetleron May 19, 2022
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I’ve attended and presented at Christian writers conferences for more than three decades. (I know, I don’t look anywhere near old enough to make that claim, and thank you.) I’ve sometimes served on faculty at as many as a dozen conferences in a given year. (I know, it’s hard to believe that many conference directors would actually book me for their event, no offense taken.) And so I suppose I’ve …

Read moreThe Writers Conference Bell Curve
Category: Conferences

Six People You’ll Meet at a Writers Conference

By Bob Hostetleron May 11, 2022
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As an author and literary agent, I’m often asked for publishing advice. As I’ve mentioned before on this blog, my standard response to such queries is, “Have you been to a writers conference?” Because, for most of us, that is a major and necessary step toward writing for publication, for many reasons. One of those reasons is the variety and quality of people you’ll meet at a writers conference, …

Read moreSix People You’ll Meet at a Writers Conference
Category: Conferences
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