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The Steve Laube Agency

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Helping to Change the World Word by Word

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Home » Archives for Bob Hostetler » Page 12

Bob Hostetler

How to Say Goodbye to 2020

By Bob Hostetleron January 6, 2021
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Among the many moving moments in the Hamilton musical is the song “One Last Time,” in which George Washington informs Alexander Hamilton that rather than seeking a third presidential term, he plans to teach the American people (and future presidents) “how to say goodbye.” Wow. What a moment.

These days are a moment too. An opportunity to say goodbye to an, eh, well, um, memorable year, one that defies description (not that everyone hasn’t tried).

Sure, there’s much about 2020 to which I can say “good riddance.” But there’s also much for which I can say, “thank you, Lord”—and not just for surviving the year. I’m grateful my wife and I didn’t catch the COVID-19 virus (so far). I’m grateful my wife and I both work at jobs that can be (mostly) done online, in relative seclusion (as a matter of fact, my day-to-day routine changed very little, if at all, because of the pandemic). I’m grateful our Las Vegas home, purchased in late 2019, provided such comfortable surroundings through it all. I’m grateful The Steve Laube Agency didn’t downsize me (though the Big Kahuna has probably considered it).

As a writer, I didn’t place any new books of my own, but I did help other authors with their writing projects. I continued writing a monthly article for Mature Living and placed other pieces in Bible Advocate, Guideposts, Peer, and War Cry. I continued my daily contributions to oneprayeraday.com (a daily prayer blog) and posted weekly to my “A Thousand Ways to Pray” blog (on Guideposts.com) and this agency blog (stevelaube.com).

Of course, the restrictions related to COVID-19 canceled most of my 2020 speaking schedule; but I was still blessed to take part in person in engagements in California, North Carolina, and Florida, while also participating virtually in four others online.

With all of its challenges, 2020 was a banner year in my work as a literary agent, as my clients signed more book contracts, both fiction and nonfiction, than in any previous year (almost as if I’m learning a few things. Maybe). I added a number of new clients—each of whom subsequently signed book contracts (almost as if they were smart to sign with me. Maybe). I particularly enjoyed helping one of my clients negotiate a contract to read her own audiobook (which isn’t always a given).

Throughout 2020, writers have frequently asked me how 2020 has affected the publishing business. It has, of course. Publishers I work with have re-thunk some things and reorganized other things, and editors I worked with have moved on. But what my questioners usually mean when they ask the question is, “Is there still hope for selling a book these days?” My answer to that is, “Boy howdy!” Publishers and editors are still acquiring new books; they’ve had to make some hard choices, sure; but they know they must have books to release in 2021 and 2022 and beyond, so they have to keep acquiring. In fact, as I mentioned above, I never experienced even a slowdown in the process but rather an uptick. Maybe others had differing experiences, and I won’t argue with them. But my 2020 experience tells me that writing and publishing—including Christian publishing—is still an exciting and promising pursuit. I’ll take that. Into 2021. And beyond.

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Category: Agency, Personal

Christmas for Writers

By Bob Hostetleron December 23, 2020
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It’s almost here! We are on the threshold of the annual celebration of Jesus’ birth! As I think someone has said (and sung) before, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. And, though I know you still have things to wrap and things to bake and things to bedazzle, you must be reading these lines for some strange reason, right? So I want to wish everyone out there in Writerworld (which is slightly …

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Category: InspirationTag: Christmas

Words I Can Spell but Mispronounce

By Bob Hostetleron December 16, 2020
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A couple years ago I was enjoying a small family reunion with my two older brothers. We were playing a card game, and for some reason I used the word chimera in the conversation. Unfortunately, I failed to take into consideration three things: I had (to my recollection) never heard the word spoken but had only read it. My brothers are both smarter than me. My brothers would never hesitate to …

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Category: Humor, Reading

Five Easy Fixes for Frequent Faux Pas

By Bob Hostetleron December 9, 2020
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We all make mistakes. My wife reminds me often … with a strange sidelong glance that makes me wonder if—well, never mind. But some mistakes are more costly than others. A few can even hinder a writer’s chances for publication. But fear not, writer friend; there’s hope. Because a few of the most common and embarrassing writer mistakes actually have easy fixes. Really. Honestly. I’m telling ya. Stay …

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Category: Grammar, Writing Craft

Say the Right Thing

By Bob Hostetleron December 2, 2020
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Writers use words well. That may seem obvious, but—judging from some of the submissions I get from aspiring writers—it’s worth stating. Sure, one man’s métier is another man’s poison, but I’m regularly amazed at the ability of some writers to write the wrong word, so to speak, in submitting work to a literary agent, even one as gracious and forgiving as I am. That last part was meant to be …

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Category: Book Proposals, Communication, Pitch, Pitching, Rejection

A Prayer of Thanks for Writing Tools

By Bob Hostetleron November 25, 2020
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For fountain pens and India ink, Legal pads and time to think, Olivetti, Underwood, Selectric, Typewriters both manual and electric, Typing paper, carbon paper, Correction ribbon and Liquid Paper, Dictionaries and thesauri, Keyboards, touchpads, countless styli, Strunk and White and Zinsser too, Staples, tape, and Elmer’s Glue, Desktops, laptops, iPads, printers, Modems, faxes, scanners, …

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Category: Personal, Technology, Theology

Do Writers Read Differently?

By Bob Hostetleron November 18, 2020
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Writers are readers. Right? Of course, right. In fact, I’d say that if you’re not a devoted, even voracious reader, you might not want to pursue writing for publication, as reading and writing tend to go hand-in-hand. But do writers read differently than other people? And if so, how? I asked that question of some of my friends and clients, and here’s what they said: Yes, I think writers read …

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Category: Creativity, Reading, The Writing Life

Talk Less, Write More

By Bob Hostetleron November 4, 2020
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The hit musical Hamilton has many memorable moments. One of my favorites is the moment when the title character first meets his colleague (and later, nemesis), Aaron Burr, who says, “Let me offer you some free advice.” “Talk less,” Burr says. “Smile more.”  It’s a great character moment for the two characters. It reflects Burr’s slippery politician ways and foreshadows one of Hamilton’s fatal …

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Category: Editing, The Writing Life, Writing Craft

A Writer’s “Voice”

By Bob Hostetleron October 28, 2020
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A couple months ago I asked some of my clients if there are terms they hear in writing and publishing that they wish someone would clearly and conclusively define. One said this: “Professionals say, ‘Find your voice,’ ‘Trust your voice,’ ‘Embrace your voice.’ I can recognize another writer’s voice, but I can’t for the life of me describe mine. Is ‘your voice’ something someone else has to describe …

Read moreA Writer’s “Voice”
Category: Craft, Creativity, Editing, Get Published, Pitch, Pitching, Writing CraftTag: voice, writing voice

5 Social-Media Mistakes Writers Make

By Bob Hostetleron October 21, 2020
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There are many ways to shoot yourself in the foot as a writer. For example, using clichés, such as “shoot yourself in the foot.” The advent of social media (Facebook, Twitter, Tik Tok, Instagram, Pinterest, etc.) has definitely added to the list. Here are what I consider five of the most common mistakes authors and would-be authors make on social media:  Mistake #1: Don’t “do” social media I’m …

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Category: Marketing, Social Media
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