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Home » Archives for Bob Hostetler » Page 13

Bob Hostetler

A Writer’s Fears (a prayer)

By Bob Hostetleron October 7, 2020
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Save me from fear, Lord.
Give me courage to write;
make me “bold in our God” (1 Thessalonians 2:2) to write for you,
whatever the obstacles or blockages the Enemy may throw in my way.

Save me from the fear of rejection;
let me write today for your approval first and foremost,
and if I receive it, let me be satisfied with it.

Save me from the fear of inadequacy;
remind me that “all my springs are in you” (Psalm 87:7),
and that you are wholly sufficient no matter how inadequate I may be … or feel.

Save me from the fear of failure.
I know, as Samuel Logan Brengle said, “Fear is a fruit of selfishness.”
I confess my selfishness, my desire to amount to something.
Destroy that desire in me, and replace it with boldness and bravery.

Save me from the fear of success,
from all the “what ifs?” the future may hold.
As long as you are with me, I will not fear (Isaiah 41:10).

Save me also from the fear of criticism and ridicule. 
Grant me willingness and boldness to think and work under your mighty hand,
and to do it “as to the Lord, and not unto men” (Colossians 3:23),
in Jesus’ name, amen.

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Category: Personal, Theology

Strange Writing Habits

By Bob Hostetleron September 30, 2020
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In the acknowledgments for her novel In the Midst of Winter, Isabel Allende reveals that she starts each new book on January 8.  Isn’t that interesting? That little tidbit got me thinking (always dangerous, I know). So, I asked some clients to share any strange writing habits—quirks, superstitions, compulsions, etc.—they might have (also dangerous, I know). Here’s what they said: If I don’t …

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Category: Creativity, The Writing Life

Learn the Lingo, Part 2

By Bob Hostetleron September 23, 2020
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Did you know that a question mark and exclamation point together (like so?!) is called an interrobang?! Did you also know it’s probably not a good idea to use an interrobang in your article or book? Now you do. You’re welcome. Last week I tried to answer some of the questions of my clients and writer friends (yes, I have friends) about writing or publishing terms and concepts they’ve wondered …

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Category: Editing, The Writing Life

Learn the Lingo

By Bob Hostetleron September 16, 2020
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The opening scene of the Meredith Wilson musical The Music Man begins on a train, as a bunch of salesmen debate the best sales techniques. One salesman, however, insists repeatedly, “You gotta know the territory.” That applies not only to selling “the noggins, and the piggins, and the firkins,” but also to writing for publication. So I asked a number of my writing friends and clients what …

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Category: Book Business, Contracts, The Publishing Life

Don’t Quit Your Day Job

By Bob Hostetleron September 9, 2020
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Many years ago, when Hector was a pup (look it up), I made the fateful decision to start writing full-time. Sounds like a dream, no? Well, in some ways, it was. But several things made that transition possible. First, I had already enjoyed some success as an author, having published my first book and contracted (if I recall correctly, and that’s never a given) my next two books. Second, one day I …

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Category: Career, Money, The Writing Life

Can Silence Make You a Better Writer?

By Bob Hostetleron September 2, 2020
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Decades ago, when I was barely out of diapers, I started taking annual (sometimes twice-yearly) prayer retreats at the Abbey of Gethsemani in the hills of central Kentucky. It’s a silent Trappist monastery, and it’s been a boon to my prayer life. A lifeline, sometimes. It’s also been a boon to my writing life. Once I’ve checked in and been immersed in and surrounded by silence (interrupted only by …

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Category: Inspiration, The Writing Life, Theology

Don’t Know Much About Editors

By Bob Hostetleron August 26, 2020
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A literary agent is not an editor–or a publicist. That may seem obvious to some, since the words are all spelled quite differently. But I occasionally get a submission from an aspiring writer who wants me to act as one or the other. I have been an editor (of both magazines and books), but an agent has a different role from those people. So I thought I’d try to clarify the various kinds of …

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Category: Book Business, Editing, The Publishing Life

What I Learned from Editors

By Bob Hostetleron August 19, 2020
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I’ve been writing for publication since my teen years, when the world was young and the Garden of Eden’s discount fruit stand was still in business. As you might imagine, I’ve worked with more than a few editors over the years (and even been an editor myself). Though some writers see editors as “the enemy” (or perhaps the stumbling blocks in their paths), I’ve always had great relationships with …

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Category: Craft, Editing, The Writing Life

Word and Writer (A Writer’s Prayer)

By Bob Hostetleron August 12, 2020
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In the beginning was the Word, says your Word, Lord. You identify yourself as Word and Writer, Speaker and Spoken. You are the Source of all things. Beginning. Alpha. First. So let it be in me, and in my writing, Lord. Be my first thought as I put pen to paper, the Source and Supplier, Word and Writer, Speaker and Spoken. Grant that I may pretend to no originality, no creativity of my own, but to …

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Category: TheologyTag: Prayer

Old School Tools Rule (Sometimes)

By Bob Hostetleron August 5, 2020
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I use modern technology a lot. Some digital tools make the writing life a whole lot easier, from word processing’s track changes to email and Dropbox and voice dictation and more. But I still cling to a few old-school tools that newer technologies haven’t replaced. Here are three I have found irreplaceably beneficial. The Bring-Up File An analog tool that has helped me make the most of my time and …

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Category: Technology, The Writing LifeTag: organization, Research
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