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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

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Home » Archives for Steve Laube » Page 94

Steve Laube

When Your Book Becomes Personal

By Steve Laubeon June 8, 2015
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I wish every writer could see what we see as agents and editors with regard to proposals. I wish they could experience the sheer variety of book ideas presented at writers conferences and through the submission process. It is breathtaking. And sometimes heartbreaking.

I wrote down a selection of the true stories that have recently crossed my desk. This small sampling shows real-life events that inspired a writer to write their book, create a proposal, and approach the agency. The amount of difficulty, pain, and suffering in these lives is astounding. (and remember this is just a small sampling of the non-fiction proposals we received) The list includes:

Brain tumor
Deliverance from demons
Struggles of being a single parent
Death of a child (multiple proposals)
Domestic violence
Husband announces he is gay
Terminal cancer (Multiple proposals)
Murder of a family member
Marriage book inspired by death of wife with whom writer had been married 60 years
Sexual addiction of husband (more than one book proposal)
Medical malpractice
Chronic illness (multiple proposals)
Sexual assault
Divorce
Coming out of a lesbian lifestyle

Each one represents a person or a family affected in a significant way. When I spend the better part of a day reading these kind of proposals I become numb, not from lack of feeling but from too much feeling.

And the hardest part? Saying “no thank you” to these amazing people. “Sorry we cannot offer representation to you.” (The why of this answer is found below.)

But the question for today is to everyone who is writing either fiction or non-fiction and drawing from their own experience. What do you do when the book becomes personal? It is your story. Your life. And often it tells how God, in His infinite mercy, has sustained you. So much so that you want to tell others that they are not alone and that God will do the same for them.

Write the Book

Seems like simple advice, but if you have a story, write it. Getting the words on paper is a way to give substance to the experience. It can be a journey fraught with reliving past pain, but it can also be therapeutic. At the very least it helps to memorialize the events.

We often run into people at a conference or in our daily connections who simply need to know how to write a book. Fortunately a writers conference is full of practical instruction, not just about how to publish and sell a book, but how to put one together in the first place.

Communicating the story or the experience is the ultimate goal and to do so with excellence and clarity. A task that takes a lot of work and intentionality.

Determine Commercial Viability

Commercial viability is a fancy way of asking “will it sell if published in the general marketplace?” One must become tough minded when seeking the answer. I wrote an article asking “Would you buy your own book?” It boils down to the question that publishers have to ask about every project: “Can this book elbow its way into the hearts and minds of readers…and sell enough copies to justify the expense of production and marketing?”

To quote the famous sign-off line from an old TV show, “There are eight million stories in the naked city; this has been one of them.” And if that is true, what makes yours the one that will cause a reader to spend $20?

There is no shame with the answer being a “no thank you.” It is an answer based on economics not on the validity or worthiness of the story.

Are there Alternatives?

One of the greatest developments for writers in the past twenty years has been the reduction in cost to pursue publication independently. A couple decades ago you had to spend $10,000 and have a garage full of books to publish on your own. No longer. With technology like print-on-demand and ebooks, everything has changed. It isn’t “free” to do it right, but the cost can be considerably less.

That is one alternative. Create enough copies for family and friends and to fill the back table if you are asked to speak on the topic somewhere.

But there is another possibility.

Consider re-writing the book. But instead of making it biographical, make it topical. Become an expert on the subject (beyond personal experience) and research/talk with others with similar experiences. Then write a book on the way many people have dealt with this issue. That way the book is not about you. It is about everyone. Your story is one of the ones included.

I’ve seen this approach work over and over again with great success. It doesn’t invalidate your experience, in fact yours is enhanced by others to prove the necessity for material on the topic.

Another idea is to write the book the way you want…and then put it aside. I know of one author who has created at least four books based on materials found in their first unpublished manuscript. It became a well from which the author could draw.

But I Don’t Want to Do it That Way

There is much to be said for passion on a topic. And when the story is yours it can also be a calling to tell it to as many people as possible. We understand and say “go for it.” But that may not change whether or not a major publisher or a literary agent will embrace it as something that will be economically feasible.

Never forget however, commercial viability is only one reason to write and publish a book, not the only reason. However it is likely the strongest reason a major traditional publisher and a literary agent will get involved.

 

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Category: Book Business, Book Proposals, Conferences, Get PublishedTag: Get Published, Personal Stories

Fun Fridays – June 5, 2015

By Steve Laubeon June 5, 2015
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Sometimes you have to improvise with your art.

Read moreFun Fridays – June 5, 2015
Category: Fun Fridays

Bidding Completed for Bankrupt Family Christian Stores

By Steve Laubeon June 1, 2015
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This past week a complex and long auction process was completed and a winning bid has been chosen to purchase the bankrupt Family Christian Stores (FCS). If this final bid is approved by the court the FCS will emerge from bankruptcy and resume business as usual. If you have been following this ordeal (our blog #1 and blog #2) you know how complicated it had become. The end game is no less …

Read moreBidding Completed for Bankrupt Family Christian Stores
Category: Book Business, Economics, Legal IssuesTag: Book Business, family christian stores, Legal

Fun Fridays – May 29, 2015

By Steve Laubeon May 29, 2015
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Palindromes: A word or phrase that reads the same backward or forward. Like “we panic in a pew” … perfect for a Sunday sermon! Weird Al, singing like Bob Dylan, did an entire song where the lyrics are totally made of palindromes. It is one of those videos that you want to stop watching but can’t. Creative is one word. Strange is another. But it is all about word …

Read moreFun Fridays – May 29, 2015
Category: Fun Fridays

Memorial Day Thoughts

By Steve Laubeon May 25, 2015
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Today, the United States sets aside a time to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in service to the country. I suspect many of you have deep family connections that are brought to mind on this day. It has caused me to think of my Father who passed away two and a half years ago (9/15/2012). He served in the Army in World War II and for a large part of his tour he was stationed in Alaska. …

Read moreMemorial Day Thoughts
Category: Personal

Fun Fridays – May 22, 2015

By Steve Laubeon May 22, 2015
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Always fun to see virtuoso musicians having a blast playing their instruments. Enjoy Lang Lang and 2Cellos on Fun Friday!

Read moreFun Fridays – May 22, 2015
Category: Fun Fridays

But I Don’t Like Social Media!

By Steve Laubeon May 19, 2015
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Today we have a guest post from Steve Laube Agency client Afton Rorvik. Her book, Storm Sisters released Fall, 2014 from Worthy Publishing. She has a growing relationship with social media that she wanted to share. My guess is that today’s post will resonate with many readers of this blog. Dan Balow _____________ I must confess something. I have held a grudge against social media. I resented her …

Read moreBut I Don’t Like Social Media!
Category: Guest Post, Social MediaTag: Social Media

How Many People Are Involved in Publishing Your Book?

By Steve Laubeon May 18, 2015
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The above photo is somewhat illustrative of the number of people involved in getting your book to market. Even if you self-publish there are still many functions that you may have not done yourself. Below is not an exhaustive list but a rambling stream of consciousness when thinking about the people who are involved in the publishing process: Author (kinda important) literary agent (we think this …

Read moreHow Many People Are Involved in Publishing Your Book?
Category: Book Business, Book Business, Defense of Traditional Publishing, Marketing, The Publishing LifeTag: Book Business, Traditional Publishing

Fun Fridays – May 15, 2015

By Steve Laubeon May 15, 2015
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Today is 5/15/15. That just looks strange. At 5:15 today it will be 5-15-15-5:15. Has nothing to do with today’s Fun Friday, but thought I would mention it. Talk amongst yourselves… Today’s video is about what really happens when you can’t find a bookmark…

Read moreFun Fridays – May 15, 2015
Category: Fun Fridays

Included in “Top 101 Websites for Writers”

By Steve Laubeon May 9, 2015
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We are honored to be chosen by Writers Digest as one of the top websites for writers in their 2015 list. (The actual list is only available to subscribers or if you buy the May/June 2015 issue here.) I have long admired their annual listing and have endeavored to keep our content unique and provide a service to our community of writers. Kudos to Dan, Karen, and Tamela who faithfully work on …

Read moreIncluded in “Top 101 Websites for Writers”
Category: Agency, AwardsTag: Agency, Blog
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