The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World…Word by Word

The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World Word by Word

Home » Archives for Tamela Hancock Murray » Page 17

Tamela Hancock Murray

Fun Fridays – March 6, 2020

By
Share
Tweet
25

How to Ruin a Book Title with One Word

Evidently, I am a fan of puns. I came across a fun exercise that played at changing one word or adding one word to a well-known title–and made it something quite different. I’ll start with some general-market titles and then shift to those found in the Christian market.

Be sure to add your creative efforts in the comments below.

To Cook a Mockingbird

Paws

The Whining

Lord of the Fries

Furious George

If You Give Your Spouse a Cookie

_________

90 Minutes in TSA

The Great Divorce Lawyer

Bad Girls of the Bible College

God Gave Us Glue

The Purse-Driven Life

Girl, Iron Your Face

In His Dubsteps

The Radio Shack

Rich Christians in the Age of Hunger Games

The Briefcase for Christ

The Meaning of Marwidge

The Pursuit of Odd

The Acts of the Apostates

I Kissed Carbon Dating Goodbye

Your Best Burp Now

Heaven Is for Real Housewives

Bored of the Rings

The Totaled Woman

Leave a Comment
Category:

Criticism and Its Discontents

By
Share
Tweet
23

A reader asked me to write on handling criticism, hence this blog post today. I’m fond of saying that if you want to find out who your friends are, throw (or be the star of) a bridal or baby shower. People you think won’t respond will come through amazingly, while a couple of people you were sure would come through remarkably won’t bother to send an RSVP. Likewise, through my involvement in …

Read moreCriticism and Its Discontents
Category: ,

A Writer’s Prayer of Confession

By
Share
Tweet
31

Most holy and merciful Father: I confess that I have sinned by my own fault in thought, word, and deed; by what I have done, and by what I have left undone. I have not loved you with my whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. I have let the idea of being a writer distract me from devotion to you. I have made myself busier with words than with your Word. I have been consumed by my writing plans and …

Read moreA Writer’s Prayer of Confession
Category: , , ,

Saving the World, One Romance at a Time

By
Share
Tweet
12

Often I will receive submissions of novels tying in an element of mystery and suspense with romance. Writers targeting the romantic suspense market will find difficulty in placing this type of story. Why? Because romantic suspense readers have certain expectations that won't be met with a mere element of mystery and intrigue.

In my experience trying to sell and market romantic suspense, I have …

Read moreSaving the World, One Romance at a Time
Category: , , , , , , Tag: , , ,

Don’t Make Your Readers Whack Through Weasel Words

By
Share
Tweet
23

Since I waxed eloquently about weasel words last week, I just really thought I should share this very astonishing post. Truly it is just so important that authors really strive to write tightly so that the reader doesn’t just close the book because the writer uses, like, too many weasel words. As we survey various techniques to the establishment of accomplished prose, we are obliged to contemplate …

Read moreDon’t Make Your Readers Whack Through Weasel Words
Category: ,

What Authors Must Know About Homeschoolers Before Trying to Sell Them Books

By
Share
Tweet
3

Back in Episode 51 I gave an overview of the Homeschool Market. This episode is the next in that series, where I go into some of the mistakes authors make when trying to sell to homeschoolers. I also cover how to avoid those mistakes. If you are curious why homeschoolers are not interested in your book, this episode is a must-listen. Links:  The Read-Aloud Family  Helicopter Parents …

Read moreWhat Authors Must Know About Homeschoolers Before Trying to Sell Them Books
Category:

Letting Go of Your Babies

By
Share
Tweet
23

One of the worst mistakes writers can make is being too possessive of their words. They fight for each adjective, adverb, and conversation tag.

My early writing suffered from too many words. I once wrote an artist didn’t “really” understand the difficulties of making a living in his profession. The editor kindly cut all instances of “really,” “just,” “so,” “very,” and other weak words …

Read moreLetting Go of Your Babies
Category: , , Tag: , ,

4 Things I Learned from Rejection

By
Share
Tweet
23

Nobody likes to be rejected. Not middle-school dance attenders. Not job applicants. And definitely not writers. Unfortunately, however, rejection pretty much comes with the territory for writers—at least for writers who are brave enough to submit their work to agents or editors for publication. And it hurts. Every. Single. Time. Take it from me, I know. I’ve been rejected hundreds of times, and …

Read more4 Things I Learned from Rejection
Category: Tag: ,

What does success look like for Christian authors?

By
Share
Tweet
5

As authors, it is easy to get destination fever, where we are so focused on the destination that we fail to enjoy the journey. What does it mean to be a success as a Christian author? Should we measure ourselves the same way secular authors measure themselves?  To help us answer this question, we will be talking with the bestselling and Christy hall-of-fame author James L. Rubart. Links: 7 …

Read moreWhat does success look like for Christian authors?
Category: