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Helping to Change the World Word by Word

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Home » Archives for Tamela Hancock Murray » Page 53

Tamela Hancock Murray

Miracle

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon March 28, 2013
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by Tamela Hancock Murray

crown of thorns, cross and nail

This time of year, Christians contemplate the marvel that is the resurrection of Christ. Such an event seems magical, though God is never a genie, ready to grant our every wish. Even Jesus was not granted His plea in the Garden of Gethsemane as He asked the Father to take the cup of death from Him. But was there any other way? No, there was not. How else could have the miracle of the resurrection have taken place? How else would we Christians today be washed in His blood? As he chastened the disciples for their inability to stay awake even an hour, I think of how short I fall in my efforts to follow Him.

What Jesus did for us was nothing magical. Love is not magical, but the emotions we feel knowing we are loved are, well, magical. Little children can nibble chocolate bunnies to mark the awesome day that is Easter and then, as they mature, come to the realization and understanding about Jesus’ resurrection, and what He really means to us.

Even as an adult, I am struck by the sense that I may not be able to comprehend the infinite nature of His love. My human mind may not be capable. My new dress for Easter (a lacy lavender one this year) is a tradition of rebirth, merely a faint symbol of the day’s true meaning. I can only pray that as I journey through another year that I will live each day with the spirit of wonder at the miracle of Easter morning.

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Category: Christian, Faith, Tamela, TheologyTag: Christian, Faith

When Your Agent Makes You Speed Up

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon March 21, 2013
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by Tamela Hancock Murray

Since I wrote last week about when your agent may make you slow down, I thought this week it might be fun to write about why your agent may make you speed up. Now, speeding up is never, never to occur at the risk of writing less than your best. Story craft, along with  care and attention to detail, are always musts for fiction and nonfiction. But there are times …

Read moreWhen Your Agent Makes You Speed Up
Category: Book Business, Career, Get Published, Tamela, Writing CraftTag: Agents, Get Published

Why Your Agent May Slow You Down

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon March 14, 2013
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Your agent may slow you down.

And this is good!

And, why is that?

I've been a writer myself, so I understand the frustration you must be feeling as you read my words. Who wants to slow down? Believe me, when I was waiting for my first book to be published, I only half-joked that it would be released posthumously. So I understand that writers don't want to wait another ten minutes to see …

Read moreWhy Your Agent May Slow You Down
Category: Agents, Book Proposals, Career, Get Published, TamelaTag: Agents, Get Published, Writing Craft

Florida Christian Writers Conference Report

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon March 7, 2013
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This past week I was privileged to be on faculty at the Florida Christian Writers Conference.  This conference is now being run by the lovely Eva Marie Everson and the wonderful Mark Hancock. I like to joke with Mark that he is my long lost relative. If our hosts had not agreed to take over, last year's conference would have been the final Florida conference after 25 consecutive years. Instead, we …

Read moreFlorida Christian Writers Conference Report
Category: Conferences, Get Published, TamelaTag: Get Published, Writers Conference

A Great Hook!

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon February 28, 2013
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I'm at the Florida Christian Writers Conference today, so while I'm away, you can have fun!

When reviewing proposals, I have noticed one particular element can present a challenge. That element is the hook.

What does the hook do?

Just as its name suggests, the hook lures the editor to keep reading. Challenge is, the hook must be succinct. One sentence is ideal. For example:

Read moreA Great Hook!
Category: Book Proposals, Creativity, Get Published, Marketing, TamelaTag: book proposals, Get Published, Hooks

Dear Editors

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon February 21, 2013
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Dear Editors:

When I first started writing, not for a letter grade in college, but in hopes of a paycheck -- or at least a byline -- I solicited you with many articles, devotionals, short stories, and book-length manuscripts. Each was posted with dreams of finding your favor. More often than not, you sliced those dreams with your pens of rejection.

And for that, I want to thank you.

Read moreDear Editors
Category: Editing, Get Published, Personal, Tamela, Writing CraftTag: Editor

Happy Valentine’s Day!

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon February 14, 2013
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Today is St. Valentine's Day.

How appropriate for a literary agent who loves and represents lots of Christian romance novels!

Valentine's Day is a favorite in our house. As a newlywed, I bought a heart-shaped cake on our first Valentine's Day together to celebrate. Later, I bought a heart-shaped cake pan so I can bake a cake myself.  That first year I also cut my husband's sandwich for his …

Read moreHappy Valentine’s Day!
Category: Personal, TamelaTag: Personal

Changes or Opportunities?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon February 7, 2013
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What are you doing to counter and grow from the ongoing changes in the marketing of books?

I don't look at the changes as something to counter, but opportunities to reach an ever-increasing audience with excellent books. I am becoming more savvy about social media, because effective marketing by publishers is becoming more reliant on this new phenomena. I am working more directly with marketing …

Read moreChanges or Opportunities?
Category: Agents, Get Published, Marketing, TamelaTag: Agent, Marketing, Social Media

Ch-ch-ch-Changes

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon January 31, 2013
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by Tamela Hancock Murray

More questions!

How are the revolutionary changes in the publishing industry affecting your effectiveness as an agent?

I believe literary agents are needed more than ever because the landscape has become increasingly bumpy for writers. For example, we have been working with publishing house contracts regarding digital issues and how they affect the definition …

Read moreCh-ch-ch-Changes
Category: Agents, Get Published, TamelaTag: Agents, questions

Taking Your Questions

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon January 24, 2013
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In my ongoing quest to address the needs of our blog readers, I am answering more questions authors have posed in the comments section of past blogs.

What publishers do you generally work with, and with which ones do you have the closest working relationship, or usually contact first? Which ones do you avoid? And why?

What I think you really want to know is, "If I sign with you, where will I …

Read moreTaking Your Questions
Category: Agents, Book Business, Get Published, Marketing, TamelaTag: Agents, publishers
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