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The Steve Laube Agency

The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World Word by Word

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Home » Archives for Tamela Hancock Murray » Page 9

Tamela Hancock Murray

A Dozen Things to Do While You Wait

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon February 2, 2022
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Have you just submitted your New Year’s Resolution manuscript and now you’re waiting for a response?

Do you feel adrift?

Are you unsure what to do?

Then it’s time to launch another ship!

Years ago, I recall reading an article (probably in a writers magazine, and I apologize to the author and magazine for being unable to give proper citation now) suggesting that authors think of each project as a ship. While you wait for one ship to come in, you set another out to sea. If one comes back empty, send it out again. The vessels will sail back and forth until more return filled than unfilled, and you will be a success.

Or something like that. I read this article a long time ago. But the concept stuck with me so much that I think of it time and time again.

Need I remind you that publishing moves slowly? While you wait, consider engaging in one or more of the following suggestions:

  • Read in your genre to sharpen your sense of tone, plot, and voice.
  • Read different books to enlarge your world.
  • Read writing books to hone your craft.
  • Draft the next book in your series.
  • Write articles to send to magazines.
  • Author guest blog posts.
  • Write posts for your blog in advance.
  • Volunteer to judge a writing contest.
  • Volunteer to help with a writers conference.
  • Ask how you can help a local or national writers group.
  • Join a critique group.
  • Disengage and recharge.

Waiting is never easy, but waiting doesn’t have to be unproductive. Whatever you decide to do, I wish you many acceptance letters in the future!

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Category: Career, Common Questoins, The Writing Life

Thank You for Your Submissions!

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon January 12, 2022
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Our office receives submissions every day, usually seven days a week, from authors hoping for representation. We know sometimes we take longer to respond than we’d like. For our delay, we apologize. We are well aware that writer time moves much more slowly than editor time or agent time. The rate of speed from manuscript submission to publication hasn’t improved much since writers mailed …

Read moreThank You for Your Submissions!
Category: Book Proposals

Christmas Blessings to All Our Readers

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon December 16, 2021
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The Christmas season is a lovely time to bless and remember our blog community, to let you know how much your thoughtful comments have brought insight and pleasure over the years. Thank you for being part of our community. I pray that this next week of Advent is blessed as we all await in glorious anticipation to celebrate the anniversary of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I pray …

Read moreChristmas Blessings to All Our Readers
Category: PersonalTag: Christmas

New Year’s Resolutions

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon December 8, 2021
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New Year’s resolutions already? But we’ve only just finished the last of the turkey noodle soup, turkey tetrazzini, and flaming turkey wings from Thanksgiving! And we’re in the midst of deciding whether or not we need to make a run out to the Hallmark store to buy more gift wrapping paper and greeting cards. Stop the madness! Yet we are less than a month from January 1, when many people resolve …

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Category: The Writing Life

We Have It All!

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon November 17, 2021
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Recently I received several boxes of books from Steve Laube. Inside were dozens of sample books published by our agency clients. Since he is cheap, frugal, thrifty, fantastic for being concerned about the environment, he sent my books in repurposed containers. One was labeled “Reformed Systematic Theology,” scratched through with a black Sharpie pen. Another bore the Harlequin logo familiar to …

Read moreWe Have It All!
Category: Agency

One Approach to Problem Solving

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon November 4, 2021
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I appreciate receiving daily delivery of The Washington Post newspaper. When the paper’s delivery became irregular, I felt disappointed. I figured we had gotten a different carrier. This new person on the job was proving to be a departure from the former prompt and faithful delivery person. But when the paper didn’t arrive three days in a row, I wanted the replacement carrier to be informed and …

Read moreOne Approach to Problem Solving
Category: Career

What’s the Problem?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon October 27, 2021
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My office receives many submissions with the hypothesis that a protagonist thinks s/he’s living the perfect life until it falls apart. This is a great premise! What is a perfect life? Most of us have an idea of what the world thinks of as an ideal life and what seems to be the “perfect” life we can live as Christians. Therefore, the reader doesn’t need to spend much time living the protagonist’s …

Read moreWhat’s the Problem?
Category: Craft, Get Published, Writing Craft

Why I Represent the Author: Agent Edition

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon October 14, 2021
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My reasons for representing an author may differ from why I read a certain book. Content: When I see something fresh and different, but not so far out that no one can relate, an author has my attention. Talent: Although my office must decline talented authors every day, writing talent will get authors a close look. Proposal: A professional proposal shows me the author has taken the time to learn …

Read moreWhy I Represent the Author: Agent Edition
Category: Book Proposals, Career, Pitching, Platform

Why I Bought the Book: Consumer Edition

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon October 6, 2021
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I’m a literary agent, but I’m also a reader. As a reader, I have reasons for buying a book. Nonfiction Topics: The topic must address a need or want I’m feeling at that time. For example, if I’m cooking for someone who’s a vegan, I’ll search for books with ideas for vegan dishes. Fiction Topics: Some topics simply don’t appeal to me as a reader. Authors may note that some readers have triggers and …

Read moreWhy I Bought the Book: Consumer Edition
Category: Book Sales, Marketing, Reading

Start with Your Winning Argument

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon September 23, 2021
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A few years ago, I received a call from someone who otherwise never contacts me. “You need to pay expenses for Dick and Jane. They’ve done so much for us!” Dick and Jane had done a lot for the caller, but they had done nothing for anyone I love. While I’m not so coldhearted as to hang up the phone based on this flawed opening, the caller had opened with an unconvincing pitch. Writers can make the …

Read moreStart with Your Winning Argument
Category: Book Proposals, Marketing, Pitch, Pitching
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