• Skip to main content
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer

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

  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Interview with Steve Laube
    • Statement of Faith
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
  • Guidelines
  • Authors
    • Who We Represent
    • Awards and Recognition
  • Resources
    • Recommended Reading
    • Christian Writers Market Guide Online
    • Christian Writers Institute
    • Writers Conferences
    • Freelance Editorial Services
    • Copyright Resources
    • Research Tools
    • Selling What You Write
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Twitter
  • FaceBook
  • RSS Feed
  • Get Published
  • Book Proposals
  • Book Business
  • Writing Craft
    • Conferences
    • Copyright
    • Craft
    • Creativity
    • Grammar
  • Fun Fridays
Home » Archives for Guest Blogger » Page 3

Guest Blogger

Tips on Writing a Novella

By Guest Bloggeron May 16, 2019
Share
Tweet
20

Today’s guest post is written by one of our clients, Lynn A. Coleman (www.lynncoleman.com). She is the founder of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers), as well as the author of more than 50 novels and novellas. She lives with her husband of 45 years, who is the lead pastor of a church.

___________

Novellas are fast paced, short novels that run anywhere from 20k to 30k words, depending on the publisher’s needs. If you self-publish, you choose the size. Just remember, most folks like to read a novella in one sitting.

With that in mind, I focus on the pace of the story, how to keep the reader turning the page—not wanting to put it down before they do whatever it is they have to do. One of my favorite comments from a reader is, “You did it again, and kept me up last night.” I love that. It says to me that the reader was totally engaged. Of course, some folks might not care for your style of writing; they could take it or leave it. You can’t please everyone.

First Tip

Do your research. Know your character, their occupation, their surroundings, and, most importantly, know the spiritual growth as well as the everyday growth your character will achieve throughout the novella.

Remember: Limited space means you can’t always resolve all of your character’s issues in the course of the story. But at least you can put them on the road to recovery, healing, or strengthening of their character. A character’s shortcomings provide a great canvas for painting tension and conflict in a story, and this includes a novella.

After you’ve done your research, your next bit is planning or plotting your story. For me, I’m a seat-of-the-pants planner. I think best while working on my story. My characters speak to me as I write. For example, I was recently working on a story where the character’s main issue was letting go and letting God help resolve life situations. She is a take-charge, oldest-child personality. As I wrote the story, more and more situations came up in her life where she needed to step back, breathe, and seek the Lord’s guidance. I knew this about her before I wrote the first word, but I didn’t know all the aspects her growth development would take until I wrote the scenes out. Situations would come to mind in the writing process that would point out her need and help her grow.

Second Tip

Timing and pace. Keep your story moving. Keep the pace quick, but don’t forget to take a few spots to slow down and let your reader catch up to you and your character. Generally speaking, you slow the pace down a bit just as you’re about to crank the story up another notch as you bring your reader on this journey with your character.

Stephen King wrote: “Forget plot, but remember the importance of ‘situation.’” He wasn’t saying he didn’t plot. Rather, of key importance was the situation. Does it move quickly and move your story forward? If not, reduce it or remove it. Often times you can remove the scene and write a far better situation that advances your character further toward the climax of your story.

Third Tip

When writing romance, give readers a happy ending. They are reading romance for that purpose. They want the couple to overcome and get together. And let’s face it—if you’re writing a romance, you want that too. Not all novellas need to end with a wedding scene, but your characters do need to be in the place of commitment to each other and the Lord.

Lastly, enjoy the journey! Allow yourself to grow as your characters grow. Grow in your writing ability, grow in your faith, and grow in your own personal character.

 

Leave a Comment
Category: Craft, Creativity, Editing, Get Published, The Writing Life, Writing Craft

What is Inspirational Romance?

By Guest Bloggeron May 24, 2018
Share
Tweet
40

Our guest blogger today is Angela Breidenbach. She is a Montana author & Christian Authors Network president, is the host of Lit Up! on Toginet Radio and Apple Podcasts. Angela went back to college for genealogical studies w/specialties in English & Scottish Records. She’ll graduate in 2019 as a professional genealogist. Find her at: AngelaBreidenbach.com …

Read moreWhat is Inspirational Romance?
Category: Branding, Genre, Guest Post, Marketing, Romance, Romantic SuspenseTag: Christian, Genre, Romance

Editors: Friend or Foe?

By Guest Bloggeron March 19, 2018
Share
Tweet
28

Our guest blogger today is our friend Karen Ball! She runs Karen Ball Publishing Services, LLC and is an award-winning, best-selling author; a popular podcaster/ speaker; and the co-creator with Erin Taylor Young of From the Deep, LLC. She has also been executive editor for fiction at Tyndale, Multnomah, Zondervan, and B&H Publishing Group, and a literary agent with the Steve Laube Agency. …

Read moreEditors: Friend or Foe?
Category: Editing, Get Published, Inspiration, Karen, The Writing Life, Writing CraftTag: Editing, Get Published, Writing Craft

Researching Your Historical Novel

By Guest Bloggeron September 21, 2017
Share
Tweet2
17

Angela Breidenbach is a bestselling author of fiction through the ages with most of her books set in Montana. She’s the host of Lit Up! on TogiNet.com and iTunes about great entertainment from books to movies. Visit Angela and her fe-lion personal assistant, Muse, posting comedic conversations with his Writer on social media, entertaining fans just for fun. Please find her web site …

Read moreResearching Your Historical Novel
Category: Get Published, Historical, RomanceTag: Historical, Research

Writing Cinematically: 10 Movie Techniques to Apply to Your Novel 

By Guest Bloggeron June 19, 2017
Share
Tweet
21

Our guest blogger today is Deborah Raney. We have had the fun of working together since I first became an agent. It also happens that while at Bethany House I was one of the first to review the proposal which became her first novel, A Vow to Cherish, (the inspiration for the World Wide Pictures film of the same title) and launched Deb’s writing career. Twenty years and thirty-plus books later, …

Read moreWriting Cinematically: 10 Movie Techniques to Apply to Your Novel 
Category: Craft, Writing CraftTag: Cinematic Technique, Craft, Writing Craft

Five Lessons from the Road to Publication

By Guest Bloggeron April 24, 2017
Share
Tweet
37

Our guest post is by Ginny L. Yttrup who is the award-winning author of five novels including her latest, Home, which released earlier this month. She writes contemporary women’s fiction and enjoys exploring the issues everyday women face. “Publishers Weekly” dubbed Ginny’s work “as inspiring as it is entertaining.” When not writing, Ginny coaches writers, …

Read moreFive Lessons from the Road to Publication
Category: Conferences, Get Published, The Writing LifeTag: Get Published, The Writing Life, Writing Conference

How to Balance a Busy Writing Schedule and a Busy Life

By Guest Bloggeron February 1, 2017
Share
Tweet
19

One of the things many writers struggle with is time management. I’ve heard so many writers cry out, frustrated that they just can’t find the focus or time to write like they want. I knew if there was one person who could share wisdom and tips on this topic, it was the author of today’s guest blog, Tricia Goyer. This woman is amazing! I’ve known her since her children were little, and it’s been a …

Read moreHow to Balance a Busy Writing Schedule and a Busy Life
Category: Guest Post, The Writing LifeTag: The Writing Life

6 Excuses (That Don’t Work) for Not Attending a Writers Conference

By Guest Bloggeron July 18, 2016
Share
Tweet
26

Our guest today is Linda Taylor, an author, an editor, a writer, a college writing instructor, and a constant learner. She teaches in the Professional Writing department at Taylor University and continues to do freelance editing and proofreading. She blogs about the joys of editing and grammar at www.lindaktaylor.com ___________ In our extremely virtual world, we have gotten used to our …

Read more6 Excuses (That Don’t Work) for Not Attending a Writers Conference
Category: Conferences, Get Published, Guest PostTag: Get Published, writers conferences

Top Ten Marketing Tools That Clutter my Toolbox

By Guest Bloggeron November 16, 2015
Share
Tweet
19

Today’s guest blog is from Pamela Tracy. Pamela has been a client of Steve Laube for over 11 years! She was one of the first who joined when he put out the agent shingle. She was first published in 1999 and has written over 30 books with over one million copies in print. In 2016 she has four new books coming out (two traditionally published, one Indie, and one repackaged reprint). She has …

Read moreTop Ten Marketing Tools That Clutter my Toolbox
Category: Branding, Guest Post, MarketingTag: Marketing, Tools

It Really Is Like Riding A Bike

By Guest Bloggeron March 31, 2015
Share
Tweet16
5

By Michelle Van Loon Today, I’d like to introduce Michelle Van Loon as guest blogger for Holy Week. In 2016, NavPress will publish her new book focusing on the connections between Jewish traditions and our Christian faith. Michelle’s deeply-rooted faith in Christ and secular Jewish heritage are apparent in her creative, carefully-crafted storytelling. A focus on spiritual formation and education …

Read moreIt Really Is Like Riding A Bike
Category: Book Business, Career, Creativity, Get Published, Guest Post, The Writing Life, Writing CraftTag: Memory, The Writing Life
  • Previous
  • Page 1
  • Page 2
  • Page 3
  • Page 4
  • Next

Sidebar

Get Blog Updates

Enter your email address to get new blog updates delivered via email. You can unsubscribe at any time.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Grow as a Writer


Find Out More →

Popular Posts

Top Posts on Book Proposals
  • Hints for a Great Cover Letter
  • The Keys to a Great Book Proposal
  • What Steve Laube is Looking For
  • Book Proposals I’d Love to See – Tamela Hancock Murray
  • What I’m Looking for – Bob Hostetler
  • What I’m Looking for – Dan Balow
  • What I’m Looking for – Lynette Eason
  • What’s the Best Way to Submit My Self-Published Book?
  • What Is the Agent Doing While I Wait?
  • God Gave Me This Blog Post
Top Posts on The Business Side
  • When Your Book Becomes Personal
  • The Myth of the Unearned Advance
  • How Long Does it Take to Get Published?
  • What Are Average Book Sales?
  • Can You Plagiarize Yourself?
  • Never Burn a Bridge
  • Who Decides to Publish Your Book?
  • That Conference Appointment
  • Goodbye to Traditional Publishing?
  • Who Owns Whom in Publishing?
  • Ten Commandments for Working with Your Agent
  • Writers Beware! Protect Yourself
Top Series
  • Book Proposal Basics
  • Publishing A-Z
  • A Defense of Traditional Publishing
Top Posts on Rejection
  • The Slush Pile: Enter at Your Own Risk
  • Even the Best Get Rejected
  • Five Reasons Why You May Never Get Published
  • The Unhelpful Rejection Letter
  • Writers Learn to Wait

Blog Post Archives by Month

  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Interview with Steve Laube
    • Statement of Faith
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
  • Guidelines
  • Authors
    • Who We Represent
    • Awards and Recognition
  • Resources
    • Recommended Reading
    • Christian Writers Market Guide Online
    • Christian Writers Institute
    • Writers Conferences
    • Freelance Editorial Services
    • Copyright Resources
    • Research Tools
    • Selling What You Write
  • Blog
  • Contact

Copyright © 2025 · The Steve Laube Agency · All Rights Reserved · Website by Stormhill Media