I took a selfie.
It is titled “Literary Agents Eat Alligators for Breakfast.”
Fact or fiction?
Fun Fridays – July 18, 2025
Blog
Beyond Book One: The Art of the Fiction Series (part 1)
Let’s talk series. I don’t know about you, but I love to read books in a series. I find myself investing in the characters, the town, and everything else and can’t wait for the next book to come out so I can return to that world. If you’re thinking of writing a series, there are some things to understand and consider before you get started. The first step is to choose the type of series you plan …
What Do You Do AFTER the Conference?
You just spent many hours, even days, at a writers conference. You go home to a pressing question: “Now what?” What do you do when you return from a writers conference? Tell us in the comments below. Meanwhile, I’ll share some thoughts. Re-entry Blues Coming down from the high of a retreat or a conference can be a jolt. Especially when the daily routines kick in. Make sure to avoid resenting …
Fun Fridays – July 11, 2025
Watch this fun performance of twelve pianists playing at the same time. It could have been called “Piano for 24 Hands.” There is a metaphor here. This performance is a bit like the publishing experience. If you look closely, you can see editorial, sales, marketing, and some booksellers all working from the same page of music. Music written by an author who is not on the stage!
The Mission of Older Christian Writers
Few things are more critical than knowing one’s purpose in life. For unbelievers, finding their purpose is a daily struggle, constantly blowing them about from here to there, anxiously searching for anything that makes sense of life. But for a disciple of Jesus Christ, this is easy, as we are called to be his ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20). The role has broad implications, but it is an important …
21st-Century Apologetics: Why Christian Authors No Longer Need to Be Relevant
Christianity has always been under attack. The current weapon of choice is “deconstruction.” Recent generations that were raised on pornography now reject Christian morality and then deconstruct their faith altogether. As a Christian writer in the 21st century, you’re not fighting a theological battle over truth but an emotional battle over morality. Before you dismiss this …
Make Today Count
As the calendar flips another page, I am reminded of the inexorable passage of time. Below is a great video that creates a visual reminder of the “number of our days” (Psalm 90:12). Watch the video now, and then rejoin my thoughts underneath. (If you receive this via email, the video may not embed. Please click through to the site and watch it. Only two minutes long but forever a …
Literary Fiction, Who Says?
As a big shot literary agent, I review scads of book pitches every week, for both fiction and nonfiction projects. And frequently included in the mix is a pitch or two for a piece of “literary fiction.” What’s that, you say? I’m glad you asked, and I wish I knew. It’s not that I’m not smart. I can be, especially if the subject is 1970s rock. It’s just that, well, it’s not much of a thing on the …
The Gerbil Wheel of the Writing Life
A writer spends hours, months, and even years in isolation practicing their art. But it can feel like the gerbil in the cage running on its wheel. They go forward a few steps and back a few steps. They might even get turned upside down only to fall, often without anyone to notice. While there is length to the journey, it doesn’t always seem to be going anywhere. Eventually, their craft …