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Fun Fridays – November 20, 2020

By Steve Laubeon November 20, 2020

Did you notice that today can be rendered as 11202020? Just thought I’d mention it. Has nothing to do with today’s video–unless you want it to!

Aaron Yoder has been the world’s fastest backwards runner. He can run the mile in under six minutes, backwards. How many of you can do that running forward? (No, not back when you were a slim athlete, but today.)

All sorts of metaphors for the writing life and the spiritual life crop up when you think about this new perspective. Reminds me of Bryan Chapell’s great book, Praying Backwards (Baker, 2005).

If this spurs your creativity, share your thoughts in the comments.

[If you cannot see the embedded video in your newsletter email, please click the headline and go directly to our site to view it.]

When the Movie Isn’t True to Your Story

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon November 19, 2020

Most writers love the idea of a film company bringing their books to life. However, if past movies based on books serve as examples, most authors can’t count on their stories being presented with complete accuracy, hence, the phrases “adaption” and “based on” the novel. Take the book Elmer Gantry, written in 1926. Sinclair Lewis, an atheist, wrote a satire about a minister who should never have …

Category: The Publishing Life, The Writing LifeTag: Movie rights

Do Writers Read Differently?

By Bob Hostetleron November 18, 2020

Writers are readers. Right? Of course, right. In fact, I’d say that if you’re not a devoted, even voracious reader, you might not want to pursue writing for publication, as reading and writing tend to go hand-in-hand. But do writers read differently than other people? And if so, how? I asked that question of some of my friends and clients, and here’s what they said: Yes, I think writers read …

Category: Creativity, Reading, The Writing Life

Are You High Maintenance?

By Steve Laubeon November 16, 2020

by Steve Laube

Last week I was asked to define what is meant when an author is deemed "high maintenance" by an agent or a publisher. The more I thought about this the more I realized how difficult it is to quantify. Any attempt to do so is fraught with potential misunderstanding because most people are looking for specific rules to follow.

Normally "high maintenance" is a description of …

Category: Agents, Book Business, Get Published, The Writing LifeTag: Agents, Editors, high maintenance, publishers

Fun Fridays – November 13, 2020

By Steve Laubeon November 13, 2020

Today’s video is one of those brilliant and clever mashups of video clips matched to a familiar song. According to its creator, not a single clip was sped up or slowed down to match the music. It has the appearance of a master choreographer! Can you name all the movies or dancers in this video? If you get stuck, click the closed-caption feature and all is revealed. I couldn’t help but …

Category: Fun Fridays

Is This Book Playing Tricks on You?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon November 12, 2020

Recently, I read a stylebook with lots of visuals. The author was trying to convince readers her ideas are the way to go on how to look great. Though the author’s an expert, she was selling her educated and informed opinion, not fact. I agreed with much of what she imparted but disagreed with other points. No matter, except that I resented a tactic she used several times with photos manipulated to …

Category: Writing Craft

Behind the Publishing Curtain: Fulfillment & Distribution with Tracy Higley

By Thomas Umstattd, Jr.on November 10, 2020

How do trees turn into books and get into people’s hands? At first glance, you may think they appear on bookshelves and in the mail as if by magic. But it is not magic. Behind the scenes thousands of people are working hard to make sure books get from the printer and into readers’ hands. If you want your book to wind up in readers’ hands, you will not want to miss this episode. Our guest today is …

Category: The Writing Life

Behind the Publishing Curtain: Fulfillment & Distribution with Tracy Higley

By Thomas Umstattd, Jr.on November 10, 2020

How do trees turn into books and get into people’s hands? At first glance, you may think they appear on bookshelves and in the mail as if by magic. But it is not magic. Behind the scenes thousands of people are working hard to make sure books get from the printer and into readers’ hands. […]
You can listen to this episode Behind the Publishing Curtain: Fulfillment & Distribution with Tracy Higley …

Category: The Writing Life

Ten Commandments for Working with Your Agent

By Steve Laubeon November 9, 2020

By request, here are my ten commandments for working with your agent. Break them at your own peril. Thou shalt vent only to thine agent and never directly to thy publisher or editor. Thou shalt not get whipped into a frenzy by the industry rumor mill fomented by the Internet. Asketh thy agent if what you’ve heard is true. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s success. Be content with …

Category: Agency, Book Business, Get PublishedTag: Book Business, Contracts, Copyright, Facebook, Get Published, Internet Usage, Marketing

Fun Fridays – November 6, 2020

By Steve Laubeon November 6, 2020

We normally hear this song played by strings. But what if this segment of Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” was played at hyperspeed by the brass section? Enjoy today’s breathtaking feast! [If you cannot see the embedded video in your newsletter email, please click the headline and go directly to our site to view it.] HT: Chawna Schroeder

Category: Fun Fridays