How many of you can relate to today’s hilarious comparison of Christmas 2019 with Christmas 2020?
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You Provide Our Audience!
In speaking with a friend recently, she commented, “I don’t understand why Icabod gets invited to every event. Everyone knows who he is, but no one likes him.” I countered that, in attending every event, Icabod is providing a service. As an attendee, he is helping to make the party a success. Our readers provide an audience. They are our bookwormish partygoers. And though Icabod may be clueless as …
Five Easy Fixes for Frequent Faux Pas
We all make mistakes. My wife reminds me often … with a strange sidelong glance that makes me wonder if—well, never mind. But some mistakes are more costly than others. A few can even hinder a writer’s chances for publication. But fear not, writer friend; there’s hope. Because a few of the most common and embarrassing writer mistakes actually have easy fixes. Really. Honestly. I’m telling ya. Stay …
Simon & Schuster Bought by Penguin Random House Discussion With Steve Laube
For everything there is a season. A time to gather stones and a time to scatter stones. A time to merge companies and a time to spin off new companies. Right now, it is a time for merging companies. The “Big Five” are now the “Big Four.” You may have heard about the recent merger between Simon & Schuster and Penguin Random House. How does this new change affect you, as an author? …
Simon & Schuster Bought by Penguin Random House Discussion With Steve Laube
For everything, there is a season. A time to gather stones and a time to scatter stones. A time to merge companies and a time to spin off new companies. Right now, it is a time for merging companies. The “Big Five” are now the “Big Four.” You may have heard about the recent […]
You can listen to this episode Simon & Schuster Bought by Penguin Random House Discussion With Steve Laube on …
The Devil Is in the Procrastination
You have heard it said that “the devil is in the details”? But what about the idea that “the devil is in the procrastination”? Alistair Begg said, “The devil’s favorite word is tomorrow. The Bible always says, ‘Today is the day of salvation’” (2 Corinthians 6:2). While he was talking about being prepared, as a Christian, for the return of Christ, I thought about the challenge of …
Fun Fridays – December 4, 2020
Which type of shopper are you? True confessions are not necessary in the comments! From the “It’s a Southern Thing” channel. [If you cannot see the embedded video in your newsletter email, please click the headline and go directly to our site to view it.]
Selling Your Opinion
After perusing several nonfiction books recently, I realized that authors are pitching opinions. So, as a nonfiction author, it’s your job to convince editors–and by extension, readers–why anyone should care about your advice over the wisdom of competing authors. Education: Have you completed schooling that contributes to your knowledge? If I want a book on Ancient Egypt, …
Say the Right Thing
Writers use words well. That may seem obvious, but—judging from some of the submissions I get from aspiring writers—it’s worth stating. Sure, one man’s métier is another man’s poison, but I’m regularly amazed at the ability of some writers to write the wrong word, so to speak, in submitting work to a literary agent, even one as gracious and forgiving as I am. That last part was meant to be …
Simon & Schuster Bought by Penguin Random House
In case you missed the news last Wednesday, the Big Five will soon become the Big Four. The largest book publisher in the world (Bertlesmann, parent company of Penguin Random House) has successfully bid to buy Simon & Schuster (S&S) publishing house from ViacomCBS. This will make Penguin Random House (PRH) more than twice the size of its nearest competitor, Harper Collins. The price? …