Helping to Change the World…Word by Word
The Steve Laube Agency
Helping to Change the World Word by Word
Today is the first official day of Summer (June 21), so while you are basking in the warmth of the day, please enjoy this video of a woman who is passionate about grammar. Before watching, try not to laugh at this grammar joke.
Did you hear the one about the pregnant woman who went into labor and started shouting, “Couldn’t! Wouldn’t! Shouldn’t! Didn’t! Can’t!”?
She was having contractions.
Recently, I had the chance to shop in a clothing store in Europe. Basking in novelty, I noted that my observations sharpened. Reading the names of the designers as I passed, I realized I didn’t know many of them. Not that I’m exceptionally knowledgeable about designers, but I have a good idea about fashion visions from many stocked in my haunts back in the States. I dismissed well-crafted, …
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross didn’t have the writing life in mind when she formulated her now-famous five stages of grief. Her 1969 book, On Death and Dying, was inspired by her work with terminally ill patients. Still, anyone who has written for any length of time—and especially those who have submitted their work to a critique partner, editor, or agent—can easily see the applicability of those stages: …
Should I pursue traditional publishing for this book? This is one of the most common questions writers ask. The answer is almost always, “It depends.” What does it depend on? That is what I will discuss in this episode of the Christian Publishing Show. But first, a quick personal update. Pros of Traditional Publishing The publisher edits, packages, and markets the book. Gatekeepers help protect …
Pros and Cons of Traditional Publishing
You can listen to this episode 029 Pros and Cons of Traditional Publishing on Christian Publishing Show.
I am so very proud of Tamela Hancock Murray and Bob Hostetler. They have both been named as finalists for the Agent-of-the-Year award given annually by ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers – acfw.com/award_recipients). Tamela won this prestigious award in 2017 and is honored to be a finalist again. This is Bob’s first time being a finalist; and he replied to the news in typical …
Today is a series of photos that create a picture of the writing life: What prospective authors think the road ahead is like: What the road is actually like: Then you send your proposal to Steve Laube: And your best-laid plans go awry: Life ambushes you without warning: But you persevere: Achieve your goals: And all is right in the world because God is sovereign over all things:
These items are self-evident, but I really can’t leave them off. The synopsis, or summary, and writing sample, at least, must appear in any proposal, be the proposed book fiction or nonfiction. The series potential is always a good idea to show you want a career in publishing. Synopsis (aka Summary) Fiction: Remember these are not rules, they are guidelines. Many editors want three pages …
A Writer’s Hymn (based on and drawing from a hymn by Frances Ridley Havergal) Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee. Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise. Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love. Take my intellect, and use every power as Thou shalt choose. Take my keyboard, and my screen; my desk and office chair, My …
What are the trends in Christian publishing? What is hot? What is not? And what’s up with those millennials? We talk about all this and more in this episode of the Christian Publishing Show. Joining us today is Michial Miller a Christian Publishing Expert at NPD BookScan, studying the Christian Market, as well as the Academic and Trade Markets. What is the NPD BookScan? Where do you get your data? …
