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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

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Find More Writing Time – Use Your Agent

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon August 24, 2017
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Have you ever been to a “perfect” wedding? You may think so, but chances are, even if you weren’t aware of it, procedures went wrong.

Why is it hard to plan and execute a wedding? Because we don’t practice to perfection. So, many people hire wedding planners to take care of details for them.

A similar profession? The interior decorator. Though my home was likely among the more modest my decorator adorned, I was thrilled to hire her for my front rooms. Wallpaper, paint, carpet, furniture, draperies — were her domain. We chose the décor from suggestions she made based on research and connections that cost her time and money to cultivate. The professionals she worked with displayed passion for painting, flooring, applying wallpaper and hanging draperies. I’d rather send out manuscripts and negotiate contracts.

What does this have to do with life as a writer? An interior decorator and a wedding planner have much in common with a literary agent. We can practice to (near) perfection so we know more than the majority of working writers have time to learn — because they must have a chance to write!

We’re on friendly yet professional terms with editors. Lots of them. A writer spending thousands of dollars attending every conference for a year still isn’t likely to meet even a third of the editors we already know.

We know the look, feel and terms of the contracts from major publishing houses. A solo writer simply does not have access to the number of contracts a literary agent sees. This knowledge allows us to negotiate the best terms for our authors.

And those are only two examples of areas we have spent our time and money to learn for you.

I won’t claim there is no situation we haven’t seen, no question we haven’t heard, and no problem we can’t solve. However, the probability that we’ve experienced your situation, been asked your question, and can solve your problem, is great. Much greater than if you’re on your own.

Just as the wedding planner should know who to call if the bakery misses delivering your cake (or better yet, keep that from happening in the first place), we’re familiar with our landscape and can help make your writing journey a happy one. You let us take care of what we know. You get more time to write.

Your turn:

What do you think is the most valuable service an agent provides?

How does your agent make your life easier?

 

Leave a Comment
Category: Agents, The Writing LifeTag: Agents, The Writing Life

Every Book is a How-To

By Bob Hostetleron August 23, 2017
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C.S. Lewis famously said, “We read to know we’re not alone.” I think that is true. But I have long subscribed to a similar statement that I see as sort of a corollary to “Lewis’s Law.” It is this: No one reads about other people. We read only about ourselves. Feel free to quote me. And send me royalties. But you might say, “How can that be, Bob? I read a lot of romance novels. They’re fiction. …

Read moreEvery Book is a How-To
Category: Craft, The Writing LifeTag: readers, The Writing Life, Writing Craft

We Need More Reader Segments

By Dan Balowon August 22, 2017
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In the bookselling world, books are categorized with a coding system developed by a collaborative industry organization called the Book Industry Study Group (BISG). They own and manage the BISAC codes, an acronym for “Book Industry Standards and Communications.” No matter how you are published, you will be required to categorize your book in one of the fifty-two primary categories, then by second …

Read moreWe Need More Reader Segments
Category: Book Business, Branding, MarketingTag: Book Business, Branding, Marketing, readers

Deadlines Born – Deadlines Made

By Steve Laubeon August 21, 2017
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Deadlines. The bane of every writer’s existence. “A necessary evil.” “My nemesis.” I talked to an author who changed the internal time clock on his computer just so he could have three extra hours, claiming he was writing on the West coast (USA) instead of where his office was (East coast USA). Writing Without a Deadline (Deadlines Born) Not everyone, however, is …

Read moreDeadlines Born – Deadlines Made
Category: Get Published, The Writing LifeTag: Deadlines, The Publishing Life, The Writing Life

Fun Fridays – August 18, 2017

By Steve Laubeon August 18, 2017
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A hilarious confrontation between an Elephant and a Goose. (It gets rather creative at the 30 second mark.) There has to be a metaphor somewhere in this video. Which one to do think is most appropriate? Publisher and Agent? (Which one is which?) A writers conference meeting in the hallway between a writer and an editor? Little Brother vs. Big Brother in Grandma’s backyard? Come up with your …

Read moreFun Fridays – August 18, 2017
Category: Fun Fridays

A Few Little Letters Can Make All the Difference

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon August 17, 2017
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Recently I heard a great anecdote about one little letter. Seems our pastor did a Google search as he researched the parable of the weeds. He typed in “weed” and, well, let’s just say the topic of dandelions didn’t sprout. He had to add an “s” to find the right type of weed. Don’t try this at home and definitely not on a corporate computer. I assure you I didn’t! A couple of weeks ago my husband …

Read moreA Few Little Letters Can Make All the Difference
Category: Craft, Language, Writing CraftTag: Language, Writing Craft

Six Books I’ve Already Recommended

By Bob Hostetleron August 16, 2017
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I have been a literary agent for a whole month now. I’m still waiting for my anniversary letter and gift from the Steve Laube Agency. I’m sure it’s on the way. I would say it has been a whirlwind so far, but that would be a cliché. And clichés are old hat. But I already feel blessed by the interactions I’ve had with clients, potential clients, editors, fellow agents, and others. And what is more …

Read moreSix Books I’ve Already Recommended
Category: Book Review, Craft, Writing CraftTag: Book Review, Craft, Writing Craft

Writing Thoughtful Books

By Dan Balowon August 15, 2017
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There has always been a hierarchy in fiction distinguishing “literary” from “popular” books, with lines drawn between both topics and reading levels.  Authors of each are different, somewhat like actors who work on stage versus those who work on screen. Comparisons of literary vs. popular and stage vs. screen are often done in a derogatory manner. Christian authors describing non-fiction might use …

Read moreWriting Thoughtful Books
Category: Art, Faith, The Writing Life, TheologyTag: Faith, fiction, Nonfiction, Theology

Create Videos Based on Your Blog Posts

By Steve Laubeon August 14, 2017
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Check out Lumen 5, (www.lumen5.com) a wonderful resource that can help you create videos out of your blog posts. As a test I took my post from July 31st, “Should You Hire a Freelance Editor?” and within 45 minutes the following video was complete. (Read more below the embedded video) Lumen 5 has a powerful AI engine that took keywords from my selected sentences and assigned most of the …

Read moreCreate Videos Based on Your Blog Posts
Category: Editing, Marketing, TechnologyTag: Marketing, Video

Fun Fridays – August 11, 2017

By Steve Laubeon August 11, 2017
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During a rain delay at a recent baseball game the opposing team pitchers, waiting in the bullpen, had some fun. Enjoy the oneupmanship! Since I’m from Arizona (go Diamondbacks) and Dan Balow is from Chicago (go Cubs) this was a fun showdown. The correct team won the competition.

Read moreFun Fridays – August 11, 2017
Category: Get Published
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