Is it possible that this is the funniest Fun Friday of all time?
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Do You Really Want to Change Our Minds?
Agents know how difficult it is to break in to publishing, to keep your stride as a midlist author, and to stay on top once you’re there. We realize where you’re coming from when you send us something we say we don’t represent, thinking it’s so wonderful we might change our minds. Maybe it is that wonderful. Maybe we might change our minds. But is that what you really want? Let’s look at two …
How To Decide What You Will and Won’t Do with Your Time
I hear it all the time: “So many things are vying for my time. How do I decide, and how do I do it all and still write??” Many of us struggle to know what we should be doing with our time. And there are so many things we can do, most of which seem right and noble and even godly, and many of which take time away from being able to do this task of writing. Before you decide where to spend your time, …
Writing the Deeper Story
I realize this will probably date me, but I sincerely enjoyed a popular radio feature by Paul Harvey called, “The Rest of the Story.” I assume some reading this post today also remember it. For generations, the venerable radio commentator, who passed away in 2009 at the age of 90, told a little known story about a well-known person or event, only revealing the subject of the story at the end of …
Audio, Audio, Wherefore Art Thou Audio?
“I’ve heard that audio rights are never given to the author in the contract because that is how the publisher makes more money. Is this true? And if you lose the audio rights, do you lose all control? Let’s say for instance, do you have any say in who reads your story or is that completely out of your hands? Do your writers hold onto their audio rights in your publishing negotiations?” …
Fun Fridays – March 17, 2017
Truth in Advertising. An eleven-year-old girl scout wrote a well crafted letter which was read on a popular podcast. Listen to Mike Rowe read the letter. Below the video is a “rest of the story” for you. As you listen, think of your own writing. Does it convey your voice? Is it structured to build the reader to a conclusion? Is there a turn of a phrase or a word choice that makes it …
The Ambitious Author
Recently my office received an unsolicited submission from an author unfamiliar to us. Of course, this is not unusual. But here is a list of what is unusual: The submission was openly cc’ed to 185 agents. The author sent writing samples for 28 books. The author said she wants to write across all genres. At least one entry offered graphic detail of a sexual encounter. The author stated her age as …
Facing Down Obstacles
This writing journey is, for many of us, a challenge. There are so many obstacles to doing what we believe God has asked us to do through our writing. Everyday distractions, family issues, illness, grief, and on and on the list goes. Things that we can’t control come charging in to derail our work and efforts. So what can we do about it? Here’s one thing—in fact, I believe it’s the most important …
Fake News and the Christian Author
Most book authors do not work their way up through the ranks beginning with a college degree in journalism. Because of this, many have no exposure to the best practices of career writers and journalists. Sure, book authors might be very creative, insightful and able to recite large sections of Strunk & White or the Chicago Manual of Style, but they are not as familiar with what makes for a …
Fun Fridays – March 10, 2017
This is an incredible invention. Should revolutionize safety on our roads and highways. Try it for yourself! Tell everyone you know! Kudos to this Indiana State Trooper for his excellent service.