All writers and teachers of writing should get a kick out of this one. Wait for it…
Blog
The Right Number of Words
More times than I’d like, my office must send out letters advising aspiring authors that their manuscripts are too short or too long. Much of the time, the author is talented but hasn’t investigated the market well enough to know if the word count is right. Submitting a project that’s simply the wrong word count wastes everyone’s time – including yours. If we mention that your book is the wrong …
Speak Up! Ask a Question!
Every week, we at the agency craft blogs to give you insights, counsel, and even a laugh or two in relation to the mercurial world of publishing. Sometimes, though, I wonder if there are questions you have for which you can’t find answers or guidance. So a couple of times a year I pass the mic, so to speak, to you. As I’m doing now. Do you have a question to which you can’t find …
Writing to Men
In Christian publishing, since most readers are women, Christian books for men are treated as a niche market. Women are the primary market worthy of the most focus, and men are an afterthought if they are thought of at all. Publishing is a business and it doesn’t make sense to publish foolishly. Some publishers don’t publish books where the only market is a man. As a result, many authors write for …
Why Do You Go to Conferences?
A great question was sent the other day and thought it would help explain the other side of the table, so to speak. Steve? Why do you go to conferences? You have big agency with a lot of clients already. That is an excellent question and one that I get asked rather often, at conferences! (…Why are you here?) 1) Teaching I enjoy teaching and the opportunity to train writers in how this …
Fun Fridays – May 20, 2016
Writing got you down? Time to learn a new skill. Become a classical musician in a few easy steps: Isn’t it easy? Just like becoming a writer in a few easy steps?
I Hate Rejecting Great Books!
If you, as an author, feel beaten down by several rejections, perhaps you have this image of an agent reading your submission: (Agent sits down at computer, armed with a steaming cup of Uber Expensive Coffee.) “It is now time to go through my submissions!” (Agent rolls up sleeves and cracks her knuckles. An evil grin dons her face as she opens the first email.) “Aha! I can write a form letter …
What’s My (Last) Line?
Here are the sources of the last lines I shared last week: “Maybe loving dogs… “A Big Little Life, Dean Koontz’s book about his Golden retriever, Trixie. Actually, the ending “The sign now includes…:” comes from the afterword of that same book. Yeah, I cheated. But I thought they both were perfect, in their own ways. “But the good part is …” Shiloh, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. …
Plan Your Social Media Messaging (aka Dog Wags Tail)
Blogging and creating material for your social media can either control you or you can control it. There is no deep spiritual application on this issue. It is simply effective time management and discipline. Manage it, or it will manage you. It’s like a student who stays up all night to study before a big test because they were at the beach playing volleyball with friends the previous day. No one …
The Odd English Language: You Can’t Make This Stuff Up
I came across an odd fact the other day. There is a two-letter word in English that has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that word is ‘UP.’ It is listed in the dictionary as an adverb, preposition, adjective, noun, or verb! (click here for the Oxford English dictionary link and keep scrolling down the page) There are over 30 definitions of the word! I cannot claim …