Helping to Change the World…Word by Word
The Steve Laube Agency
Helping to Change the World Word by Word
Imagine Mozart and Adele co-writing a song together. You might end up with something like this latest piece from The Piano Guys. A combination of Adele’s “Hello” and Mozart’s “Lacrimosa” from his Requiem in D Minor (if you want to hear Mozart’s original piece it is posted below).
Below is Mozart’s “Lacrimosa” complete with translation from the Latin on screen. It is a powerful piece of music, worthy of multiple listens.
Last week I wrote about a process on how to manage deadlines. Despite our best efforts, events may put us awry. To avoid this, eliminate overconfidence. When you see a contract and the advance – one you may desperately need, you may be tempted to say, “You know what? I really don’t need to go to the beach this year. I’ll write all summer instead.” Or, “Sure, I can write 3,000 words a day, seven …
There’s a lot about being a freelance editor that’s fun. But some things that just…aren’t. Like telling a writer that his manuscript isn’t ready to be edited. This happens most often before an editor agrees to do an edit, when they read the sample of the manuscript. There are times, though, when those first pages are pretty good, so the editor takes the project on. And then, when he’s deep in the …
Some Christian authors desire to one day write books for general market publishers rather than for those who focus only on Christian-themed books. The thought, which is well-intentioned, is publishers focusing on the broader market will reach unbelieving readers, piquing their interest in spiritual things, leading to further investigation and so on. But the strategy is flawed. Publishers don’t …
During your publishing journey you may have the delightful problem of too many deadlines. You may have to ask yourself if you can accept another contract because you’re so busy. I’ve advised many clients about this over the years, taking them from panic to peace. Simple math can help. Determine time Look at all your contracts and how much time you have to write the books. Calculate how many days …
George Bernard Shaw said it best: “We don’t stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.” Sometimes you just need a break from it all. A few minutes to distract your brain, or even—dare I say it?–have a bit of flat-out fun. For some that means making a beeline for some kind of snack, and that’s fine. But here are some other things you can try. (And one even lets you …
Throughout our lives, a great number of “voices” compete for our attention. Family, friends, co-workers, marketers, technology, and even your pets are vying for your undivided attention. Christians yearn to hear the voice of God in their lives and succeed because we have his words written down for all to read and hear, as well as the Holy Spirit reminding us of those words constantly. But the …
We are often asked which conferences we will attend and where. Below is a list for each of us with a link to each event. We all hope to see you in person some time this year. Someone from the agency will be in nine different states and Canada and in all four time zones at some time this year. Steve Laube: Feb 4-7 – Hershey, PA – Writer to Writer Conference March 18-22 – Mt. …
You’ve been to a conference, probably at great expense and some trouble. You’ve met a few agents and editors. And you probably got at least a couple of requests to follow up with a manuscript. Now you’re home. And it’s time to follow up. Will you? If not, why not? Fear Fear is a natural emotion. In fact, if you don’t feel any fear, maybe it’s time to be scared. Or at least, worried. When you …
I’ve worked in almost all the different aspects of publishing. Editor, writer, agent. Seen and done almost all there is. And it’s always fascinating when I hear writers talk about editors as though they’re these mean, rigid despots who just want to ruin their books. That is SO not who I, or the other editors I’ve known all these years, are like. We don’t want to ruin anything. We want to help. But …
