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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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Give Yourself a Break

By Karen Ballon January 20, 2016
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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 help the hungry as you have fun.)

10-Minute Fun Breaks:

Play with the dog

Watch the birds (or squirrels) in the feeder

Grab your camera, go outside, and take pictures

Go to the playground and watch the kids. Better yet, join them on the swings, slide, etc.

Take a cat nap (Hey, the older I get, the more fun sleep is!)

Play a quick game of ping-pong

Put on your favorite music and crank it up!

Color (and feel free to go outside the lines).

Watch funny videos on Wimp.com

Longer Breaks

Play cards or a board game

Call a friend you haven’t seen in a while

Paint a picture—no, not with words. With actual paints and a canvas!

Read one chapter of a book

Games to put on your smart device:

Words with Friends

Hanging with Friends—gives hanging out a whole new meaning

Word Streak with Friends—For those who love Boggle (and if you don’t, what’s wrong with you??)

Online fun:

Test your vocabulary AND help the hungry—

Electronic Poetry: We all have a poet trapped inside—

An online game for the Boggle folks—

For a daily writing prompt—

Or you can just to go www.wordgames.com and take your pick!

Okay, have at it! And have fun.

 

 

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Category: The Writing LifeTag: Break, The Writing Life

Satan Speaks to Christian Authors

By Dan Balowon January 19, 2016
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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 …

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Category: The Writing Life, TheologyTag: The Writing Life, Theology

Hope to See You at a Conference This Year

By Steve Laubeon January 18, 2016
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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. …

Read moreHope to See You at a Conference This Year
Category: Conferences, Get PublishedTag: Get Published, writers conferences

What Keeps You from Following Up?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon January 14, 2016
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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 …

Read moreWhat Keeps You from Following Up?
Category: ConferencesTag: Conferences, Follow Up

Don’t Let an Editor Ruin Your Book!

By Karen Ballon January 13, 2016
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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 …

Read moreDon’t Let an Editor Ruin Your Book!
Category: Craft, Editing, Writing CraftTag: Editing, Writing Craft

Best Selling Books Sixty Years Ago

By Dan Balowon January 12, 2016
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Continuing my early 2016 focus on sixty years ago, today we will look back at the New York Times bestseller list for January 15, 1956. Fiction ANDERSONVILLE, by MacKinlay Kantor (Won the Pulitzer Prize for 1956) MARJORIE MORNINGSTAR, by Herman Wouk (Made into a 1958 film with Gene Kelly and Natalie Wood) AUNTIE MAME, by Patrick Dennis (Made into a 1958 film with Rosalind Russell playing the lead. …

Read moreBest Selling Books Sixty Years Ago
Category: Book Business, Publishing History, TrendsTag: Bestsellers, Book Business, Trends

Every Day is a New Day in Publishing

By Steve Laubeon January 11, 2016
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Eternal optimism must be the attitude if one is to survive the roller coaster ride of the publishing business. There seems to be some new change every month if not every week. For example, this past week we got word of three different editors at three different publishers leaving their current position. One shifted to another publisher who is glad to fill a needed role. But that means the current …

Read moreEvery Day is a New Day in Publishing
Category: AgencyTag: Agency, Change, optimism

Fun Fridays – Jan. 8, 2016

By Steve Laubeon January 8, 2016
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Some book covers use stock photography as their foundation, but others are original and have a dedicated photo shoot. Take a look at this behind the scenes video of what has become the new cover for Lynette Eason’s February release, Always Watching. (Lynette is one of Tamela’s clients.) It is book one in a new series published by Revell. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApUhRmpBU_A

Read moreFun Fridays – Jan. 8, 2016
Category: Fun Fridays

Fiction: Don’t Order Flowers Yet – An Evaluation of 2015

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon January 7, 2016
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An Evaluation of 2015: Ours is a tough industry. A lot of writers are rejected. Over and over. The journey to publication seems harder than ever. Available slots in a publisher’s list are fewer and harder to secure. It’s more difficult than ever to make books profitable. Competition is tougher. Only the top authors seem to be making money. What year am I talking about? I think it is 1998. Or was …

Read moreFiction: Don’t Order Flowers Yet – An Evaluation of 2015
Category: Agency, Book Business, Career, TrendsTag: Book Business, fiction, Trends

I Hate the Church (?)

By Karen Ballon January 6, 2016
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Wow. Another year ended, another new year begun. As I considered what to say about 2015, something struck me: I heard more hard words from believers in 2015 than ever before. No, not “hard words” as in hard things the Lord told people to say. Just hard words. Words spiked with negativity, frustration, even a tinge of hatred. I’m a PK. A preacher’s kid. What’s more, I’m a PGK—a preacher’s grandkid. …

Read moreI Hate the Church (?)
Category: Career, TheologyTag: Career, Theology
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