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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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What’s Your First Line?

By Karen Ballon November 19, 2014
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Listen! Do you hear it? It’s been there all month, echoing in the background. The sound of hundreds of thousands of fingers tap-tap-tapping away. Yes, it’s here again:

NaNoWriMo!

That grand adventure of joining with other writers worldwide from November 1-30 to uplift and encourage each other as you write a novel in a month.

A full novel.

In one month.

Sound impossible? Well, I confess I’ve never given it a try. But I know lots of writers who have and they love it. Love the camaraderie, love the sense that they’re not alone in the endeavor, love all the resources and pep talks they find at the NaNoWriMo website, love the sense of accomplishment. So this blog is to say kudos to those who have jumped in, whether for the first or tenth time! You’re getting close to the finish line, folks. So…

Kudos!

And now let’s give the NaNoWriMo writers–and the rest of us–a chance to share what many consider the most important part of your manuscript: the first line. We did this back in July, and it was great fun. So let’s give it another go.

Whether you write fiction or nonfiction, your first line is all about engagement. Capturing attention, drawing the reader into your book, winning readers’ buy-in to the message only you can deliver. So let’s hear it, friends. Fiction or nonfiction, share the first line—and ONLY the first line–of your work in progress!

Here’s mine, from a nonfiction book I’m working on:

Deep in the soul of a writer is a dark, sneering voice that never shuts up.

Your Turn!

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Category: Craft, CreativityTag: first lines, NaNoWriMo, Writing Craft

Déjà Vu All Over Again – Indie (AND) Traditional Publishing

By Dan Balowon November 18, 2014
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The discussion of indie versus traditional publishing has been bothering me lately. I know it is still a relatively new issue that everyone involved in publishing needs to sort out, but what has been bothering me is that I know I have heard this kind of discussion before and could not think when. After much brain-racking, it finally dawned on me. It was in the 1980’s when personal computers were …

Read moreDéjà Vu All Over Again – Indie (AND) Traditional Publishing
Category: Book Business, TrendsTag: Self-Publishing, Traditional Publishing, Trends

Heartsong’s Publishing Legacy

By Steve Laubeon November 17, 2014
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Last week, as mentioned in Tamela’s wonderful tribute, Harlequin announced that the Heartsong Presents imprint is going to be shuttered. Heartsong Presents has been primarily a “direct-to-consumer” book club which published romance titles with a specifically Christian message. {And last week I joked about how things can change on Tuesday… This announcement came on …

Read moreHeartsong’s Publishing Legacy
Category: Career, Romance, TrendsTag: Book Business, Heartsong, Romance, Trends

Fun Fridays – November 14, 2014

By Steve Laubeon November 14, 2014
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Simply brilliant. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iccscUFY860

Read moreFun Fridays – November 14, 2014
Category: Fun Fridays

Farewell to Heartsong

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon November 13, 2014
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Earlier this week I received a call from Kathy Davis, acquisitions editor for Harlequin Heartsong Presents. She told me I was the first agent she called. Unfortunately, she had bad news. Heartsong Presents as a line will cease publication next year. I was sorry to learn that Kathy will also be looking for another position. A caring and competent editor, Kathy will surely find a soft place to …

Read moreFarewell to Heartsong
Category: Book Business, Publishing News, TrendsTag: Heartsong, Publishing News

Interviews Made Easy

By Karen Ballon November 12, 2014
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Writers had a lot of things going for them, but, generally speaking, there is one thing that can work against them when it comes to doing interviews… Writers tend to be introverts. So why does that work against you? Well, most interviewers will tell you that the #1 thing they avoid is dead space. You know, those painful moments of utter silence when nobody can think of anything to say. Or when …

Read moreInterviews Made Easy
Category: Career, Communication, Craft, Writing CraftTag: Career, Communication, Interviews

Standing for Something

By Dan Balowon November 11, 2014
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Take a Stand

When Al Ries and Jack Trout published their classic marketing book Positioning in 1981, the concept of the book and the single-word title became a white-hot marketing buzzword, much in the same way as “platform” is today. I am not going to dig into that classic business title today or come up with a complicated analysis of positioning, but I can say this, if you want to do a brilliant piece of …

Read moreStanding for Something
Category: Branding, Career, Communication, Marketing, Platform, TrendsTag: Career, Marketing

Another Day, Another Change

By Steve Laubeon November 10, 2014
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It is a long standing joke that if you think you know what a publisher is looking for, wait for Tuesday. Why? Because in one meeting everything can change. Suddenly they are looking for Texas NASCAR Romance but using an Urban Fantasy setting. Acquisitions often reflect the editorial and marketing staff of a particular publisher. And that too is another area of change. Tuesday… This past Tuesday …

Read moreAnother Day, Another Change
Category: Book Business, Book Business, Trends

Fun Fridays – November 7, 2014

By Steve Laubeon November 7, 2014
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I cannot handle spicy food so I won’t be trying this at home. But I wonder what this would look like if you, as a writer, tried this while writing a particularly emotional scene for your book? Could you get through it without stopping? These amazing musicians from the Danish National Chamber Orchestra gave it their best. Thank you to Trissina Kear for the tip!

Read moreFun Fridays – November 7, 2014
Category: Fun Fridays

HELP! I’m a Bestselling Author!

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon November 6, 2014
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Are you surprised that bestselling authors need help? Don’t be. While they are in an enviable position, that position is not without its hazards. 1.) Performance: Each book must be as good or better than the last book to keep readers reading. 2.) Sales: In direct correlation to the first item, the readership will result in sales. A bestselling author doesn’t want to see a big drop in …

Read moreHELP! I’m a Bestselling Author!
Category: Book Business, CareerTag: Bestselling Author, Career
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