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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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When Your Agent Appointment Flops

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon July 17, 2014
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In keeping with my conference posts, I want to talk a little today about agent appointments. I’ll use agents as the example for brevity but this post can also apply to editor appointments. That is, what if the agent or editor doesn’t like your work?

Don’t despair. Seriously. Here’s why:

1.) If you feel you stuttered or stammered, or otherwise weren’t at your best, don’t worry. The best agents realize few readers will meet authors in person, so a poor verbal presentation shouldn’t work against you. You will be judged on your writing, because that’s what the reader will see. If the agent asks for your work, send it, no matter how badly you feel you presented yourself.

2.) If the work isn’t to the agent’s taste, it’s best to learn that now rather than later. Many authors interview a number of agents before deciding on which agent is the best fit.

3.) If the agent doesn’t seem enthusiastic but offers advice, consider it. That advice alone could be worth the cost of going to the conference.

4.) You can submit another work, or an improved version of your current work, later. Remind the agent you met at conference, and then most agents will extend the courtesy of a thorough review.

All appointments are learning experiences, even those during which the agent declines.

Your turn:

Have you had a disastrous conference appointment? What did you learn from it?

After the initial disappointment, in hindsight, were you glad your work was declined? Why?

What is the best thing that happened to you during a conference appointment?

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Category: ConferencesTag: Agents, Appointments, writers conferences

Test Your Genre Skills!

By Karen Ballon July 16, 2014
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Today feels like a writing day, so let’s try an exercise together. Write a scene, up to 150 words (no more!), about making a sandwich, but do so in a way that makes the genre clear. I’ll go first. Guess the genre: Almond butter. She hugged herself. Oh, he loved almond butter. But not just any almond butter. He loved the organic kind, the kind that had one ingredient: almonds. It wouldn’t take her …

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Category: GenreTag: Genre, Writing Craft

Publishing in the Rear View Mirror

By Dan Balowon July 15, 2014
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Every author, either self or traditionally published would like to write a book that sells today, but also tomorrow, next week and next year. Book publishing in all of it’s forms is the art of trying to predict what readers will want to buy in the future. I use the term “art” to describe publishing because no one who has been involved in book publishing for more than two weeks thinks it is 100% …

Read morePublishing in the Rear View Mirror
Category: Book BusinessTag: Book Business, Publishing History, The Publishing Life

Gone or Dawn? The Golden Age of Publishing

By Steve Laubeon July 14, 2014
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Recently Philip Yancey, a revered and bestselling author, wrote an article mourning the decline of the golden age of Christian Publishing. His words got me thinking… Are the Golden Days Gone? I have heard a lot of negative statements about the book industry, and the Christian publishing industry in particular, these past few years. Statements like “the system is broken,” …

Read moreGone or Dawn? The Golden Age of Publishing
Category: Book Business

Fun Fridays – July 11, 2014

By Steve Laubeon July 11, 2014
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Synchronized Kitties!

Read moreFun Fridays – July 11, 2014
Category: Fun Fridays

Making Friends at a Writers Conference

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon July 10, 2014
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Conference time is exciting for everyone, especially those who are looking forward to meeting people they’ve only met over the Internet and reconnecting with old friends. For certain, strengthening relationships is one of the best benefits of any conference. But what about the person who’s new, who hasn’t had a chance to make lots of friends yet? What about the shy person who …

Read moreMaking Friends at a Writers Conference
Category: ConferencesTag: Friends, writers conferences

How to Engage Your Reader: Guaranteed!

By Karen Ballon July 9, 2014
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I have been a fiction fan for a lot of years—basically, as long as I’ve been reading. But lately, the books I’m drawn to are more memoirs and what I’d call creative nonfiction. Nonfiction message in a creative, unexpected format. As I’ve read these books, I’ve been asking myself why I’m drawn to them. No, more than that… Why I’m drawn into them. Lately I picked up another memoir, …

Read moreHow to Engage Your Reader: Guaranteed!
Category: Writing CraftTag: Craft, show don't tell, Writing Craft

It’s Not Who You Know

By Dan Balowon July 8, 2014
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From the third season of the 90’s sitcom Seinfeld, this classic interchange: Car Rental Agent: I’m sorry, we have no mid-size available at the moment.  Jerry: I don’t understand, I made a reservation, do you have my reservation? Agent: Yes, we do, unfortunately we ran out of cars. Jerry: But the reservation keeps the car here. That’s why you have the reservation. Agent: I know …

Read moreIt’s Not Who You Know
Category: Branding, Platform, Social Media, TrendsTag: Marketing, Platform, Social Media

ICRS 2014 – Observations

By Steve Laubeon July 7, 2014
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A couple weeks ago the industry gathered in Atlanta for the annual booksellers convention (I.C.R.S. – International Christian Retail Show). This was my 33rd consecutive event and have enjoyed every one. If I may I’ll mention a few of the meetings we attended and then make a few observations. 1) Tamela Hancock Murray and Dan Balow attended as well. We tried to do our meetings with …

Read moreICRS 2014 – Observations
Category: ICRSTag: ICRS

Fun Fridays – July 4th, 2014

By Steve Laubeon July 4, 2014
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Enjoy your celebration today with family and friends! Happy Birthday USA! Below is a picture of the world’s largest single fireworks shell before it is fired into the sky. It is four feet in diameter and weighs over 900 lbs. It is fired 2,700 feet into the air before exploding (that is a half a mile!). When it explodes it cover 2,400 feet of space (a bloom diameter).   Here is one of …

Read moreFun Fridays – July 4th, 2014
Category: Fun Fridays
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