• Skip to main content
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer

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

  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Interview with Steve Laube
    • Statement of Faith
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
  • Guidelines
  • Authors
    • Who We Represent
    • Awards and Recognition
  • Resources
    • Recommended Reading
    • Christian Writers Market Guide Online
    • Christian Writers Institute
    • Writers Conferences
    • Freelance Editorial Services
    • Copyright Resources
    • Research Tools
    • Selling What You Write
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Twitter
  • FaceBook
  • RSS Feed
  • Get Published
  • Book Proposals
  • Book Business
  • Writing Craft
    • Conferences
    • Copyright
    • Craft
    • Creativity
    • Grammar
  • Fun Fridays
Home » Blog

Blog

Yes I Said That, But…

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon July 3, 2014
Share
Tweet
13

In light of the fact that many of us are getting ready to go to conferences, or have just been to conferences, I thought I’d spend the next couple of blog posts on conferences.

Today I’d like to talk about what you hear, what you think you hear, and applying what you hear.

I love talking to writers and I love it even more when all of my appointment slots are filled at a conference. However, this also means I do a lot of talking over the course of a day. If you’ve ever condensed a lot of talking — important talking at that — into a period of time, you’ll know how intense and tiring it can be. Exciting and exhilarating, but also draining. For me, this means I unintentionally can be abrupt, too honest, not frank enough, and say things that don’t apply to every situation.

If I have ever offended you, let me know and give me a chance to make amends. Seriously. Email my assistant at ewilson@stevelaube.com and I’ll get back to you.

Otherwise, I’d like to talk about things I might say that don’t apply to every situation. Here’s a made-up example I hope will make my point clear (you can substitute the penguin for point-of-view or a specific genre or author platform if it helps understand the metaphor):

Lucinda Writer brings me a manuscript that includes a penguin named Rochester. For some reason, Rochester isn’t appealing and doesn’t add to the story. So I may say, “You know, I really don’t like Rochester. But try me with another story and let’s talk.”

Lucinda goes to her friend, Belinda Novelist, who also has an appointment with me, and out of kindness to her friend, says, “Whatever you do, don’t show Tamela your proposal with Winchester the Penguin because Tamela absolutely hates penguins.” This leaves Belinda wondering if she should make an appointment with Steve Laube instead (except for the rumor that he rejects everybody). Or if she should just go cry in a corner, because she really loves Winchester the Penguin.

But it could be that Winchester the Penguin is just what makes Belinda’s story sparkle. So the opinion I gave Lucinda didn’t apply to Belinda at all. If Belinda doesn’t meet with me, everyone loses.

My point? Don’t assume the advice an agent gives your friend applies to you. Talk to the agent yourself and find out.

Your turn:

What is the most scary part of approaching an agent?

Have you ever decided not to approach an agent because of something you heard? Did this post help you reconsider?

Have you approached an agent based on something you heard in particular?

Leave a Comment
Category: Conferences

Fun with First Lines in a Novel

By Karen Ballon July 2, 2014
Share
Tweet
133

A writers’ group I’m involved in often plays a game where we share the first line of our work-in-progress. I’m always so intrigued and impressed with what these talented writers share. So let’s do the same here. Whether your work is fiction or nonfiction, go ahead and share your first line! And please, ONLY the first line. It’s a great way to see if it’s effective. I’ll start: First line of my …

Read moreFun with First Lines in a Novel
Category: Writing Craft

Bestselling Books in 1974

By Dan Balowon July 1, 2014
Share
Tweet
9

Starting today, and every six months, we are going to take a ride in the “way-back” machine (with special acknowledgment to Mr. Peabody and Sherman), traveling back in time to grab a snapshot of what books were selling on a particular date and year. To get an idea where publishing is today, it’s good to get an idea where we have been. Forty years ago this week, half-way through 1974 here were the …

Read moreBestselling Books in 1974
Category: Book Business, Dan, TrendsTag: Bestsellers, Books, Trends

Pardon Our Dust

By Steve Laubeon June 30, 2014
Share
Tweet
18

We have been working for the last month on an updated look to our entire website, including the blog. It is great to see all it up and running this past weekend. Kudos to the team at AuthorMedia for their hard work! A number of features have been added or upgraded. The site is now completely mobile-friendly across all devices. This is not as easy as it sounds because there are thousands of screen …

Read morePardon Our Dust
Category: Agency, Personal

Fun Fridays – June 27, 2014

By Steve Laubeon June 27, 2014
Share
Tweet
0

Having just survived the 2014 International Christian Retail Show in Atlanta this video is somewhat illustrative of what happens when they hand out free stuff….

Read moreFun Fridays – June 27, 2014
Category: Fun Fridays, Steve

Do You Have a Great Title for Your Book?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon June 26, 2014
Share
Tweet
18

Several years ago, one of my daughters entered a photography contest at her school. One of her entries pictured our cat sitting with a plastic bag wrapped around her feet. We never will know how or why our cat did this — the pose just happened. We titled the funny picture, “Cat’s Out of the Bag!” But then we discovered the rules didn’t allow photographs to be titled. …

Read moreDo You Have a Great Title for Your Book?
Category: Book Proposals, Craft, Tamela, Writing CraftTag: Craft, Titles, Writing Craft

A Brave Heart

By Dan Balowon June 24, 2014
Share
Tweet
5

The 2014 Christy Awards were held last night in Atlanta, Georgia. Check the Christy Award’s website for the winners and other information. Three years ago in 2011, when the International Christian Retail Show was last held in Atlanta, the keynote speaker for the Christy Awards was Randall Wallace, who had a novel about to release from Tyndale House. Mr. Wallace is known for his writing and work in …

Read moreA Brave Heart
Category: Awards, Book Business, Creativity, Dan, ICRS, The Publishing LifeTag: Book Business, Christy Awards, publishing, The Publishing Life

A Matter of Experience

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon June 19, 2014
Share
Tweet
14

Sometimes I’ll have one of those days where I’m minding my own business, when I pick up the phone to discover the author on the other end of the line is irate. (No, this is not a rerun of an article from the 20th century. I do still have a land line for my office). “Ohhh, Tamela! I know that Hell is indeed located on Earth and where is it? It’s at my publisher’s …

Read moreA Matter of Experience
Category: Book Business, Career, Communication, Tamela, The Publishing LifeTag: Book Business, Career, publishing, The Publishing Life

My Secret Writer’s Tool

By Karen Ballon June 18, 2014
Share
Tweet
10

Guest post by Jennifer Sienes Jennifer Sienes, one of Karen’s clients, is a talented fiction writer who according to editors has a gift for bringing out the emotional power of the scene. She was recently named as a finalist in the 2014 Genesis contest with her novel Redemption. You can find out more and read her blog at www.jennifersienes.com   I’ve been reading the Steve Laube Agency …

Read moreMy Secret Writer’s Tool
Category: Career, Guest Post, The Writing LifeTag: Spouses, The Writing Life, Writing tools

God’s Map

By Dan Balowon June 17, 2014
Share
Tweet
14

“We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps” (Proverbs 16:9, NLT) This has significant implications for authors and book publishers. Over my career, I observe cases that prove that “your future is determined more by your successes than by your plans.” Anyone who knows me has probably heard me say that at one point or another, multiple times. Of course, that statement is flawed, …

Read moreGod’s Map
Category: Dan, TheologyTag: Christian, Planning, Theology
  • Previous
  • Page 1
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 260
  • Page 261
  • Page 262
  • Page 263
  • Page 264
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 328
  • Next

Sidebar

Get Blog Updates

Enter your email address to get new blog updates delivered via email. You can unsubscribe at any time.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Grow as a Writer


Find Out More →

Popular Posts

Top Posts on Book Proposals
  • Hints for a Great Cover Letter
  • The Keys to a Great Book Proposal
  • What Steve Laube is Looking For
  • Book Proposals I’d Love to See – Tamela Hancock Murray
  • What I’m Looking for – Bob Hostetler
  • What I’m Looking for – Dan Balow
  • What I’m Looking for – Lynette Eason
  • What’s the Best Way to Submit My Self-Published Book?
  • What Is the Agent Doing While I Wait?
  • God Gave Me This Blog Post
Top Posts on The Business Side
  • When Your Book Becomes Personal
  • The Myth of the Unearned Advance
  • How Long Does it Take to Get Published?
  • What Are Average Book Sales?
  • Can You Plagiarize Yourself?
  • Never Burn a Bridge
  • Who Decides to Publish Your Book?
  • That Conference Appointment
  • Goodbye to Traditional Publishing?
  • Who Owns Whom in Publishing?
  • Ten Commandments for Working with Your Agent
  • Writers Beware! Protect Yourself
Top Series
  • Book Proposal Basics
  • Publishing A-Z
  • A Defense of Traditional Publishing
Top Posts on Rejection
  • The Slush Pile: Enter at Your Own Risk
  • Even the Best Get Rejected
  • Five Reasons Why You May Never Get Published
  • The Unhelpful Rejection Letter
  • Writers Learn to Wait

Blog Post Archives by Month

  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Interview with Steve Laube
    • Statement of Faith
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
  • Guidelines
  • Authors
    • Who We Represent
    • Awards and Recognition
  • Resources
    • Recommended Reading
    • Christian Writers Market Guide Online
    • Christian Writers Institute
    • Writers Conferences
    • Freelance Editorial Services
    • Copyright Resources
    • Research Tools
    • Selling What You Write
  • Blog
  • Contact

Copyright © 2025 · The Steve Laube Agency · All Rights Reserved · Website by Stormhill Media