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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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The Care and Feeding of … WORDS!

By Karen Ballon June 29, 2011
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“Handle them carefully, for words have more power than atom bombs.”
Pearl Strachan

“By words the mind is winged.”
Aristophanes

“The turn of a sentence has decided the fate of many a friendship, and, for aught that we know, the fate of many a kingdom.”
Jeremy Bentham

Amazing, isn’t it? Something so small as words can have such huge impact.

The right word in any circumstance can bring peace, comfort, laughter, tears. It can elicit emotion, stir action, deliver forgiveness, change lives. For generations, words have moved and motivated. Writers, steeped in the wonder of words, have poured their hearts out on stark paper, only to have those pages come to life in ways they never imagined, and to have their words live on in the hearts and minds of readers long after they’ve been read.

At least, that’s what we hope for. Pray for. LONG for.

A writer’s group I’m part of was just talking about this. The yearning, deep within our hearts and souls, to write something that matters. That will change lives. That will stand the test of time. For us, the writing is novels. Stories that transcend genre or time. That transport.

That matter.

Odd thing is, when you’re writing to a deadline, it’s hard to do that. Because too often you get focused on just that: the deadline. So what becomes foremost in our minds? Daily word count. Getting the story down. Getting Done. Finish it off. Hand it in. Don’t be late! AAAHHHHHH!

Talk about creativity killers.

But how do you take time to craft a story when you have to pay bills? How do you let the story germinate when you have to keep books on the shelves to hold your readers? Hey, I’m an editor and agent as well as a writer. That’s the publishing Trifecta!  I know how important it is to keep your books in readers’ hands, to not make them wait too long between novels. To not let them forget why they love your books over others’.

But I also want the best my writers and clients have to offer. Just as I want to give my best to my own readers. And my best doesn’t happen when I’m stressed or guilt-ridden or rushed.

All of this has been rolling around in my head and heart of late. As it often does. It’s something that comes back and nudges at me on a far-too-regular basis. Until it finally coalesced (isn’t that a great word?) into one simple bit of guidance: Rest.

Rest in Him–in the One who breathed the story deep into your soul. Who equipped you to fulfill the task He’s given of creating a story that will move, inspire, and challenge. Don’t push, don’t fret, don’t–and I can see Steve and Tamela and editors all cringing here, but I’m gonna say it anyway—DO NOT let the tyranny of the deadline destroy creativity and passion. Do what’s reasonable, to the best of your passion and ability, and leave the rest to Him.

Rest in what you know–the story, the characters, the truths you need to portray. The fact that your readers have told you, over and over, that they love what you write. So that deep-seeded insecurity that you can’t do it again, can’t come up with a story that will engage, can just take a hike. You’re doing this because you love it, and because your readers love what you do. Forget the critics and reviewers. Focus on what you know really matters: the story and those for whom you tell it.

Rest in the story–Yes, get it down as best you can. But then? Set it aside. Give yourself the gift of time away from it. At least a few weeks. Even better, a month or more. Get completely away from it, maybe even from writing. Take a break. Go for a walk. Focus on something entirely different. You can be sure, if you do this, that when you come back to it, you’ll read with new eyes. Eyes that see the weak spots, to be sure. Eyes that can better discern how to fix what isn’t working. And eyes that will widen as you discover those periodic gems, where you sit back, wonder washing over you, as you realize Almighty fingers rested over your own as you wrote. Because none of us on our own can write a line, a scene, a TRUTH as powerful as you’ve just found on the page.

Rest. Be at peace.

—And let creativity flourish.

 

 

 

 

 

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Category: Craft, Creativity, Karen, Writing CraftTag: Creativity, Get Published, Karen, words, Writing Craft

News You Can Use

By Steve Laubeon June 28, 2011
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A $30 iPad...for kids? - take a look at the new anaPad. Have to admire the entrepreneur, even when the idea seems a little odd.

Twitter Profile Mistakes - Excellent advice for writers who tweet.

Andrew Wylie in the Wall Street Journal Magazine - See what this uberagent has to say about the future of publishing. Especially note his thoughts on the global market.

Would James Joyce have used …

Read moreNews You Can Use
Category: News You Can Use, SteveTag: News, Trends

Fun Fridays – June 24, 2011

By Steve Laubeon June 24, 2011
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Steven Sharp Nelson playing eight cellos. Watch and enjoy.

His album "Sacred Cell0" is one of my all time favorites.

Read moreFun Fridays – June 24, 2011
Category: Fun Fridays, SteveTag: Cello

Print: A Thing of the Past?

By Karen Ballon June 22, 2011
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by Karen Ball

Remember the musical Oklahoma? Gordon MacRae singing to, of all people, Rod Steiger: "Poor Jud is daid, poor Jud Fry is daid..."

Well, the way folks have been talking lately, I'm waiting for the new musical, "Digital World," where a Gordon MacRae-esque editor will stand next to a book and sing out, "Poor print is daid, poor print books is daid, they're lookin' oh, so tattered …

Read morePrint: A Thing of the Past?
Category: Book Business, Get Published, Publishing A-Z, TrendsTag: Print, publishing, Trends

News You Can Use

By Steve Laubeon June 21, 2011
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by Steve Laube

Thirty Three Twitter Feeds to Follow - The folks at Poets & Writers put together a helpful list of publishing and writing oriented twitter feeds to follow.

Kindle Spam Clogging Amazon - What a mess. Fake compiled books are being uploaded on the Kindle digital platform and sold to unsuspecting people. Another argument for Curation.

Google Books Creates Affiliate Program …

Read moreNews You Can Use
Category: News You Can Use, Social Media, SteveTag: Book Business, Get Published, Social Media, Trends

The Fear of Rejection

By Steve Laubeon June 20, 2011
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Randy Ingermanson recently interviewed author Mary DeMuth in his "Advanced Fiction Writing E-Zine" and the topic of rejection surfaced. I thought it was very insightful and, with permission, am posting their conversation.

_______________

My friend Mary DeMuth recently published an e-book with the title The 11 Secrets of Getting Published.

Given that the price is only $2.99, I assumed the …

Read moreThe Fear of Rejection
Category: Book Business, Get Published, Rejection, Writing CraftTag: Book Business, Get Published, Rejection, Writing Craft

Writing that Sings

By Karen Ballon June 10, 2011
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As I've started the work of being an agent and building a client list, I've had a number of folks in different venues ask me what I'm interested in representing. So thought I'd address that here.

First and foremost, you need to know that I'm looking for books that share God's truth. I want to work with authors whose books will change lives. Who bring the depth and wealth of their own spiritual …

Read moreWriting that Sings
Category: Agency, KarenTag: Agents, Karen, Marketing, Pitching, Proposals, Trends

Happy to be Here!

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon June 7, 2011
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HAPPY TO BE HERE!

I am thrilled to be a part of The Steve Laube Agency and to post my first blog entry. I have been asked lots of questions about my new venture. I'll answer a few here.

Will you continue to represent Christian romance novels?
Yes, I will! Steve was familiar with my client list when I joined the agency and we both believe Christian fiction is a vital part of …

Read moreHappy to be Here!
Category: Agency, Get Published, Tamela, TrendsTag: Agents, Book Business, Tamela, Trends, Writing Craft

The Passing of a Friend

By Steve Laubeon June 4, 2011
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My friend Bill Reynolds, known as "Mr. Bible," has passed away. In his career as a Bible salesman he sold over one million copies! He was one of the first sales reps to ever sell to me when I first started in the industry as a bookseller with The Berean Christian Stores. He was always cheerful and took a sincere interest in my life and development as a Christian, a father, and a bookseller. I will …

Read moreThe Passing of a Friend
Category: Book Business, PersonalTag: Bible, Book Business, Books, Personal

More Great News for the Agency!

By Steve Laubeon May 24, 2011
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In the final step of our current expansion we are excited to announce that Karen Ball is joining The Steve Laube Agency as a new literary agent for the firm.

Karen is one of the most widely respected editors in the publishing business. For nearly 30 years she has built  and led successful fiction lines for Tyndale, Multnomah, Zondervan, and, most recently, the B&H Publishing Group. She’s …

Read moreMore Great News for the Agency!
Category: Agency, Book BusinessTag: Agents, News
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