There is no sound in today’s video. You simply have to watch carefully.
It is only a minute long.
Afterward, you will doubt your powers of observation.
[If the video does not appear in your email newsletter, please visit the site itself to view it.]
Blog
Navigating Writing Through Seasons of Transition
After two decades of service in the US Air Force, my husband hung up his uniform, marking the beginning of a new chapter for our family. With all of us finally under the same roof and a more manageable schedule, we’re filled with anticipation for the future. Yet, amidst the excitement, the uncertainty of what’s next and the complexities of merging our parallel lives into one shared …
New Earth Books
Several years ago, I engaged in a wide-ranging spiritual discussion in a group when I said in jest, “Once we get to heaven, we won’t need to sing that hymn anymore!” Sometimes, we say things in the moment and then realize they are likely true. (Not always, trust me.) But let’s face it, we won’t be singing the “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” “God Bless America,” or …
Writing Conflict: How to Keep Your Protagonist on Their Toes With Angela Hunt
Without conflict, you don't have a story. Find out how to add and layer the six classic conflicts to keep your readers reading.
Your Writers Conference Appointment
[I’ve posted variations of this article over the years. I hope that by bringing it back to the top of the pile, many of you new readers will see it!] __________ You snagged one of those valuable 15-minute appointments with an agent or an editor at a writers conference. Now what? What do you say? How do you say it? What do I bring with me? And what does that scowling person on the other side …
Fun Fridays – April 5, 2024
Someone captured a video of me teaching a group of writers about contract law. We discussed topics like indemnification, moral turpitude, the statutory right of termination, and more. Unfortunately, the only thing the writers actually heard is what you hear in the video. The navy blue outfit I wore that day seemed appropriate at the time. Sorry. Enjoy! [If you cannot see the video in your email, …
A Case for Reading Physical Books
Ebooks are great. I read, on average, 25 or more ebooks every year. They’re convenient, especially when traveling. They don’t take up precious shelf space. They don’t have to be dusted. I don’t feel guilty when I read an ebook, but I purposefully choose physical books for the majority of my reading, for numerous reasons. Reading a physical book provides a more sensory experience. Touch, smell, …
A Guaranteed Rejection
Very, very few authors are guaranteed a publisher’s acceptance of their work. Those authors have spent years, even decades, proving they can write bestselling, or at least profitable, books with almost no misses. And if they have a string of misses, their publishers may drop them. They must. No matter how much a publisher likes an author, books must make money; or the publisher will be forced to …
April Tool’s Day
I decided not to try and trick you on April Fool’s Day with something like “Steve Laube buys yet another shiny industry business. This time he bought the entire out-of-print catalogs from Nomas Telson, Zyndale, and Tondervan. Included in the purchase was the New International Christian Standard Living Message Bible (NICSLMB).” Instead, I thought about which reference book I use …
Story Structure Part #9
We are so close to finishing our Story Structure series. Last time, we talked about the climax of the story. This time, we’re going to talk about the Falling Action. This comes after the climax. What is the Falling Action all about? ThoughtCo says, “The falling action in a work of literature is the sequence of events that follow the climax and end in the resolution. The falling action is the …