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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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New Writer Lingo for a New Day

By Bob Hostetleron June 15, 2023
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If you’ve been writing (or hanging around with writers) for a while, you’ve probably seen or heard the abbreviation POV. It’s short for “point of view.” And WIP (“work in progress”), MC (“main character”), and perhaps even NaNoWriMo (“National Novel Writing Month,” which rolls around every November).

But those, like many terms we writers use and abuse, have been around for a while. They’re kinda old. Hackneyed, even (like the word hackneyed). Wouldn’t it be good to have some new phrases or acronyms that make us feel like the cool kids for once? (I can dream, can’t I?)

So, in the interest of literary advancement, I asked some of my writer friends (yes, I have friends) for some suggestions. And they obliged, drawing from their notations in reviewing their own writing and critiquing or editing the writing of others. Feel free to adopt any you like and send all royalties to me. (Note: Acronyms that don’t mention a contributor are from me.)

ATNW (“All Talk, No Writing”) (Lori Stanley Roeleveld)

BIS (“Booty in Seat”) (Rebekah Millet)

CTF (“Cut the Fluff”) (Lori Stanley Roeleveld)

CTTC (“Cut to the Chase”)

DRT (“Doesn’t Ring True”)

GWS (“Goes Without Saying”—i.e., the author is telling the reader something painfully obvious) (Cindy Sproles)

MM (“Mirror Moment,” the midpoint scene of a novel when a character must look within and confront the need for change) (Texie Susan Gregory)

MOO (“My Own Opinion”) (Cindy Sproles)

No BH (“No Bouncing Heads,” referring to head-hopping in POV) (Jessica Brodie)

NBI (“Not Buying It,” i.e., you ruined my WSoD; see below)

PP (“Plot Point,” as in PP1, PP2, etc.) (Texie Susan Gregory)

PTA (“Passive to Active”) (Lori Hatcher)

RUE (“Resist the Urge to Explain”) (Cindy Sproles)

SDT (“Show, Don’t Tell”)

SSOTHO (“Self-sabotage of the Highest Order”) (Lori Stanley Roeleveld)

TIGCYE (“This is Gonna Cost You Extra”) (Lori Hatcher)

TMITLE (“Too Many Ideas, Too Little Execution”) (Lori Stanley Roeleveld)

TYGA (“There You Go Again,” a polite but passive/aggressive way to note an error the writer continues to make despite you having noted it a thousand times) (Lori Hatcher)

VOMIT DRAFT. It’s best if you don’t abbreviate this one. (Rebekah Millet)

WFOW (“Writing from Open Wounds”) (Lori Stanley Roeleveld)

WFSBOP (“Words from the Soul, Blood on the Page”) (Lori Stanley Roeleveld)

WSoD (“Willing Suspension of Disbelief”) (Tom Williams)

ZZZ (“This is boring!”)

What about you? What are some terms or abbreviations you’ve found helpful in your writing (or critiquing and editing) life? Do tell.

 

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Category: Career, Common Questoins, The Writing Life, Trends

The Perils of Responding to Criticism

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon June 14, 2023
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Recently, I read a news article about a general-market author who offered a negative response when a reviewer gave her four instead of five stars for her debut novel. She attacked the reviewer, calling her a name I shall not repeat here. The author expressed she was upset that the reviewer had ruined her perfect five-star rating. The author’s response resulted in a barrage of retaliatory one-star …

Read moreThe Perils of Responding to Criticism
Category: Rejection, Reviews, The Writing Life

The Secret to Becoming a Successful Christian Author: Church With Chase Replogle

By Thomas Umstattd, Jr.on June 13, 2023
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Find out why attending a local church in person can benefit your physical and spiritual health as well as your book sales.
You can listen to this episode The Secret to Becoming a Successful Christian Author: Church With Chase Replogle on Christian Publishing Show.

Read moreThe Secret to Becoming a Successful Christian Author: Church With Chase Replogle
Category: The Writing Life

The Secret to Becoming a Successful Christian Author: Church

By Thomas Umstattd, Jr.on June 13, 2023
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Find out why attending a local church in person can benefit your physical and spiritual health as well as your book sales.
You can listen to this episode The Secret to Becoming a Successful Christian Author: Church on Christian Publishing Show.

Read moreThe Secret to Becoming a Successful Christian Author: Church
Category: The Writing Life

4 Tips for Surviving a Writers Conference

By Steve Laubeon June 12, 2023
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I’ve had the fun of teaching at nearly 200 writers conferences over the years. In that time, I’ve noticed several common things that all writers face. Let’s explore a few tips that may help you survive at the next one you attend. Relax The most common mistake is viewing the conference as a make-it-or-break-it event. The stress folks place on themselves is palpable. I’ve had …

Read more4 Tips for Surviving a Writers Conference
Category: Conferences, MarketingTag: Get Published, writers conferences

Fun Fridays – June 9, 2023

By Steve Laubeon June 9, 2023
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Today’s video dispenses with the notion “Good things come to those who wait.” Sometimes you just can’t wait for the blessings from the Lord. What sheer joy!

Read moreFun Fridays – June 9, 2023
Category: Fun Fridays

Don’t Write the Book Without the Blueprint

By Megan Brownon June 8, 2023
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What came first? The chicken or the egg? So many people have reached out and shared their amazing ideas for books with me. They have told me about everything from health and wellness to comics or cookbooks. But they’ve made the rookie mistake of writing a book without a proposal, believing a proposal can be easily constructed on the back end of writing a manuscript. No matter the concept or focus, …

Read moreDon’t Write the Book Without the Blueprint
Category: Book Proposals

Worst-Case Scenario Survival Guide for Authors

By Dan Balowon June 6, 2023
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In 1999, Chronicle Books published the first in a series of rather unique books, The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook; and it sold ten million copies, launching a multimedia franchise. Over a dozen books followed, as well as games, TV series, and other merchandise. Authors Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht built the books around extreme, need-based topics, like how to jump from a moving train …

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Category: Humor, The Writing Life

Let’s Talk About Money

By Steve Laubeon June 5, 2023
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Hope that headline got your attention! Those of us who work with authors find that an area of consistent turmoil is when money is the topic. A major challenge is teaching authors when to talk about money and when not to talk about money. Let’s explore some of these challenges. And first, let’s assume you already have a literary agent. When to Talk Money With Your Publisher/Editor Never. That is …

Read moreLet’s Talk About Money
Category: Book Business, Money, The Writing LifeTag: Book Business, Money

The Secret to Becoming a Successful Christian Author: Church

By Thomas Umstattd, Jr.on June 3, 2023
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Find out why attending a local church in person can benefit your physical and spiritual health as well as your book sales.www.NovelMarketingConference.com Support the show

Read moreThe Secret to Becoming a Successful Christian Author: Church
Category: The Writing Life
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