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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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Home » Agents

Agents

12 Ways to Annoy a Literary Agent

By Steve Laubeon February 6, 2023
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This article is written in jest, but with decades of truth behind it.

No, we agents are not infallible and aren’t always right. We try not to sound arrogant or snooty. We genuinely would like to see you succeed, whether we are your agent or not! Our hope is you learn from what others have done or done incorrectly.

Drum roll please:

1. Call a week after sending your proposal to ask what we think of it.

2. Include glitter in your envelope if you’ve sent a printed copy of your proposal to my office.

3. Send a bribe (I mean “gift”) as part of the proposal. (I’ve received cash, signed memorabilia of famous people, framed artwork, and more.)

4. Respond to my rejection letter with vile and offensive language in return. (And I’m talking about the worst of the worst.)

5. Address the communication with my name misspelled. And then continue the error throughout your correspondence.

6. Address the communication to someone who doesn’t work here. (Happened last week.)

7. Start your pitch with “I know you don’t do books like this, but you will want to make an exception with mine.”

8. At a writers conference, use the restroom as your place to pitch your idea.

9. Ask that I click on a link in your email to access your proposal file. (We know better than to click malware links.)

10. Fail to follow the agency guidelines; but, instead, send a generic pitch to every agent in the universe and include them all in the cc line of your email.

11. The body of your email says “Here it is.” No signature line, no information in the email at all. Or, even worse, the body of the email is blank. (This happens multiple times a month.)

12. Send your proposal to all four of us at the agency simultaneously, and don’t tell us. We do tend to talk to one another.

Fortunately, most writers do not do these things. They stand out for a reason. Instead, strive to be professional and respectful.

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Category: Agency, Agents, Book Proposals, Conferences, Pitch, Pitching, The Writing Life

Who and What I’m Looking for (Bob Hostetler)

By Bob Hostetleron January 25, 2023
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(Updated 1/25/2023) As the world turns and 2022 gives way to 2023, I have been a literary agent with The Steve Laube Agency for five-and-a-half years. In many ways, 2022 was my most surprising and successful year yet as an agent. My clients made me look good, and my boss so far hasn’t made me look for a new job; so I’ve got those things going for me. With all that in mind, let me offer an updated …

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Category: Agency, Agents, Book ProposalsTag: Agency, Agents, Get Published

Three Myths About an Agent’s Acceptance

By Steve Laubeon December 5, 2022
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You’ve worked hard. You wrote a great book. You pitched it just right, and the literary agent has called you saying they want to represent you and your project. Hooray! But there are some misunderstandings or myths about what happens next. 1. Your Book Will Soon Be Published Just because an agent has said yes doesn’t guarantee success. Nor does it speed up the inexorable process. Remember that …

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Category: Agents, Book Business, Career, Communication, Get Published, Writing CraftTag: Agents, Get Published

Pet Peeves

By Dan Balowon December 1, 2022
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Pet peeves. We all have them, and we all do things that are pet peeves for others. How about starting a blog post with a two-word sentence, which isn’t a sentence? Anyone? Bueller? My Pet Peeves On one hand, I am like everyone else. I don’t like repetitive tapping or spam phone calls late at night. Those are the easy ones. I am also incredibly annoyed by bicyclists who never, ever observe any kind …

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Category: Agents, Humor

Having an Agent Doesn’t Guarantee a Book Deal

By Steve Laubeon October 24, 2022
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Good morning, friends. Mr. Happy, Steve Laube, is going to say happy things today that will warm your hearts and tickle your toes. Well, maybe not. Unfortunately some may not like this dose of reality, but to prepare you for the wild and woolly world of publishing I think you should hear it. Getting an agent to represent you isn’t a guarantee of a book contract. It is a step in that …

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Category: Agents

A Few Edited Words

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon October 12, 2022
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Sometimes writers will ask me if, as a literary agent, I edit manuscripts before submitting them to publishers. I choose not to touch a manuscript for several reasons: (1) I love your writing, so I don’t think you need my edits. (2)  I worked for many years as a professional writer but not as a professional editor. (3)  Since I have worked as a professional writer, I understand the emotions behind …

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Category: Agents, Editing, Grammar, The Writing Life, Writing Craft

Book Launch Secrets – Free Webinar, April 6

By Steve Laubeon April 4, 2022
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Each year Thomas Umstattd, Jr. and I make this presentation. An email also went out last week to those who are a part of The Christian Writers Institute. So pardon me if this post feels like a repeat. There are already more than 400 registered for this webinar! I don’t want you to miss out. The first 30 days your book is for sale sets the tone for the lifetime of your book. Many physical …

Read moreBook Launch Secrets – Free Webinar, April 6
Category: Agents, Book Business, Marketing, The Writing LifeTag: Book Launch

A Is for Agent

By Steve Laubeon March 14, 2022
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by Steve Laube

I thought it might be fun to write a series that addresses some of the basic terms that define our industry. The perfect place to start, of course, is the letter "A." And even better to start with the word "Agent."

If you are a writer, you've got it easy. When you say you are a writer your audience lights up because they know what that means. (Their perception is that you …

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Category: Agents, Book Business, Book Business, Career, Creativity, E-Books, Legal Issues, Publishing A-Z, Writing CraftTag: Agent, Book Business, publishing

A Peek at an Agent’s Emails

By Bob Hostetleron November 3, 2021
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As a literary agent, I send and receive a lot of emails. A lot. And that’s not even counting the emails offering my helpful diet tips and donut recipes. My emails aren’t always so practical, but it recently occurred to me that some weary or woeful writers might be helped by a peek at some of the wise and witty responses I’ve sent to clients and nonclients (because I’m just that kind of guy). Here …

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Category: Agency, Agents, Book Proposals, Career, Pitch, Pitching

Why Was My Submission Rejected?

By Bob Hostetleron July 21, 2021
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From Day One as a big, important literary agent, the least favorite part of my job—by far—has been saying no. It’s the worst. And it makes me feel like I’m the worst. Feel sorry for me yet? Seriously, the process of reviewing one submission after another, expecting to find one shining sterling silver needle in the overwhelming haystack, is a sure way to bring down my spirits. I try to respond to …

Read moreWhy Was My Submission Rejected?
Category: Agents, Book Proposals, Rejection, The Writing Life
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