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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 » Page 2

Agents

What I’m Looking For – Megan Brown

By Megan Brownon April 25, 2023
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[Megan is currently on sabbatical and is not accepting new proposals or taking new clients. Please contact another agent in our company.]

As a reader who became a writer, I can certainly say God has sparked a flame in my heart for the written word, specifically His Word. In learning to study the Bible, line by line and verse by verse, I felt completely consumed with wanting to know more. Seventeen commentaries, five new notebooks, a pack of brand-new markers, and a Rubik’s cube later, I have discovered Bible study for me is a full-contact sport. Out of the ardent study of the Word, I found myself curating expositional studies for women and books designed to share the military community story.

Ultimately, this journey has brought the opportunity to serve as a literary agent. Now, I’m a reader who became a writer, who also reads the writings of others. For me, it’s a joy to help more readers become writers. Make sense?

One of the first questions I’m asked is, “What is it you are looking for?”

First, I am interested in representing Christian authors.

I am looking to work with authors who hold a Christian worldview, can wholeheartedly agree with this agency’s statement of faith, and desire to create content and publishing projects with gospel-centricity. However, if a Christian author is writing a book for a general audience, this agency does have the ability to sell books to the general market.

And I’m not interested only in military-affiliated authors or books. 

While I am enthusiastically searching for authors in the military and veteran community space, I am open to exploring Christian books targeted toward a wider audience.

What types of books am I interested in?

I am interested in nonfiction books. Specifically, I am most excited about pursuing projects in Bible study, reference, theology, Christian living and devotionals, spiritual formation, the integration of work and faith, marriage and family, church life, ministry, leadership, evangelism, and missions.

While these topics vary, there are three principles and concepts I value in a person or project.

Authority

When we believe we are called to serve the Lord through writing, we also accept the calling to handle His Word with responsibility, care, and stewardship. What this means is that the authoritative teachings in any Christian book should be firmly rooted in Scripture–taught in the proper context, understood in its original intent, and crafted or explained in the correct contemporary application. We must take the charge seriously to handle the Word and teach it well (James 3:1). Additionally, I greatly appreciate authors who have invested the time in continuing education or biblical certification in order to share the whole counsel of God.

Authenticity

So many times, today’s communicators are caught up in the current influencer culture. Looking for quick validation or adoration, heaps of content created for today’s audiences lack authenticity or realness. I am looking for authors who teach through the cracks in their lives, offering real encouragement to readers with real problems.

Empathy

One of the most important skill sets I look for in potential authors is their ability to understand and relate to their audience well. These are the essential questions I think authors should be able to answer about their readers:

Who am I writing for and why?

What is my reader’s greatest challenge or fear?

What is the answer my reader is looking for from me and why?

I am not interested in fiction or children’s books. 

The Process: It is slower than you think.

For authors just starting out, the process looks like developing your concept. Brain dump, mind-map, and research. Do your homework. Really invest the time to develop your idea and complete all the work in creating the pitch assets you’ll need: a proposal and sample chapters (please follow the agency guidelines!). And the process of learning the practical craft of writing and sharpening one’s creative skills is no easy or quick task. It’s not for the faint of heart. Depending on how far into the process you are, this could take a while. Agents are usually looking for authors who have mastered the craft of writing and communicating. If your sentences don’t have subjects or you have 97 Oxford commas, you might want to go back to the drawing board for a bit until the craft writing is sharp.

When the proposal is complete, you might want to get a second set of eyes on it before submitting it. Agents are looking for clear, concise, and compelling ideas. The writing should be your very best. Any grammatical errors, spelling issues, or fumbled wording can send your proposal into the dreaded “to be rejected pile.” To submit a completed proposal, please email jsanders@stevelaube.com. Every submission received is reviewed, and I will attempt to respond. Please allow up to 12 weeks for a response, although the typical response time is less.

 

 

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Category: Agents, Book Proposals, Pitching

Why Did She Say That?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon April 13, 2023
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Because this blog’s primary purpose is to help authors by dispensing opinions and advice, posts may hit close to home. A long time ago, I read an article in which a blogger I’d recently interacted with made a snarky remark. I thought, Is the blogger talking about me? So I know that sinking, disturbing feeling of wondering if I’ve been surreptitiously called out in public. I’m glad I saw the post …

Read moreWhy Did She Say That?
Category: Agents, Pitching

Don’t Wait for Retirement

By Bob Hostetleron February 23, 2023
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It seems as if it happens at least once at every writers conference I attend. Someone will say, “Once I retire, I’ll be able to write.” I get it. It’s hard to find the time to write—and build or expand a platform of speaking or podcasting or blogging and more—while you have an actual job for which you’re supposedly being paid. But I can’t say this strongly enough: Don’t wait for retirement to …

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Category: Agents, Platform

How They Got Their Agent

By Bob Hostetleron February 15, 2023
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Somewhere shy of a billion years ago, I met Steve Laube at a writers conference. He and I were both teaching and presenting and meeting with writers. (He was an editor at the time, and I was a big deal.) He liked me; I tolerated him. For the next few years (or more), our friendship continued and deepened; and eventually I asked him to be my literary agent. He agreed. Of course, he did. He’s made …

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Category: Agents

Ways to Delight a Literary Agent

By Steve Laubeon February 13, 2023
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Last week I highlighted some things that tend to annoy a literary agent. Let’s flip that around and reflect on a few things that get our attention. Another drum roll please: 1. Follow the guidelines on an agency’s website. (Those are there for a reason. It helps sift, at one level, those who are wanting to be professionals and those who aren’t. Note they are …

Read moreWays to Delight a Literary Agent
Category: Agency, Agents, Book Proposals, Conferences, Pitch, Pitching, Platform, The Writing Life

Voices of Courage: Why Military Writers are Important

By Dan Balowon February 8, 2023
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Successful books always come from a writer’s inspired, creative mind and heart. Every time we attempt to make publishing a science, making it more about business nuts and bolts, rather than art, serendipitous creativity seems to find a way around the science, nuts, and bolts. Effective and wise business planning is important, but Christian publishing’s guiding principle should be Proverbs …

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Category: Agents, Book Business, Branding, Career, Encouragement, Faith, Inspiration

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 …

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

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 …

Read moreThree Myths About an Agent’s Acceptance
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 …

Read moreHaving an Agent Doesn’t Guarantee a Book Deal
Category: Agents
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