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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 3

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 editing. A writer can (and sometimes should) get miffed at the finest editor. Even if a writer loves every comma I add, the writer/editor relationship is naturally different from the writer/agent relationship. Because of how I’m wired, I work better keeping relationships clear. To wit: my husband is responsible for the outside of the house, and I’m responsible for the inside. To give proper credit, he does perform many thankless tasks, such as anything involving a step ladder and annihilating the errant wasp that might fly inside. As an experienced author and agent, I can find exceptions to agreements.

(4)  The editor at the publishing house cuts not only words, but is also responsible for advance and royalty checks. So I don’t feel I have the proper authority to perform deep edits. I want both of us to please the publisher. Once the contract is signed, the writer doesn’t need to please me.

Whether you wish for no editing or lots of editing, may you find the right people to guide you to your most successful career.

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

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 …

Read moreA Is for Agent
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 …

Read moreA Peek at an Agent’s Emails
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

A Literary Agent Guarantees Your Publishing Success (Or Not?)

By Steve Laubeon July 12, 2021
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You finally landed your “dream” agent. You did the hard work and crafted your manuscript. Created a stellar proposal. Comported yourself with excellence during the phone/Zoom calls. Congratulations. Now you can sit back and let the agent do their magic. All you have to do is start planning for your retirement with all the dough that is going to flow in your direction. Right? Sorry. Connecting with …

Read moreA Literary Agent Guarantees Your Publishing Success (Or Not?)
Category: Agency, Agents, The Writing Life

A Literary Agent’s Wish List

By Bob Hostetleron May 27, 2021
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People often ask me, “What are you looking for?” It’s a natural question to ask a literary agent, even when the questioner knows that the agent has offered a detailed answer on the agency website (here, for example). After all, something could’ve changed. I may, since updating my interests, have suddenly decided to get bold, branch out, and try to sell a systematic theology in iambic pentameter. …

Read moreA Literary Agent’s Wish List
Category: Agents, Book Proposals, Craft, Grammar, Pitching, Platform, The Publishing Life, The Writing Life

Are You High Maintenance?

By Steve Laubeon November 16, 2020
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by Steve Laube

Last week I was asked to define what is meant when an author is deemed "high maintenance" by an agent or a publisher. The more I thought about this the more I realized how difficult it is to quantify. Any attempt to do so is fraught with potential misunderstanding because most people are looking for specific rules to follow.

Normally "high maintenance" is a description of …

Read moreAre You High Maintenance?
Category: Agents, Book Business, Get Published, The Writing LifeTag: Agents, Editors, high maintenance, publishers

What if You Get a Book Deal on Your Own and Then Want an Agent?

By Steve Laubeon October 12, 2020
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One of our readers asked this via the green “Ask us a question” button.
What happens if you get a book contract before you have an agent? What if, by some miracle, an editor sees your work and wants to publish it? (1) would having a publisher interested in my work make an agent much more likely to represent me, and (2) would it be appropriate to try to find an agent at that point (when a …

Read moreWhat if You Get a Book Deal on Your Own and Then Want an Agent?
Category: Agents, Book Business, Conferences, Contracts, Get Published, SteveTag: Agent, Conferences, Contracts, negotiations, publishers

Writing in Multiple Genres, Okay? Not Okay?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon September 17, 2020
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The “Your Questions Answered” Series __________ In a recent Q & A, Steve Laube talked about how writers will pitch different projects to him in the same meeting:  a novel, a nonfiction, a devotional, etc.  He said that writers need to decide “what they want to be when they grow up.”  I’d like some clarity on why writing in different genres is discouraged.  As ideas come to …

Read moreWriting in Multiple Genres, Okay? Not Okay?
Category: Agents, Genre, Pitching, Platform, Your Questions Answered Series

Do I Need an Agent?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon August 27, 2020
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The “Your Questions Answered” Series __________ I would love to hear more advice about finding an agent or if we really need one. I’m planning to teach a Zoom course on this topic through ACFW on September 18. Here is their link: ACFW conference. If you are planning to attend, I’d love to see you there. The conference offers, for a reasonable cost, many excellent classes and chances to connect …

Read moreDo I Need an Agent?
Category: Agents, Your Questions Answered Series
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