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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 » Career » Page 2

Career

3 Productivity Questions for Busy Writers

By Bob Hostetleron May 11, 2023
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Writers have a lot to do.

Maybe you’ve discovered that. Wherever you may be in your writing journey, you’ve probably encountered the many tasks a writer has to accomplish (especially during tax season, can I get a witness?): write, rewrite, edit, proofread, get critique, rewrite again, research, review, submit, record submissions, follow up submissions, book travel, register for conferences, pack for conferences, recover from conferences, and more. It can be overwhelming.

That’s why I have long followed a weekly productivity practice that helps me to stay sane. Okay, okay, “helps me to seem sane.” Happy now?

Every Sunday evening, I plan and schedule the coming week. And I ask myself three questions about upcoming events and tasks:

What can I automate?

What can I delegate?

What can I eradicate?

See how they rhyme? That just shows how inspired they are.

But seriously, folks, those three questions are an indispensable part of my writing life. In a fairly normal week, I might answer the first question by registering a recurring bill for autopay or, instead of writing a sticky note to remember something, tell Siri (because I’m one of those cool iPhone users) to “remind me to take out the trash every Monday at 7 p.m.” See how easy that was?

The next question, “What can I delegate?” focuses me on tasks I can assign to others: my assistant, a travel agent, an Instacart grocery service, etc.

And, finally, “What can I eradicate?” alerts me to the tasks I can simply eliminate (because that also rhymes) from my schedule or to-do list. Sure, I could write a fevered letter-to-the-editor of my local newspaper pointing out the misplaced apostrophe in their page one headline yesterday …. but it’s not necessary. And, yes, I put that free dinner to learn more about solar power in my calendar; but on further thought, I can unRSVP and eradicate that event from my schedule. What a relief!

At the end of each month, I also apply these questions to my plans for the next month. I still keep plenty busy, of course; but this little productivity routine helps me to focus on the most important tasks and events. Like writing this blog post … at least until AI can do it for me.

 

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Category: Career, The Writing Life, time management

Who Decides to Publish Your Book?

By Steve Laubeon May 1, 2023
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The editor you met with at a writers conference liked your proposal and asked you to send it to her after the conference. She was already talking about format and promotional ideas. Or you submitted a proposal and received an enthusiastic response from the acquisitions editor. Four (or maybe six to eight) months later, a rejection letter showed up in your inbox. What happened? No matter how much …

Read moreWho Decides to Publish Your Book?
Category: Agents, Book Proposals, Career, Get Published, Pitching, The Publishing Life, The Writing LifeTag: book proposals, Get Published, Publishing Decision

Personal vs. Professional Social Media

By Dan Balowon April 20, 2023
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As more and more people work from home full-time, the lines are blurred like at no other time. For writers, mixing personal and professional lives often doesn’t go well. Years ago, I recall speaking with a young man who owned a store that was part of his family for several generations; and he and his young family lived in a nice apartment located upstairs from the store. To me, who at the time …

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Category: Career, Social Media, The Writing Life

Author Accounting 101

By Steve Laubeon April 17, 2023
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You are a published author. You must be rich! You are an agent. I know you are rich. If it only were true. Let’s attempt to explain some of the bottom-line basics of Author Accounting. Please remember this exercise is generic; your mileage may vary. I will use some simplified numbers, so we can all follow the math. Let’s start with a $20.00 retail-priced book. The publisher sells the book …

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Category: Book Business, Career, Contracts, E-Books, Economics, MoneyTag: Author, Economics, Money

Voices of Grandeur: Why Creative Writers Are Important

By Dan Balowon April 12, 2023
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I’ve been exploring various types of writers who would be good for Christian publishers and readers to give attention to. In previous posts, I suggested those involved with military or missionary service and young writers who can have good perspectives on how to live in the 21st century when the world is seemingly spinning off its axis more than usual. However, throughout history, when hearts are …

Read moreVoices of Grandeur: Why Creative Writers Are Important
Category: Career

The Friends You Make on Social Media

By Dan Balowon March 30, 2023
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Let’s talk about the people you meet and befriend on social media. They are different from actual friends. For the most part, they aren’t real friends. If you have a nice social-media presence with five hundred people, you can enjoy the conversations and connections since it’s on the level of a good-sized church or high-school graduation class. But as you grow your social platform into thousands …

Read moreThe Friends You Make on Social Media
Category: Career, Marketing, Social Media, The Writing Life, time management

Things That Work to Help Your Book Work

By Guest Bloggeron March 8, 2023
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Today’s guest post is by Jane Jenkins Herlong, who is a Sirius XM Southern humorist and member of the Speaker Hall of Fame. She is the author of five books. In the spring of this year, Jane’s latest book, Sweet Tea Secrets from the Deep-Fried South (Tyndale) will be available in select Cracker Barrel restaurants throughout the county. She is represented by Bob Hostetler. _________________ …

Read moreThings That Work to Help Your Book Work
Category: Career, Guest Post, The Writing Life

Q&A With Brett Harris from The Author Conservatory

By Steve Laubeon March 6, 2023
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I absolutely believe in the need to train the current and next generations of writers. Our world is in desperate need for Christ-infused content that can challenge and counter a broken culture. One person who is doing this every day is Brett Harris. Today, I’m delighted to present an interview with Brett. He is the bestselling author of Do Hard Things and co-founder of The Young Writer’s …

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Category: Career, The Writing Life

Voices of Faithfulness: Why Missionary Writers Are Important

By Dan Balowon March 1, 2023
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I’ve been pondering the types of people, professions, and perspectives that might best write to the Christian church in the coming years. No Christ-follower can look at the world around us without seeing it unraveling at an astounding pace. Thinking back to the 1990s when Jerry Jenkins and Tim LaHaye created the first books of the fictional Left Behind series, they would have been roundly mocked …

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Category: Career, Encouragement, Inspiration, Trends

Writing to Bible Deniers

By Dan Balowon February 16, 2023
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My guess a sketch from Monty Python’s Flying Circus from 50 years ago is unexpected for this space today. A man enters an “Argument Clinic”: Man: Is this the right room for an argument? Other Man: I’ve told you once. Man: No you haven’t! Other Man: Yes I have. M: When? O: Just now. M: No you didn’t! O: Yes I did! M: You didn’t! O: I did! M: You didn’t! O: I’m …

Read moreWriting to Bible Deniers
Category: Career, Communication, Encouragement, Inspiration
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