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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 5

Career

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

Where Do I Even Start?

By Megan Brownon May 23, 2023
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I’m often asked, “Where do I even start?” Well, I want to share the same encouragement that was given to me so many years ago and a few practical tips to start your journey into writing professionally. Start writing. I know it sounds oversimplified, but write anywhere and write often. Keep a journal, compose a blog, or beef up your social media captions. Just write. Writing regularly not only …

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Category: Career, Get Published

Will Someone Steal My Book?

By Bob Hostetleron May 18, 2023
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It’s a common question I hear among writers, especially among those who are starting out in the long journey toward publication: “Will someone steal my book?” Or “my idea?” Or “my plot?” And so on. Some writers are loath to show their work to a critique group or submit to an agent or editor, for fear that someone will take their title or idea or writing and pass it off as their own. Believe it or …

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Category: Book Business, Career, The Publishing Life, The Writing Life

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 …

Read more3 Productivity Questions for Busy Writers
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 …

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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 …

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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
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