Get Published

New Book Proposal Course

By Steve Laubeon August 12, 2024

I have some exciting news to share! The Christian Writers Institute has released an all-new edition of my “Elements of an Effective Book Proposal” course. Completely revised and expanded to provide even more value and insight.

Why This Course Matters

I have long taught that writing a book proposal is one of the most critical steps in securing a publishing deal. Whether you’re a new author or a seasoned writer, understanding the elements of a compelling proposal can make all the difference in getting your work noticed by agents, editors, and publishers.

I believe this course can equip you with the necessary tools and knowledge to succeed.

What’s New?

The old version was an audio recording made during one of my lectures at a writers conference. It served its purpose for many years, but this new edition comprises multiple hours of freshly recorded video content. Each key element of a book proposal is discussed in much greater detail than was possible in the older format. Plus, there are all new worksheets and suggested workflow documents that offer better tools for creating your book proposal. Best of all, the course contains sample proposal templates that allow you to follow the building of the document, removing your guesswork.

What if You Already Bought the Course?

If you previously purchased the old version of the course, we are giving you the new version for free! It has already been added to your Christian Writers Institute library, ready for you to dive into.

What Is the Price of This New Course?

The retail price of this valuable resource is $99.99. However, they are making it available to new users at a 70% discount. Only $29.99. A bargain for a course packed with insightful videos, highly valuable workflows, and practical downloads.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to elevate your writing career. Enroll in the “Elements of an Effective Book Proposal” course today for only $29.99 and gain the knowledge and tools needed to succeed in the competitive world of publishing. Click to review the course details.

P.S. If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out to the Christian Writers Institute administration team at admin@christianwritersinstitute.com.

Know Your Genre When Making a Pitch

By Steve Laubeon August 5, 2024

Awhile ago I received a call that illustrates a common error a writer can make when making their pitch: the problem of not knowing the genre in which they are writing. The call went something like this: Writer: I’m calling to see if your agency handles westerns. Agent: That is a tough genre to sell in the current market, but a lot would depend on how well you can write it. Writer: Some …

Category: Book Proposals, Branding, Conferences, Get Published, Marketing, PitchingTag: book proposals, Genre, Get Published, Pitch; Genre; proposals, Pitching

Unsolicited Proposals: Aka “The Slush Pile”

By Steve Laubeon July 1, 2024

All literary agents receive dozens of proposals each week. Most are via email these days, but some still come via the post. Last week was a relatively slow week; my office received only 28 unsolicited proposals via email and two in the post. For the month of June, it was around 170 total unsolicited proposals received. (Unsolicited means proposals that are not from our existing clients. We get a …

Category: Agency, Book Proposals, Get Published, Rejection, SteveTag: Get Published, Pitching, Proposals, Rejection

I’m Not Interested in These Kinds of Writers

By Bob Hostetleron May 29, 2024

I love my work as a literary agent. It’s a joy to represent some of the best authors writing today (and the rest of the best are represented by other Steve Laube Agency agents). But there are some kinds of writers I’m not interested in representing. Here’s a short list: Careless writers, such as the person whose cover letter began, “I am submitting my payer book propsal.” Or the proposal that …

Category: Book Proposals, Get Published, Pitching

We Have a Failure to Communicate

By Dan Balowon April 25, 2024

Recently, I was listening to someone speak to a group of grade school children and was struck by how many words and phrases the kids likely had no idea of their meaning. Even if you speak clearly and slowly, a six-year-old will probably not understand the phrase “Take the left fork in the road,” and much less “substitutionary atonement.” It’s in the same communication category as traveling to …

Category: Book Business, Branding, Get Published, Pitching, The Writing Life, Writing Craft

Only the Rich Get Published (?)

By Steve Laubeon February 26, 2024

The title of today’s blog came in a question that was much less confrontational but significant nonetheless. In the context of describing the extremely limited amount of money they could spend on writers conferences, online classes, training materials, etc., the writer summarized by asking, “How can an unknown writer with very limited resources expect to get their writing published?” This is a …

Category: Career, Conferences, Get Published, The Writing LifeTag: Get Published

Finding an Audience

By Dan Balowon September 27, 2023

Christian authors can find it challenging to determine an audience for their books, mainly because Christian books are aimed at something different than age ranges. Christian books are often aimed at a “psychographic,” rather than a demographic. This means Christian books are often aimed at readers who have certain values, beliefs, and lifestyles, rather than an age range of males or females. No …

Category: Book Proposals, Get Published, Marketing, Pitching, The Publishing Life

Who Owns Whom in Publishing?

By Steve Laubeon August 14, 2023

Updated August 2023 (first created November 2011) For a comprehensive list, check out The Christian Writers Market Guide. Available in print at your favorite retailer or as an online subscription (updated frequently) at www.ChristianWritersMarketGuide.com. My emphasis in this post is the Christian publishing industry. There are many fine commercial publishers that do not publish Christian books …

Category: Book Business, Defense of Traditional Publishing, Get Published, The Publishing LifeTag: Book Business, The Publishing Life, Traditional Publishing

Handling Disappointment

By Steve Laubeon June 19, 2023

I do not like to experience disappointment. I do not like rejection, even when it isn’t my personal project being turned down. I do not like to be the bearer of bad news. And yet I do experience disappointment, rejection, and the telling of bad news–every week. That is the nature of the arts. The arts (meaning music, writing, dance, and painting) are comprised of thousands of hours of …

Category: Encouragement, Faith, Get Published, Personal, Rejection, Theology, Writing CraftTag: disappointment, Encouragement, Faith, Rejection

Where Do I Even Start?

By Megan Brownon May 23, 2023

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 …

Category: Career, Get Published