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The Steve Laube Agency

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The Steve Laube Agency

The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World Word by Word

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Home » Grammar

Grammar

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

Grammar Refresh

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon August 31, 2022
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By popular demand, here is another grammar refresh. Lie/Lay “Lay” means to place something, whereas “lie” means that the object of the sentence can lie on its own. I will lay my blanket on the bed before I lie down. A trick I use to distinguish between these quickly is to use the word “place” as a substitute. If you can say “place” then you can say lay. If not, then it’s lie. I will place my …

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Category: Grammar, Writing Craft

The Most Common Grammar Errors I See

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon July 20, 2022
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Dear Tamela: Thank you for sending this brilliant, life-changing manuscript! I laughed. I cried. I sent a copy to my mother.  But alas, on page 214, we found one misuse of plural possessive. Instead of parents’, the author wrote parent’s. So we decline to publish this novel. Sincerely, Laughing and Crying Editor Wrote No One Ever! I open with this fictitious letter to emphasize that minor errors …

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Category: Grammar

An Agent’s Curmudgeonly Rant

By Bob Hostetleron March 9, 2022
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Sometimes I just have to rant. You understand, don’t you? Maybe it comes with age, and you’re not yet old enough to understand. Or grumpy enough. Or OCD enough. Nevertheless, I hope you’ll allow me to vent for today’s post. And I should say that I’m not asking you to agree with me, though my regard will certainly increase if you do. It’s just that there are some things that get on my nerves as I …

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Category: Career, Get Published, Grammar

21st-Century Writing

By Bob Hostetleron October 13, 2021
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I’ve been writing and publishing for a long time. Just look at me: a lonnnnng time. During those many years of experience, I’ve learned a thing or two. Maybe three. And among the things I’ve learned about writing for publication is that writers in the twenty-first century must do things differently than writers in previous centuries. Sure, generally speaking, the rules of fiction and nonfiction …

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Category: Grammar, Language, The Publishing Life, The Writing Life, Trends, Writing Craft

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. …

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Category: Agents, Book Proposals, Craft, Grammar, Pitching, Platform, The Publishing Life, The Writing Life

Five Easy Fixes for Frequent Faux Pas

By Bob Hostetleron December 9, 2020
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We all make mistakes. My wife reminds me often … with a strange sidelong glance that makes me wonder if—well, never mind. But some mistakes are more costly than others. A few can even hinder a writer’s chances for publication. But fear not, writer friend; there’s hope. Because a few of the most common and embarrassing writer mistakes actually have easy fixes. Really. Honestly. I’m telling ya. Stay …

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Category: Grammar, Writing Craft

Is It Ready to Submit?

By Bob Hostetleron April 29, 2020
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You’ve poured out your soul. You’ve written your heart out. You’ve struggled and sweated over how to say what you want to say. You’ve paced the floor, clicked your heels, and now you think maybe it’s ready to submit. But how do you know? Good question. “Good question” usually means you’re going to get a lousy answer. I won’t promise you anything different now, because it can be so hard to know if …

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Category: Book Proposals, Editing, Grammar, Inspiration, Pitching

Our Favorite Typos

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon March 11, 2020
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Writers aren’t perfect. This may not be news to you. But occasionally we read or create typos that stay with us. Some become favorites, prompting smiles and giggles (and maybe embarrassment) for years to come. I asked writers, editors, and agents to share some from their experiences. Here are their favorites: “I submitted a post called ‘4 Reasons Why Writers Should Clothe Themselves with Humility’ …

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Category: Book Proposals, Grammar, The Writing Life, Writing Craft

Stop. Just Stop (Doing These Things)

By Bob Hostetleron November 20, 2019
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All editors and agents have a few pet peeves. Some of us have more than a few. In my case, it’s a virtual menagerie. So, while you may want to keep my OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), ODD (oppositional defiant disorder), and OCC (overly cantankerous condition) in mind as you read, please consider the following list of “things you should stop doing immediately and forever” if you’re writing for …

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Category: Grammar, The Writing Life, Writing Craft
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