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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 » Karen » Page 5

Karen

Attract Attention (Part Two)

By Karen Ballon July 3, 2013
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happy-husky-max

Wasn’t it fun to read Steve’s observations about ICRS? There is so much going on this time of year in our industry, and so many opportunities to spend time with other writers, with editors, and with agents. I love networking with these wonderful folks. But even more than that, I love seeing writers have meaningful and positive interactions with editors and agents.

With that in mind, here’s the second set of BPs for Happy Editor and Agents:

#2: Be Passionate!

  1. About your message: Let your passion for your message show—and let it make you the go-to person for your audience. When folks out there think of your topic, your face should come to mind. Learn what you need to learn, and use social media to share that knowledge with others. Become known for expertise in whatever area you’re writing about. Build your tribe, but do it by meeting people’s needs.
  2. About your craft: Be open to learning and growing as an author. Remember, writing the manuscript is only the beginning of being a published author. Your editors are there to serve you, and they do that by helping you craft the absolute best writing you can craft. Your agents are there to speak truth and push you where you need to be pushed. They’re your team! Share ideas and techniques, keeping in mind that some will work for you and others won’t. Some just don’t fit your voice. Don’t try to make yourself sound like someone else, even a best-selling author. Learn how to share your voice as a writer in as powerful a way as possible. Your agents and editors—and your readers—will love you for it!
  3. About your platform: Fiction or nonfiction, speaking and media connections play an increasing role in the publishing decision and in the ultimate success of your book. Get trained. Do what you have to do, invest time and energy and money, to develop the skills you need to reach people with your message. Remember, you’re not just investing in your career. You’re investing in people, and in sharing the message God has given you.
  4. About your career: Too often authors lose the joy of writing because of deadlines and pressures. Or they make decisions about what to write based on what someone tells them will sell instead of what they’re burning to write. Yes, we want your books to sell, but we need you energized and excited about what you’re writing. Your readers need you to be that as well. Don’t let the business side of what you’re doing take over to the extent that it’s no longer a joy. If you feel that happening, tell us! Let us talk it over and brainstorm with you to find ways to restore that sense of joy. Because that’s what brings us joy!

Next week, more BPs! Until then, Be at Peace! (and that’s my favorite BP of all!)

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Category: Agents, Book Business, Get Published, KarenTag: Agents, Editors, Get Published

Attract Attention…in a GOOD Way!

By Karen Ballon June 26, 2013
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I travel to writers’ conferences all over the country. I love being surrounded by others who love words and want to serve God through their writing. But over the years I've seen a number of interactions between agents/editors and conferees that were…well, less than positive.  It was clear the conferee was passionate about his/her work, and that the writer was looking on this encounter as THE …

Read moreAttract Attention…in a GOOD Way!
Category: Agents, Book Business, Book Proposals, Get Published, Karen, Marketing, Writing CraftTag: Agents, book proposals, Get Published

When You’ve Done Everything Right

By Karen Ballon June 19, 2013
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I love cherries. If I could only have one fruit, that would be it. But not just any cherry. When we first moved into our home here in Southern Oregon, we planted a cherry tree. At the time, I knew what kind of tree it was. But the little tag identifying it has long since vanished. All I know is that our cherries are a rich, dark red on the outside, like a Bing cherry. But unlike a Bing, the meat …

Read moreWhen You’ve Done Everything Right
Category: Book Business, Career, Karen, Writing CraftTag: Book Business, Career

Reason #2 – Top 3 Reasons Authors Don’t Get Asked to the Prom (or Invited to ICRS)

By Karen Ballon June 12, 2013
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Good thoughts and discussion on last week’s blog. Thanks for your honest input. Before we continue, I want to clear up what seems to be a misunderstanding of the purpose behind my blog last week. I’m not expressing my opinion of ICRS or of its value for authors. One only has to look at what is being offered there (explained so well by Curtis Riskey, president of CBA, in the comment section of last …

Read moreReason #2 – Top 3 Reasons Authors Don’t Get Asked to the Prom (or Invited to ICRS)
Category: Book Business, ICRS, KarenTag: booksigning, CBA, ICRS

Top 3 Reasons Authors Don’t Get Asked to the Prom (or Invited to ICRS) – Reason #1

By Karen Ballon June 5, 2013
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It’s just around the corner. That time of year when publishers, retailers, agents and yes, some authors, descend upon a select conference center (this year in St. Louis in late June) to attend the International Christian Retail Show (ICRS).

ICRS. The trade show formerly known as CBA (Christian Booksellers Association). Where publishers gather with their editorial, sales, & marketing folks …

Read moreTop 3 Reasons Authors Don’t Get Asked to the Prom (or Invited to ICRS) – Reason #1
Category: Book Business, Conferences, ICRS, KarenTag: booksigning, conventions, ICRS, Marketing

Misused Words and Phrases

By Karen Ballon May 29, 2013
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The English language is full of persnickety quirks, the most despicable of which are buzz words. Words and phrases we’ve decided work better than plain speech. Why say what you mean when you can just toss out a phrase that says what you want, but in such a vague and convoluted manner than people spend so much energy figuring it out that they can’t challenge you? Genius! Or how about those words …

Read moreMisused Words and Phrases
Category: Craft, Creativity, Humor, Karen, Language, Writing CraftTag: Grammar, Humor, Language

Get the Job Done with Focus!

By Karen Ballon May 22, 2013
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I was just talking with a client the other day about the writing life. She’d struggled with getting started on her novel. Then, once she started, she said it was as though she couldn’t keep her backside in the chair. Everything else caught her attention: laundry, dishes, kids, dogs, yard work, and on and on. And when she finally managed to write most of the book, there was that darned ending! …

Read moreGet the Job Done with Focus!
Category: Book Business, Career, Craft, Karen, Writing CraftTag: Book Business, Career, Focus, Writing Craft

The Painful Side of Publishing

By Karen Ballon May 8, 2013
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We’ll get back to focus next week, but something has been weighing heavy on my heart and I want to share it with you.

We all know that publishing is a tough gig. It was proven yet again by what happened last week with the B&H Publishing Group’s fiction division (see Steve’s blog about it). It’s easy to commiserate with the authors impacted by this sudden change, to pray for them and …

Read moreThe Painful Side of Publishing
Category: Book Business, Karen, Personal, The Publishing Life, TheologyTag: Book Business, Faith, publishing, Theology

Focus from the Mountaintop: Career

By Karen Ballon May 1, 2013
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Focus. We all need it, in our careers, in our lives, even day to day. But as we discussed in previous blogs, there are different kinds of focus. Today we’ll take a look at how you can use Mountaintop Focus to guide you in your career as a writer.

As we discussed before, when you’re on the Mountaintop, you can see for miles and miles. So, first and foremost, Mountaintop Focus is big-picture …

Read moreFocus from the Mountaintop: Career
Category: Book Business, Career, Karen, Writing CraftTag: Career, Focus

I DID Finish Your Book…and I Plan to Read it Again!

By Karen Ballon April 24, 2013
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After reading Steve’s and Tamela’s thought-provoking blogs on why they don’t finish books, I decided to talk about the flip-side. I totally agree with all that Steve and Tamela said. I’m not among the camp that has to finish a book once I've started it. But what a delight it is to find a book that I not only want to finish, but that I wish would never end. Those are rare treasures that live on my …

Read moreI DID Finish Your Book…and I Plan to Read it Again!
Category: Craft, Creativity, Karen, Writing CraftTag: Books, Craft, Writing Craft
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