How to Start Your Own Podcast
You can listen to this episode 047 How to Start Your Own Podcast on Christian Publishing Show.
The Writing Life
A Great Book for Every Author
Adorning the Dark by Andrew Peterson is my “book of the month” for every writer. Andrew Peterson is a well-known musician, songwriter, and author. He’s won the Christy Award for best YA novel and WORLD magazine’s Children’s Book of the Year. Over ten years ago, he founded a ministry called The Rabbit Room which encourages and cultivates a vibrant Christian arts community in …
A Writer’s Evening Prayer
A Writer’s Evening Prayer (based on “An Evening Prayer” by C. Maud Battersby) __________ If I have failed to heed your voice today, If I have driven any of your thoughts away, If I have written my own willful way: Dear Lord, forgive! If I have written idle words or vain, If I have worked for earthly gain, If my words should bring one soul pain, Dear Lord, forgive! If I …
046 A Christian Author’s Guide to Getting an Agent with Bob Hostetler
Literary agents: what are they? What do they do? Do you even need one? And how do you get one? Joining us today to talk about this is a thirty-year veteran of Christian publishing. He has been a writer, magazine editor, freelance book editor, and author of fifty books, both fiction and non-fiction. He is also a literary agent with the Steve Laube Agency and an interesting …
046 A Christian Author’s Guide to Getting an Agent with Bob Hostetler
A Christian Author’s Guide to Getting an Agent with Bob Hostetler
You can listen to this episode 046 A Christian Author’s Guide to Getting an Agent with Bob Hostetler on Christian Publishing Show.
Still More Carrots and Sticks
Several weeks ago, I posted some of the responses I received from some of my favorite writers (who are also clients) to the question, “Do you motivate yourself to write with a ‘carrot’ (reward) or a ‘stick?’” I was fascinated by the volume and variety of the responses, the last of which I relay below. I hope you find them as enlightening and encouraging as I do. “When I’m facing a deadline, …
045 How to Avoid the #1 Cause of Bad Book Covers: Design by Committee
Today we are going to talk about design. This is an important topic and not one many people in the publishing industry have formal training in. Just like everyone thinks they can write a book, everyone thinks they understand design. Ignorance of the complexities of a profession is not a suitable replacement for mastering those complexities. But, before we can talk about good and bad design, we …
045 How to Avoid the #1 Cause of Bad Book Covers: Design by Committee
How to Avoid the #1 Cause of Bad Book Covers: Design by Committee
You can listen to this episode 045 How to Avoid the #1 Cause of Bad Book Covers: Design by Committee on Christian Publishing Show.
Always Be Learning
During the Summer of 1978 the #1 hit on Christian radio was the classic “He’s Alive” by Don Francisco (click here to listen). That same Summer I attended a Christian music festival in Estes Park, Colorado and decided to take a class on songwriting being taught by Jimmy and Carol Owens. I settled into my chair near the back of the room with notepad ready.
Just as the class was about to start a …
I Almost Quit Writing
Nearly twenty years ago, I was totally spent as a writer. I’d endured a three-year process of revision and revulsion on one book that had me doubting my ability and drained of all enthusiasm for writing. I’d had a good run. I’d authored or coauthored numerous articles and books. I’d won awards and appeared on best-seller lists. I didn’t need the stresses of editing and revision, contracts and …