• Skip to main content
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer

The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World…Word by Word

The Steve Laube Agency

The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World Word by Word

  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Interview with Steve Laube
    • Statement of Faith
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
  • Guidelines
  • Authors
    • Who We Represent
    • Awards and Recognition
  • Resources
    • Recommended Reading
    • Christian Writers Market Guide Online
    • Christian Writers Institute
    • Writers Conferences
    • Freelance Editorial Services
    • Copyright Resources
    • Research Tools
    • Selling What You Write
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Twitter
  • FaceBook
  • RSS Feed
  • Get Published
  • Book Proposals
  • Book Business
  • Writing Craft
    • Conferences
    • Copyright
    • Craft
    • Creativity
    • Grammar
  • Fun Fridays
Home » Writing Craft » Page 11

Writing Craft

Rookie Conference Mistakes: How to Avoid Missed Opportunities

By Megan Brownon June 27, 2023
Share
Tweet
10

“Stop talking, Megan Brown.” I could feel the heat flush in my face. This always happens to me. I realized I was unapologetically spilling my guts about the book idea in my brain without even pausing to breathe and completely dominating the conversation at this roundtable-style workshop. The look of sheer confusion on the mentor author’s face told me I was talking way too much, and I still couldn’t seem to stop. Looking back, I know I was just really excited to be there, all hyped up as an extrovert, and couldn’t wait for my turn to share. But this rookie mistake probably resulted in a handful of missed opportunities.

As you prepare to attend conferences or networking events, here are a few rookie mistakes to avoid.

Don’t dominate the conversation. Avoid the temptation to overshare, talk too much, or ask too many questions. Do make the effort to leave room for an actual conversation. There are few things that turn me off like someone who is only interested in taking “at” me. (Ironic, I know. I am totally guilty of the occasional information dump.)

Don’t “wing it.” When I’m meeting with up-and-coming authors, I can tell pretty early on whether or not they did their homework before coming to a conference. They rarely have any of their tools together and seem “out of the know.” Do come prepared with business cards, a one-sheet, and a polished pitch.

Don’t act in haste. The conference “high” is real. You will have finished a meeting or had a great workshop, and you’ll want to start the work right then and there. What I mean is you might want to craft content, build a course, launch a podcast, or start a new project right at the moment. While it never hurts to brainstorm or write down ideas, don’t jump in with haste. All projects or potential partnerships need to be properly processed and prepared for. Plus, projects or partnerships started in haste tend to end as fast as they start. Do plan to keep the conversation or opportunity open. If you have successful meetings or receive valuable feedback on what you should do next, plan to follow up and nurture the opportunity.

We all make rookie mistakes. I know I have. Acting in haste, I sent a quickly crafted proposal edit to an acquisition editor without proofing; and I misspelled my own name: “A Proposal by Megegran Brown.” It was not my finest moment, and I definitely missed an opportunity. Be intentional with the conversations you’re having. Do the work of preparing without “winging it,” and slow your roll. You’ll enjoy the benefits of making connections by creating space for meaningful conversations. Doing your prep work will build your confidence and show your commitment to the work. Slowing down and focusing will help you complete each project well or build partnerships made to last. Rookie mistakes are inevitable, but knowing how to avoid them will help you make the most of your conference experience.

 

Leave a Comment
Category: Conferences

Starting the Story. It’s a Process. What’s Yours?

By Lynette Easonon June 22, 2023
Share
Tweet
13

Characterization (part 1) I don’t know how you start your stories, but mine always start with the characters. And while every writer has their own way of creating what will be a book in the end, I’m going to share a bit about my process. Keep in mind, this is what works for me. There is no right or wrong way to write a book. If it’s a book in the end, you did it the right way. So, characters. …

Read moreStarting the Story. It’s a Process. What’s Yours?
Category: Writing Craft

Handling Disappointment

By Steve Laubeon June 19, 2023
Share
Tweet
24

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 …

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

4 Tips for Surviving a Writers Conference

By Steve Laubeon June 12, 2023
Share
Tweet
20

I’ve had the fun of teaching at nearly 200 writers conferences over the years. In that time, I’ve noticed several common things that all writers face. Let’s explore a few tips that may help you survive at the next one you attend. Relax The most common mistake is viewing the conference as a make-it-or-break-it event. The stress folks place on themselves is palpable. I’ve had …

Read more4 Tips for Surviving a Writers Conference
Category: Conferences, MarketingTag: Get Published, writers conferences

The Writer Who Doesn’t Know What They Don’t Know

By Lynette Easonon May 24, 2023
Share
Tweet
21

Dan Balow has been posting a series of blogs on different types of writers. I’ve been reading the posts with great interest, and I wanted to add one other type of writer I’ve come across: The writer who doesn’t know what he/she doesn’t know. I’ve been going to conferences and attending or speaking to writers groups now for over fifteen years. At these conferences, we have these things called …

Read moreThe Writer Who Doesn’t Know What They Don’t Know
Category: Inspiration, The Writing Life, Writing Craft

Review Any and Every Contract You Sign

By Steve Laubeon May 22, 2023
Share
Tweet
15

Today’s headline sounds like a blinding flash of the obvious, but you’d be surprised how many writers are not careful about the agreements they sign. Those with a literary agent have a business partner who will review their book contracts; that is a given. But that does not remove the writer’s responsibility. And what about their magazine or online article contracts? Years ago, the Condé …

Read moreReview Any and Every Contract You Sign
Category: Book Business, ContractsTag: Book Business, Contracts

I Did Not Finish Reading Your Book

By Steve Laubeon May 15, 2023
Share
Tweet
27

In the past year, have you started reading a fiction or nonfiction book and did not finish it? I have. Many times. There are a lot of reasons for this to happen. Here are a few examples. Fiction: I didn’t care about your characters. The plot fizzled. The story became ridiculous and unrealistic. It was too easy to put down. Or, in other words, it was forgettable. Nonfiction: It became …

Read moreI Did Not Finish Reading Your Book
Category: Craft, Creativity, Editing, Writing CraftTag: Books, Craft, Writing Craft

Hacks for Inspiring Ideas and Descriptions

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon May 4, 2023
Share
Tweet
8

Seeking inspiration? Here are fun and weird hacks for writers. 1. Read advice columns to find ideas for creating conflict in novels. The problems people pose to columnists are rife with family drama, misunderstandings among friends, marriage issues, and romantic entanglements. Even columns about etiquette offer an array of tenuous situations. When you locate some columnists online, you may …

Read moreHacks for Inspiring Ideas and Descriptions
Category: Craft, The Writing Life, Writing Craft

Can Macros Make Me a Better Writer?

By Bob Hostetleron April 27, 2023
Share
Tweet
10

Don’t be afraid of macros. They can be your friend. A macro is a shortcut you can make in, say, Word (or virtually any program) to automate or accelerate certain tasks. If you’ve never done it before, rather than explain it here, let me suggest that you search the web for “how to create a macro in Word” or on your specific computer. (For example, in a Mac, you can go to your …

Read moreCan Macros Make Me a Better Writer?
Category: The Writing Life, Writing Craft

Author Accounting 101

By Steve Laubeon April 17, 2023
Share
Tweet
12

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 …

Read moreAuthor Accounting 101
Category: Book Business, Career, Contracts, E-Books, Economics, MoneyTag: Author, Economics, Money
  • Previous
  • Page 1
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 9
  • Page 10
  • Page 11
  • Page 12
  • Page 13
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 85
  • Next
  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Interview with Steve Laube
    • Statement of Faith
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
  • Guidelines
  • Authors
    • Who We Represent
    • Awards and Recognition
  • Resources
    • Recommended Reading
    • Christian Writers Market Guide Online
    • Christian Writers Institute
    • Writers Conferences
    • Freelance Editorial Services
    • Copyright Resources
    • Research Tools
    • Selling What You Write
  • Blog
  • Contact

Copyright © 2025 · The Steve Laube Agency · All Rights Reserved · Website by Stormhill Media