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The Steve Laube Agency

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Home » Writing Craft » Page 14

Writing Craft

Food vs. Medicine Books

By Dan Balowon September 7, 2022
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Even though this topic could be applicable to just about any type of book, we’ll be looking at those in the Christian publishing category today.

Categorizing books has been part of publishing for a very long time. Officially, there are over four dozen primary book categories designated by the BISAC coding system, which spin off to thousands of subcategories. For example, one of the primary categories is Mathematics, which has over 50 subcategories beneath it. Some primary categories have many more subcategories.

Physical bookstores generally use only the primary categories for shelving books. Public libraries have their own system, but still use a smaller number of categories than exist in BISAC.

For certain, it’s complicated.

To make this simpler for my convenience, every book published in the Christian market should be categorized into one of two categories:

Food

Medicine

For the sake of this post, I am not going overly deep into the exegesis of the words “food” and “medicine.” Yes, nourishing, healthy food is good medicine. But for today, keeping it on more of a surface level will be the extent of my analysis.

The Bible is both food and medicine. Only an all-knowing creator could combine the two perfectly. Food and medicine books have long been part of the Christian publishing landscape.

Food books are the inspiring, informative, encouraging, eye-opening, awe-inspiring type of books, in all categories. After reading, you are satisfied, joyful, uplifted, encouraged, and energized. Food books are messages from a good Father to His children, whom He loves.

Medicine books are convicting, motivating, change-making, emotion-draining, and challenging. After reading, you might be overwhelmed; but you know being stretched is a pathway to growth and change, which God desires for all His children.

However, if you aren’t careful, food books can become simplistic, fast-food that doesn’t do much except tickle the ears (or tastebuds); and the medicine-books can be harsh, unpleasant exercises, which few people read and take to heart.

Inside publishing, a common statement places a proposal for a medicine book in the “Castor Oil for the Christian Soul” brand. Sure, they are good for you; but they don’t taste very good, and the actual medicinal value is questionable. “Read this; you need it and it’s good for you, whether you like it or not.”  (I am not going to go down the route using “chicken soup” here because I promised I wouldn’t mix these categories.)

As Christian writers, you reflect the heart of God to His children and those made in His image. He is a good Father. This is for every type of Christian book, including fiction and books for children.

In your food books, make them a balanced meal of God’s heart. In your medicine books, combine God’s desire for His children to grow in their faith and life, without placing overly heavy yokes around their necks, thus exasperating them, as if from a stern, angry father.

Yes, this is hard. And it is why writing Christian books takes time, as authors take great care to accurately reflect the heart of God in what they do.

 

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Category: Book Business, Christian, Creativity, Theology

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

7 Tips for Pitching Your Idea

By Steve Laubeon August 29, 2022
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You have a chance to pitch your book idea to an editor or an agent at a conference. I’ve written about this before (see “That Conference Appointment”) but thought it may be helpful to come at the topic from a different direction. The pitch itself. These tips can help whether or not your appointment is virtual or in-person. 1. Relax. Seriously. Relax. This 15-minute appointment won’t make or break …

Read more7 Tips for Pitching Your Idea
Category: Book Proposals, Conferences, Pitching

G Is for Great

By Steve Laubeon August 8, 2022
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“There are a lot of good manuscripts out there. What we want are those which are great.” I’ve said this many times but thought I should elaborate. Please note the following information applies mostly to nonfiction projects. When it comes to the nonfiction books that attract major publishers, I believe the author must have at least two of three “great” things: Great Concept Great Writing Great …

Read moreG Is for Great
Category: Book Business, Craft, Creativity, Platform, Publishing A-Z, Writing CraftTag: Concept, Platform, Writing Craft

What Do You Read to Stay Informed?

By Steve Laubeon June 20, 2022
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I am occasionally asked to list the magazines, newsletters, and blogs I read to stay informed about our industry. It is a good question. But when I started compiling the list, I realized how ridiculously long it is. Therefore, I can only list selected highlights by type of media. Lest you get the wrong impression, realize I’m an eclectic reader who skims the surface of the waters gleaning …

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Category: Book Business, Reading, TrendsTag: Informed, Reading

Your After-Conference Checklist

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon June 16, 2022
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Since the conference season is in full swing, you may have just returned from a beautiful event of learning and fellowship. Or you may be planning to go to a conference soon. With that in mind, consider a checklist of what to do upon your return. 1.) Rest. Give yourself at least a day after travel to refresh and relax. I realize very few authors take this advice, but I offer it all the same. …

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Category: Conferences

Hints for a Great Cover Letter

By Steve Laubeon June 13, 2022
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[I originally posted this piece over 12 years ago. The information still holds true, but I suspect many have not found the necessary information elsewhere, so I dare post it again. I’ve left all the comments intact since they add to the ongoing conversation. Feel free to add your thoughts.]] _________________________ Here are a few suggestions for you to consider when approaching an agent or …

Read moreHints for a Great Cover Letter
Category: Book Proposals, Get Published, Publishing A-Z, Writing CraftTag: book proposals, Cover Letter, Pitching

The Bronze Mirror

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon June 8, 2022
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I’m reading the HCSB Study Bible for Women with notes from Dorothy Kelley Patterson and Rhonda Harrington Kelley. The notes on Exodus 38:8 discuss how women donated bronze mirrors to build Temple basins for the priests. I thought, Bronze. That means they never saw themselves as we see ourselves. They only saw themselves through a yellow haze. I realize the Bible speaks of mirrors more than …

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Category: Craft, Inspiration

When You Hit the Wall of Discouragement

By Steve Laubeon June 6, 2022
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by Steve Laube
 
I recently received the following question from a client (an award winning author):
Is it common for an author to hit a wall of discouragement? To feel as though they're working so hard for so little? To question why they're doing this?

Unfortunately it is quite common. Doesn't mean it aches any less. Sort of like getting old…everyone does and it aches, but it is a common …

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Category: Book Business, Career, Personal, Writing CraftTag: Career, Discouragement

The Writers Conference Bell Curve

By Bob Hostetleron May 19, 2022
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I’ve attended and presented at Christian writers conferences for more than three decades. (I know, I don’t look anywhere near old enough to make that claim, and thank you.) I’ve sometimes served on faculty at as many as a dozen conferences in a given year. (I know, it’s hard to believe that many conference directors would actually book me for their event, no offense taken.) And so I suppose I’ve …

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Category: Conferences
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