• 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 27

Writing Craft

Reflections on a Busy Writers Conference Season

By Bob Hostetleron July 3, 2019
Share
Tweet
9

The first six months of 2019 were an exciting whirlwind of writers-conference activity for this author and literary agent. I presented and met with writers at eight conferences from February through June—four I’d never attended before and four others I returned to. I delivered six keynote addresses and more than a dozen workshops.  I met with more than 150 writers in appointments. And I renewed fellowship with many of my best friends and most valued associates. Here’s a quick rundown of the varied experiences:

West Coast Christian Writers Conference (Livermore, CA): My first time at this conference delighted me, and more so because they feature a “donut wall” at the conference. What’s not to love?

Asheville Christian Writers Conference (Asheville, NC): I’ve lost count of the times I’ve been blessed by this conference, held at the Billy Graham Training Center east of Asheville. It’s a short one, but packed with great people and presentations, and the best food available at any writers conference.

Florida Christian Writers Conference (Leesburg, FL): FCWC always presents a high-quality array of presentations for writers at all levels. It’s not the easiest to get to, but the directors are shifting formats and venues for 2020 with this conference and the North Georgia conference.

Mid-South Christian Writers Conference (Collierville, TN): This one-day conference (with preconference options) convenient to Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, and Missouri packed a lot into a single day. Wonderful people and excellent BBQ.

Blue Lake Christian Writers Retreat (Andalusia, AL): I always love the personal connections and the sensitive worship in this four-day conference in a beautiful lakeside setting in the Conecuh National Forest.

Writer’s Digest Writing Workshop (Cincinnati, OH): This was a whirlwind day of appointments with writers at Cincinnati’s beautiful Netherland Hilton Hotel, hosted by Writer’s Digest’s Chuck Sambuchino.

Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference (Asheville, NC): Always a bounty of profound inspiration and personal connections, this annual conference at Ridgecrest Conference Center near Asheville never disappoints.

SoCal Christian Writers’ Conference (Fullerton, CA): This year was my first at this conference, which started in 2017 and has more screenwriting instruction than any other opportunity. It took half a day to learn my way around; but once I did, I had a great time and renewed many relationships and began numerous new ones.

Eight conferences in six months (actually, four-and-a-half months). I mostly survived, though I still haven’t lost the weight I gained from the donuts at the West Coast Christian Writers Conference. But I gained much more: friends, clients, knowledge, and blessing upon blessing.

When—and where—is your next writers conference?

 

Leave a Comment
Category: Conferences

What Are Average Book Sales?

By Steve Laubeon June 24, 2019
Share
Tweet
36

A writer asked me, “What does the average book sell? An industry veteran at a writers conference recently said 5,000. What??? I know it all depends …. but … nowhere near 5,000, right?” My simple answer? It’s complicated. It depends. Average is a difficult thing to define. Each publishing company defines success differently. If a novel sells 5,000 copies at one publisher, …

Read moreWhat Are Average Book Sales?
Category: Book Business, Book Sales, Get Published, Money, The Publishing Life, The Writing LifeTag: Book Business, Book Sales, Get Published, Trends

How Long Does It Take to Get Published?

By Steve Laubeon June 3, 2019
Share
Tweet
86

How long does it take to get published? I came to the publishing business from the retail bookstore side of the equation. In the beginning, the biggest adjustment was understanding how long the process for traditional publishing takes. In retail there is instantaneous gratification (customer walks in, buys something, and walks out). With indie publishing there can be nearly instantaneous …

Read moreHow Long Does It Take to Get Published?
Category: Book Business, Book Business, Book Proposals, Contracts, Get Published, Marketing, Publishing A-Z, Self-Publishing, The Publishing Life, The Writing LifeTag: Agents, Book Business, Contracts, Editors, Proposals, waiting

Real vs. Fictitious Settings

By Guest Bloggeron May 23, 2019
Share
Tweet
19

Today’s guest post is from our client Mindy Obenhaus. She is a three-time Carol Award nominee who writes contemporary romance. Mindy is passionate about touching readers with biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her grandchildren at her Texas ranch. Learn more at www.MindyObenhaus.com. …

Read moreReal vs. Fictitious Settings
Category: Craft, Guest Post, The Writing Life, Writing Craft

Tips on Writing a Novella

By Guest Bloggeron May 16, 2019
Share
Tweet
20

Today’s guest post is written by one of our clients, Lynn A. Coleman (www.lynncoleman.com). She is the founder of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers), as well as the author of more than 50 novels and novellas. She lives with her husband of 45 years, who is the lead pastor of a church. ___________ Novellas are fast paced, short novels that run anywhere from 20k to 30k words, depending …

Read moreTips on Writing a Novella
Category: Craft, Creativity, Editing, Get Published, The Writing Life, Writing Craft

New Words for a New World

By Bob Hostetleron May 15, 2019
Share
Tweet
35

The good folks who produce The Merriam-Webster Dictionary recently announced the addition of 640 new words to the newest edition. Words like “go-cup” (a beverage cup to take out of the restaurant), “bioabsorbable” (a substance that can be absorbed by living tissue), and “on-brand” (consistent with a particular public image or identity). Some of the additions, such as “screen time” (to refer to …

Read moreNew Words for a New World
Category: The Writing Life, Writing Craft

Every Word Counts

By Steve Laubeon May 13, 2019
Share
Tweet
46

The popularity of last week's post on the phrase counter set me on a journey to find something that would do the same sort of "counting" but instead focus on single word usage instead of phrases.

Use this link to the Word Counter web site and run your WIP (work in progress) within its walls.

Read moreEvery Word Counts
Category: Editing, Grammar, Writing CraftTag: Editing, words

Gems of Writing Wisdom from Writers Conferences

By Bob Hostetleron May 8, 2019
Share
Tweet
27

I attend and present at eleven or twelve writers conferences a year. That’s a lot. But it’s always a joy to renew friendships and talk writing and meet promising writers. It’s also amazing how much writerly wisdom flows at these events, some of it in such volume that attendees and faculty can struggle to hear and process all of it. So I thought I’d offer a little help and record here some (a small …

Read moreGems of Writing Wisdom from Writers Conferences
Category: Book Business, Career, Get Published, The Publishing Life, The Writing Life, Writing Craft

Would You Buy Your Own Book?

By Steve Laubeon May 6, 2019
Share
Tweet
5

When I ask a room of writers if they would buy their own book if they saw it on the shelf at a major bookstore I am met with a variety of reactions. Laughter. Pensiveness. Surprise. And even a few scowls. How would you answer that question?

But the question is meant to ask if your book idea is unique. Whether it will stand out among the noise of the competition.

It is not a question of …

Read moreWould You Buy Your Own Book?
Category: Book Business, Book Proposals, Get Published, Marketing, Pitch, Pitching, Platform, The Publishing Life, Writing CraftTag: Marketing, Pitching, Proposals

Even the Best Get Rejected

By Steve Laubeon April 15, 2019
Share
Tweet
31

[/caption]

I've written about rejection before and yet it is a topic that continues to fascinate.

Recently Adrienne Crezo did an article on famous authors and their worst rejection letters. I thought you might enjoy reading a couple highlights of that article and some additional stories I have collected over the years.

George Orwell's Animal Farm was rejected by Alfred Knopf saying it …

Read moreEven the Best Get Rejected
Category: Career, Get Published, Rejection, Writing CraftTag: Rejection, Writing Craft
  • Previous
  • Page 1
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 25
  • Page 26
  • Page 27
  • Page 28
  • Page 29
  • 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