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The Steve Laube Agency

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Home » Writing Craft » Page 29

Writing Craft

3 Things Never to Say to Agents and Editors

By Bob Hostetleron February 20, 2019
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Believe it or not, agents and editors are regular people. Some more regular than others, of course; but most of us are pretty easy to approach, whether via mail or email, at writers conferences, at church, or on the street—preferably without a visible weapon.

But there are some things you should never say to an agent or an editor. Not in conversation. Not in a query or one-sheet. Not in a cover letter or proposal. And yet, you might be surprised by how often I see or hear one of the following from an aspiring (and, sometimes, fairly accomplished) writer.

#1: “There’s no other book like this.”

You see, editors and agents may appear to you as adventurers and “international men (and women) of mystery.” But they’re usually not. Most don’t want to be the first to try something new, risky, avant-garde; they want to know there’s a pretty good chance of success, so they’re interested in what other books are similar, and why, and also why this one you’re pitching is quantifiably better or different from those others. When writers fail to include a book comparison section in a proposal or—even worse—say, “there’s no other book like this on the market,” the editor or agent is likely to think there’s probably a good reason for that. I know, every writer wants to believe, like one pitch I received, that “There is no other Book like it within Existence, and due to it’s Rarity when compared to all other Books, it would be an International Bestseller until the ends of The Earth.” I don’t think I’m the only person who greets such a claim with caution.

#2: “Comparable books have become classics.”

I’m a fan of the classics. I really am. But I don’t recommend citing them in the comparison section of a book proposal, like the person who sent a proposal for a murder mystery/historical fiction/literary novel and said, “The three books comparing to this novel are Oliver Twist, Don Quixote, and Crime and Punishment.” There’s always a chance, sure, and that would be sweet; but it’s never a good idea to compare your work to Dickens or Dostoevsky. Even if it’s a fair comparison, saying so won’t help your case. I promise.

#3: “Everyone is publishing this kind of book.”

There’s a fine line in publishing between a hot topic and one that’s played out. And by the time you see six or seven different books about minimalism or the end times or intermittent fasting on bookstore shelves, it’s probably too late to catch that wave. Remember, those books were all pitched two or more years ago. And yours, even if it’s contracted tomorrow, won’t be in bookstores for at least another year. I know, you can’t be expected to keep up with every trend and fad; but these days just a little bit of research can at least indicate whether your idea is one whose time has come … or gone.

Like most of writing for publication, it’s an art, not a science; but striking these phrases from your book-pitch vocabulary will improve your chances immensely. And every little bit helps.

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Category: Agents, Book Proposals, Conferences, Pitch, Pitching

Feelings of Love

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon February 14, 2019
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Heart racing. Eyes drinking the beauty of the One. An intake of breath. Unmitigated joy spurred by the nearness of the One. We need romantic emotions when considering commitment and marriage. Passionate feelings are part of God’s plan. Unfortunately, like all things good, these emotions can be misused and abused, so one selfish person can take advantage of another. Misuse is why some pastors and …

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Category: Craft

Real Feelings

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon February 7, 2019
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Novels should tap into emotions. If a reader doesn’t react to your book, she’s likely to put it aside in favor of another book that touches her heart and mind. One-star book reviews hurt; but at least if a reviewer passionately hates your book, you’ve evoked emotion. In some ways, a three-star review calling the book bland is worse. This time last year, I was happy in the knowledge that both of my …

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Category: Craft

Attention to Detail

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon January 24, 2019
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Recently, I read a general-market novel that, for the most part, held together. Except I wish the novel ended sooner because I started to get bored. That aside, the author seemed to know the topics discussed but, for whatever reason, completely missed the mark when describing a popular hotel chain. The story said the logo is red. It is outlined in red, but the logo can hardly be described as red. …

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Category: Craft, Writing CraftTag: Research

Learning to Use Track Changes

By Bob Hostetleron January 23, 2019
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All of us have gaps in our knowledge. For example, there are a ton of words that I know how to spell and use accurately in writing (because I’ve read them often) but am unsure of the pronunciation. (I know, I know, I could look up the pronunciation, but how often am I going to use the word chimera in conversation, really?) One fairly common knowledge gap among writers, I’ve often been surprised to …

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Category: Grammar, Technology, The Writing Life

The Quest for Originality

By Steve Laubeon January 14, 2019
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Are you tired of being told by a publisher “We simply don’t do books like that”? or “Yours is certainly out of the box, but is not what we are looking for at this time”? What’s the Deal with Boxes? In general all books are sold under a category. Be it a fiction genre (historical, suspense, romance) or a topical non-fiction category (marriage, parenting, finance, theology). When you are told your …

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Category: Book Business, Creativity, Genre, Legal Issues, The Publishing Life, The Writing Life

4 Keys to Creativity

By Bob Hostetleron December 12, 2018
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Maybe you’re not one of those writers who sometimes says (or thinks), “I’m just not very creative.” But you may sometimes be jealous of others’ creativity. Or wish at times that you were more so. Join the club. We could all use at least a little more creativity in our lives, our thinking, and our writing. So, since my weekly “midrash” (Bible study) group has been discussing the first chapters of …

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Category: Craft, Creativity, Inspiration, The Writing Life

Influencers

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon November 29, 2018
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This blog is part six of six in a series designed to hone character development of protagonists in your fiction. After reading through this series, I realize I had written quite a bit about my husband’s opinions. The examples and thoughts expressed reminded me of how immense his influence is on me. I don’t mind that he chooses most of my clothes and likes red lipstick. He’s paying attention! My …

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Category: Writing Craft

Keep Your Post-Draft Tasks Distinct

By Bob Hostetleron November 28, 2018
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Writers are not all the same. I realize that may come as a shock to you, but it’s true. Trust me. Job One (or something very close to it) for every writer is to find the rhythms and routines that work for you. That may be quite different from what works for other writers. And that’s okay. Say it with me: “That’s okay.”   Still, whatever suits you as a writer, there’s a good chance that keeping …

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Category: Craft, The Writing Life, Writing Craft

Popular Story Tropes in Current Fiction

By Steve Laubeon November 19, 2018
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When we think of fiction, we put books in genres based on the story line. Then within each genre, they are separated by subgenres. The Book Industry Study Group has defined over 100 different classifications of fiction. These BISAC codes are what you find on the back of the book. And yet, despite the variety of genres, there are certain tropes (defined as overused plot devices) that appear …

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Category: Book Proposals, Creativity, Genre, Trends
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