Writing Craft

Write to Publish 2024

By Steve Laubeon June 17, 2024

The Write to Publish conference for 2024 concluded last Friday and was a wonderful success.

We had over 300 in attendance, making for great opportunities to meet new people and develop what will be lasting connections.

We heard from a variety of key speakers. Brett Harris gave a “Challenge to the Truly Ambitious.” Trillia Newbell had to cancel at the last minute due to pneumonia. Fortunately, I was able to give Wednesday’s keynote and Tricia Goyer gave Thursday’s. Jane Friedman gave three insightful plenary addresses, bringing a unique perspective to the writing life. We had 40 professional faculty who met with authors and presented a combined fifty-seven hours of instruction. We also enjoyed a private concert by Dove Award-winning artist Sandra McCracken.

The Author Conservatory held a preconference event, and nearly 100 of its students attended.

Congratulations to Dan Balow for his expert work as the conference director. Believe it or not, we are already planning for 2025! Hope to see you there.

In Praise of Slow Reading

By Steve Laubeon June 10, 2024

When asked what I do for a living I will sometimes answer, “I read.” Then when asked what I do for fun I smile and say, “I read.” That is one of the joys of being a literary agent, the privilege of reading…a lot. As such, the quantity of material that must be consumed just to keep up can be overwhelming. An ability to read quickly helps but also the ability to …

Category: Craft, Creativity, Personal

Writing Conference Benefits

By Lynette Easonon June 6, 2024

Hello all, I’m taking a little break from the subplots posts to write a special blog about writers conferences. I know there has been other information by other agents on this topic, but I wanted to put my thoughts down and share them with you. If you’re a writer seeking publication, I won’t say conferences are a must; but they sure do help on the journey to seeing your book in print. That …

Category: Conferences

Don’t Miss Your Chance to Register!

By Steve Laubeon May 25, 2024

Time is running out to secure your spot at the Write to Publish Conference before the rates increase on June 1st! The Write to Publish event, held at Wheaton College in about two weeks, is THE place to be for those who are serious about Christian writing and publishing. Picture this: world-class speakers sharing their expertise, inspiring keynotes that’ll light a fire under you, and ample …

Category: Conferences

Subplots Part Two

By Lynette Easonon May 22, 2024

Let’s start with Act I in our Oliver and Sophia story. Based on what we’ve already created in previous posts, here’s the beginning of my synopsis. Oliver Tyson, a forensic artist and single father to his nine-year-old daughter, Gia, is assigned to reconstruct the face of a young woman whose skeleton was found in an abandoned house. The Jane Doe, estimated to be around 21 years old at the time of …

Category: Writing CraftTag: Subplots

Today Is a Great Day to (re)Write

By Steve Laubeon May 6, 2024

James Michener, the bestselling novelist, once said, “I’m not a very good writer, but I’m an excellent rewriter.” And today is your day to follow suit. No one knows your work or what you are trying to accomplish better than you. In that sense, you can be your own best editor. In a 1958 interview with The Paris Review, Ernest Hemingway was asked, “How much rewriting do you do?” Hemingway replied, …

Category: Craft, Editing, Writing CraftTag: Editing, Writing Craft

Weaving Subplots Through Your Story

By Lynette Easonon May 2, 2024

Before I jump into talking about the subplots in the Oliver/Sophia story, I want to talk about subplots in general. Weaving subplots into your story is a delicate process. You want them to enhance the story and not overwhelm it. So, think balance. Here’s how I look at subplots for my stories. First, I identify the main plot. I have a clear picture of the central conflict or theme of my story. This …

Category: Writing Craft

We Have a Failure to Communicate

By Dan Balowon April 25, 2024

Recently, I was listening to someone speak to a group of grade school children and was struck by how many words and phrases the kids likely had no idea of their meaning. Even if you speak clearly and slowly, a six-year-old will probably not understand the phrase “Take the left fork in the road,” and much less “substitutionary atonement.” It’s in the same communication category as traveling to …

Category: Book Business, Branding, Get Published, Pitching, The Writing Life, Writing Craft

Music to Write By

By Steve Laubeon April 22, 2024

Some write in silence. Some write with music in the background. Some write with music playing through their headphones (or earbuds). I’m curious to know what you, our readers, listen to while writing or if you write in silence. In the comments below, let us know your favorites. Maybe we can discover some new musical inspiration together. I read somewhere that Stephenie Meyer, author of the …

Category: Creativity, Personal, Writing CraftTag: Creativity, music, Writing Craft

Story Structure Part #10

By Lynette Easonon April 17, 2024

This is it, folks. The last post in this series. If you’ve hung around this long, thank you! I really hope you’ve found it interesting and helpful. Last time we talked about the falling action of the story, and now we’ve come to the end. The Resolution What is the resolution of the story? “The End,” right? Well, yes. But it’s not wrapping everything up; it’s wrapping everything up well, so the …

Category: Writing Craft