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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

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Home » Writing Craft » Page 63

Writing Craft

Clear Your Brain!

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon December 5, 2013
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Panorama of a sunset on a lake

When I talk to writers about the day-to-day operations of my office, I usually mention weekends. And that we have them.

I make an effort to stay away from the computer for business on the weekends unless there is some urgent reason to do otherwise. This may sound selfish, and perhaps it is. But I also try not to bother my clients on the weekends because I want them to have weekends, too. Writers tend to pay attention when an email from their agent arrives, and I want them to be free not to think of business on the weekends.

I understand that many writers have other jobs and commitments and that may mean Sundays are their only time to write. But I hope these writers will choose another time or day to take off. Why not Tuesday? Or maybe Saturday.

Here’s why:

I need at least a day or two every week just to live. “Living” means going to the library, picking up dry cleaning, buying groceries, getting the car washed. You know, the things everyone needs to do to function as a human. It also means fun things such as attending parties or discovering a new restaurant, as my husband and I did on a recent weekend.

If you don’t take any time off and change your activities, your brain never clears. If every day is a business day, all things become blurred.

Clearing your brain can involve activities such as polishing furniture, another recent weekend accomplishment. In other words, doing something more physical than sitting at a desk gives you a different sense of accomplishment. Then the next workday, you can approach your computer with a fresh perspective. Who knows? Maybe one of your characters will have an epiphany while polishing furniture.

Your turn:

How do you change your activities to clear your brain?

Do you write to put off chores, or put off chores to write?

Leave a Comment
Category: Career, Creativity, TamelaTag: Career

The Right (Size) Stuff

By Dan Balowon December 3, 2013
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One hundred and fifty years ago this fall, President Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous Gettysburg Address on the site of the battle that turned the tide of the American Civil War.  It was 270 words and took two minutes to deliver.

Not as memorable was the 13,600-word oratory by American statesman Edward Everett that lasted for two hours prior to Lincoln’s epic speech. In fact, the program …

Read moreThe Right (Size) Stuff
Category: Craft, Dan, Editing, Get Published, Writing CraftTag: Craft, Writing Craft

Your Writing Team: Make Accountability Partners Work for You! (Part Two)

By Karen Ballon November 20, 2013
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Thanks for your feedback on having accountability partners (or, as I’ll call them from this point on, APs). As I researched this issue, I realized there are a couple of things to consider:
What you need to have/do for this to work
What your AP(s) need to have/do for this to work
And I also realized there is a LOT involved in those two things, so we’ll tackled them over the next few weeks. So …

Read moreYour Writing Team: Make Accountability Partners Work for You! (Part Two)
Category: Career, Communication, Creativity, KarenTag: Career

Happy 85th Birthday Mickey Mouse!

By Steve Laubeon November 18, 2013
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by Steve Laube

 On this day in 1928 the film "Steamboat Willie" made its debut. The main cartoon character (almost named Mortimer!) was featured and Mickey Mouse was born.

You might ask, "So what? Other than fun trivia, what does this mean to me as a writer?" Actually the success of Mickey Mouse and the Disney empire cuts to the heart of today's copyright laws which affect you and your work. …

Read moreHappy 85th Birthday Mickey Mouse!
Category: Book Business, Copyright, Legal Issues, SteveTag: Book Business, Copyright, Legal

Your Writing Team: Accountability Partners (Part One)

By Steve Laubeon November 13, 2013
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by Karen Ball Okay, everyone out there who has:

 tried, over and over, to be accountable to someone or something, and failed…
started any number of wonderful endeavors, only to have the energy/motivation/time commitment fizzle out…
set a word count, then revised…and revised…and revised…and…yeah, you get the idea…
given yourself a deadline to finish your …

Read moreYour Writing Team: Accountability Partners (Part One)
Category: Career, Craft, Creativity, Writing CraftTag: Career, writing team. accountability

Decoding Publishing Terms

By Dan Balowon November 12, 2013
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I looked back some of my Tuesday blog posts and thought I might be getting too serious, so I wanted to lighten it up a bit with some practical, helpful information that should help you navigate and understand the complicated world of publishing.

Here are words you might hear in relation to publishing or describing a particular book and its real meaning:

“A must-read” – Acquisitions editor …

Read moreDecoding Publishing Terms
Category: Creativity, Dan, Get Published, HumorTag: Humor, publishing

A Weekend with C.S. Lewis and Friends

By Steve Laubeon November 11, 2013
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by Steve Laube

This past weekend I had the privilege, once again, to attend and participate in the C.S. Lewis Foundation’s Fall retreat in Houston.

Not a typical writers conference it focuses on the extraordinary contribution of Lewis and his fellow Inklings and ultimately a celebration of the Arts in light of the incarnation of Christ. The speakers were extraordinary. They included:
Devin …

Read moreA Weekend with C.S. Lewis and Friends
Category: Conferences, Get Published, Personal, SteveTag: C.S. Lewis, Conferences, Get Published

Why Not Take a Chance?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon November 7, 2013
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Often I receive queries and proposals in which the author will say his submission is out of the box. I'm not opposed to groundbreaking work, but I have to decide what will and what won't work for me. I am the first to admit, this process is subjective. Our own Steve Laube is routinely teased by a couple of his successful author friends he turned down. If an agent as wise as Steve Laube misses a …

Read moreWhy Not Take a Chance?
Category: Agents, Book Business, Book Proposals, Get Published, Platform, TamelaTag: Agents, book proposals, Editors, Get Published

Your Writing Team: Freelance Editors

By Karen Ballon November 6, 2013
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You’ve heard the old saying, “Can’t see the forest for the trees”? In other words, you can see each tree, take note of the beautiful leaves and strong branches, but because you’re focused on them you don’t see the whole forest. The big picture. And that, my friends, is where it helps to have freelance editors on your team.

Yes, for some, the editor role is filled by an in-house editor. But if …

Read moreYour Writing Team: Freelance Editors
Category: Career, Communication, Craft, Creativity, Editing, Karen, Writing CraftTag: Career, Writing Craft

Elect to be Successful

By Dan Balowon November 5, 2013
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Today is the first Tuesday in November…election day somewhere.

Have you ever wondered why so many people in politics never seem to actually solve problems and do what is right?  The explanation is actually rather simple:

Many politicians exhibit those traits that are characteristic of unsuccessful people.

In what world of relationships, work, church, community or business would a person …

Read moreElect to be Successful
Category: Book Business, Career, DanTag: Career, Success
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