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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 77

Writing Craft

In the Beginning…First Lines of a Book

By Karen Ballon May 16, 2012
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I don’t know about you, but I love great first lines. First lines that intrigue or challenge, that captivate and spark strong emotion or curiosity. Some writers spend hours, even days crafting that perfect first line to draw readers into the book. For others, the line is just…there.

A group of author friends loves to play the first-line game, where we share the first line from our WIPs. I like to ask people to share first lines from books that captured them. Both exercises are great fun. More than that, though, it’s fascinating to see what captures or intrigues people. It’s a great way to gain insight into your readers.

So what do you say? Wanna play?

First, let’s share first lines we loved from books we have read. Here are some of my favorites:

“It was Nathan’s fault that I became God.” 

The God Game, Andrew Greeley

“This is my favorite book in all the world, though I have never read it.”

The Princess Bride, William Goldman

“We all know something’s wrong.”

Crazy Love, Francis Chan

“Good is the enemy of great.”

Good to Great, Jim Collins

“The family trip when our nightmare began was supposed to be a celebration.”

Heaven Is For Real, Todd Burpo/Lynn Vincent

Okay, YOUR turn! 

Leave a Comment
Category: Craft, Creativity, Karen, Writing CraftTag: Craft, first lines

Goodbye to Traditional Publishing?

By Steve Laubeon May 14, 2012
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by Steve Laube

Recently Ann Voss Peterson wrote of her decision to never sign another contract with Harlequin. One major statistic from the article is that she sold 170,000 copies of a book but earned only $20,000.

Multiple clients sent me Peterson’s “Harlequin Fail” article and wanted my opinion. My first thought is that this was typical “the publisher is ripping me off” fodder. But …

Read moreGoodbye to Traditional Publishing?
Category: Book Business, Contracts, Defense of Traditional Publishing, E-Books, Steve, TrendsTag: Contracts, royalties, Traditional Publishing

Writing to Market: Bad Advice?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon May 10, 2012
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Throughout my career I've seen various responses to the advice that declares "Write to market!" In other words "write what sells" because that is what is most important for a writer. Is this good advice or bad advice?

It is both.

Here is when it's bad advice: When you're made to feel you have to write a certain type of book just to break into the market, any market.

If you think, for …

Read moreWriting to Market: Bad Advice?
Category: Book Business, Get Published, Marketing, Tamela, Writing CraftTag: Marketing, passion, Rejection

The Value of SHOWmanship in Fiction

By Karen Ballon May 9, 2012
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Recently, I’ve heard a few editors comment that they don’t worry about showing things in fiction, that they think editors and writers get too caught up showing when it’s really not all that important. Telling is okay. It’s just as strong and effective as showing.

I beg to differ.

Consider this from Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, a stellar book by Renni Browne and Dave …

Read moreThe Value of SHOWmanship in Fiction
Category: Craft, Karen, Writing CraftTag: Craft, show don't tell

What Is the Agent Doing While I Wait?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon May 3, 2012
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You submit a great manuscript to an agent. Then you wait. And wait. And wait.

What could she possibly be doing?

Let's say your baby jumped most of the hurdles and is near the top of the slush pile. (See the previous post on the Mystery of the Slush Pile) Why can't the agent make up her mind? Might I offer a few ideas:
1.) Market changes can mean a shift in priorities. An agent may receive …

Read moreWhat Is the Agent Doing While I Wait?
Category: Agents, Book Business, Get Published, Tamela, Writing CraftTag: Agent, Proposals, waiting

Blood, Guts and Peanuts: What it’s Like Writing with Ted Dekker

By Steve Laubeon April 30, 2012
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Guest blog by Tosca Lee

Our guest today is Tosca Lee, author of Demon: A Memoir and Havah: The Story of Eve. She is also the co-author with Ted Dekker of the NYTimes bestseller Forbidden. The next book in that series will be out this Summer. A sought-after speaker and former Mrs. Nebraska, Tosca was a senior consultant for a global consulting firm until turning to writing full-time. She holds a …

Read moreBlood, Guts and Peanuts: What it’s Like Writing with Ted Dekker
Category: Guest Post, Humor, Writing CraftTag: Collaboration, Humor, Ted Dekker, Tosca Lee

Romancing the Readers

By Karen Ballon April 25, 2012
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I had a conversation with a writer friend a few weeks ago. She was telling me that the book she’s writing is, at the core, a romance, and no one was more surprised than she. “I don’t know a thing about writing romances,” she confessed. “Any tips?” I sent her an email with my thoughts, and that was that. Then she emailed me a few days ago:
“I just re-read this [email] as I'm still struggling …

Read moreRomancing the Readers
Category: Craft, Karen, Romance, Writing CraftTag: Craft, Romance, Writing Craft

The Mystery of the Slush Pile

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon April 19, 2012
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When you submit a manuscript or query to an agent, you may wonder what happens to it, and what our thought processes are regarding the properties we offer to represent versus those we must respectfully decline. Every agent is different, but you may find learning about my process helpful.

I have a very smart assistant. When she reviews my slush pile submissions, she goes through a winnowing …

Read moreThe Mystery of the Slush Pile
Category: Agency, Book Proposals, Tamela, Writing CraftTag: Proposals, query, Rejection, slush pile

Three Steps to Freedom!

By Karen Ballon April 18, 2012
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It’s The Most Wonderful/Terrible Time of the Year

It comes every year, and every year we wait for it with a mixture of excitement and dread. No, I’m not talking about taxes.

I’m talking about the award season.

From the ECPA Book of the Year awards to the Christy’s, the Genesis to the RITA, the Golden Heart to the Carol, and all the gazillion contests and awards in-between, online groups, …

Read moreThree Steps to Freedom!
Category: Encouragement, Get Published, Karen, Marketing, Writing CraftTag: Awards, contests, Encouragement, News

Implications of the Department of Justice Lawsuit Against Five Major Publishers

By Steve Laubeon April 16, 2012
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by Steve Laube

As you have heard by now the Department of Justice (DOJ) has leveled a lawsuit against Apple and five major publishers accusing them of conspiring to fix prices. There has been a lot written on the topic with varying degrees of understanding and a wide disparity of conclusions.

Authors are asking what this all means to them. And many are confused about the math involved. A …

Read moreImplications of the Department of Justice Lawsuit Against Five Major Publishers
Category: Agency, Book Business, Contracts, Get Published, Legal Issues, SteveTag: Book Business, Get Published, lawsuit, News, retail prices
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