• 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 » Your Questions Answered Series » Page 2

Your Questions Answered Series

Should You Write Short Stories First?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon August 20, 2020
Share
Tweet
34

The “Your Questions Answered” Series

__________

What are your thoughts on writing some short stories before you jump into your first novel?

I don’t recommend writing short stories before jumping into your first novel IF your goal is to be a novelist. Writing where you don’t want your success to be is akin to the dieter craving a chocolate candy bar but eating a container of yogurt instead.

I’ve written articles, devotions, nonfiction books, novellas, short novels, and long fiction; and I can tell you that these projects have almost no relation to one another. For one, the shorter the project, the tighter the writing must be. And the longer the novel, the more intricacies and subplots you’ll need.

Also, the markets for each type of project differ. You’ll be pitching short stories to magazines and collections. You’ll be selling novels to book publishers. Most editors will be interested in demonstrated success in what you are writing for them, not someone else. A byline in a major magazine should be mentioned and is a plus, but a well-received magazine story doesn’t necessarily translate into sales of a novel. And even though book publishers publish novellas (typically around 30,000 words), generally editors choose the top authors from their list that they want to appear in any given collection and offer them the opportunity to write a novella for the set. A writer submitting a random novella probably won’t find a market in traditional publishing. The publishers who’ll consider a novella collection sent on its own by relatively unknown authors are few; and even then, those publishers won’t necessarily buy novels from their novella authors.

Some authors are successful across a kaleidoscope of projects. However, those authors started with one book; and for the most part, have a history of success and a large fan base willing to buy any book bearing their name.

Bottom line? Write where you want your success to be.

Your turn:

What authors do you see as being successful over many types of writing?

Who is your favorite nonfiction author who wrote a novel?

For the entire series, click here: “Your Questions Answered.”

Leave a Comment
Category: Branding, Career, Craft, Creativity, Genre, Your Questions Answered Series

How Big Should an Author’s Platform Be?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon August 13, 2020
Share
Tweet
15

The “Your Questions Answered” Series __________ PLATFORM. I read a lot of conflicting ideas about the importance of having a substantial platform: (1) It used to matter more but its importance is declining, but also that (2) a writer must have at least 5k followers on social media to even be considered for agent representation, and (3) some kinds of social media “count” more than …

Read moreHow Big Should an Author’s Platform Be?
Category: Platform, Your Questions Answered Series

Realistic Language in Fiction

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon August 6, 2020
Share
Tweet
15

The “Your Questions Answered” Series __________ I’m a former crime reporter and trauma survivor with lots of counseling writing a suspense novel. I’m trying to balance Christian fiction guidelines with the speech and behavior I’ve seen in police stations and at crime scenes. I’ve come up with some of my own ways to show through action that a cop is angry or frustrated, but can you guide us to some …

Read moreRealistic Language in Fiction
Category: Craft, Your Questions Answered Series

Show Versus Tell – HELP!

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon July 30, 2020
Share
Tweet
33

The “Your Questions Answered” Series __________ Could you write about the difference between showing and telling? I am constantly mixing them up. Thanks! Telling is like giving readers a grocery list. They must memorize facts to absorb your story. For example: She never stood out in a crowd, any crowd. She had bobbed hair the color of dishwater and expressionless brown eyes. Her clothes were …

Read moreShow Versus Tell – HELP!
Category: Craft, Your Questions Answered Series

What About Beta Readers, Endorsements, and More?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon July 23, 2020
Share
Tweet
16

The “Your Questions Answered” Series __________ Thanks for the opportunity to ask questions! I’m curious about the timeline or order of events from writing to publishing. We write and rewrite and edit and polish our manuscript while working on our platform. I’ve read that we should send our work to an editor before submitting it to a publisher. Does that come before or after sending it …

Read moreWhat About Beta Readers, Endorsements, and More?
Category: Editing, Your Questions Answered Series

How Do I Pick the Right Genre for My Book?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon July 16, 2020
Share
Tweet
21

The “Your Questions Answered” Series __________ I’d love to learn more about the system behind categorizing books, specifically fiction. I want to write a book that fits well in a category and make sure a book I’ve already written fits into a definite category, but I feel like I’m missing a lot of specifics. Also, I’ve learned from this blog that it’s important to …

Read moreHow Do I Pick the Right Genre for My Book?
Category: Book Proposals, Book Review, Genre, Your Questions Answered Series

How Long Should a Writer Wait for an Answer?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon July 9, 2020
Share
Tweet
17

The “Your Questions Answered” Series __________ How long should a writer wait after sending an agent a query email, bio, and book synopsis? Two weeks ago I sent these to an agent who was recommended to me. So how long do I wait and/or what should I do next? First, look on the agent’s website for guidelines. If the agency includes guidance regarding response times, they’ll run the gamut …

Read moreHow Long Should a Writer Wait for an Answer?
Category: Agents, Book Proposals, Pitching, Your Questions Answered Series
  • Previous
  • Page 1
  • Page 2
  • 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