Search Results for: synopsis

For the New Year: Define Success

By Steve Laubeon January 1, 2018

Sometime this week, spend 30 minutes listening to this “Write from the Deep” podcast. Hosted by Karen Ball and Erin Taylor Young, they had me as a guest to discuss how writers define success. My hope is that the message is one that will resonate with you throughout the new year.

You can visit the web site to listen to the interview, read a synopsis of this conversation, and to subscribe to the podcast:
https://www.writefromthedeep.com/success-conversation-steve-laube/

or click the “play” button below and listen.

Category: The Writing Life, Theology

Dress for the Job You Want, Not the Job You Have

By Bob Hostetleron September 13, 2017

You’ve heard the standard career advice, “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have,” right? It’s not just about workplace wardrobe. It means, basically, don’t wait until you’re hired to start acting the part—because you may have to act the part in order to get the job in the first place. It means, if you work in the mail room, instead of pouting and grumbling, stand up straight when you’re …

Category: Branding, Get Published, MarketingTag: Branding, Get Published, Professionalism

Write Like Jazz

By Bob Hostetleron August 2, 2017

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Years ago, I was helping a friend brainstorm and outline a book, and at some point in the course of our conversation about writing, I said, “Writing is like jazz.” Both of us were jazz aficionados, so the phrase was apt, and it stuck. He has reminded me of it repeatedly ever since. What did I mean? Three things, basically: Craft Duke Ellington was raised by pianist parents, started piano lessons …

Category: Art, Creativity, Inspiration

When Proposing a Series of Novels

By Steve Laubeon March 27, 2017

“Are today’s publishers more interested in an individual novel or a trilogy? Also, when submitting a proposal for the completed first novel in a planned trilogy, is it better to focus on the first novel or give an overview of the complete trilogy? Is there an upper limit to how many books should be in a series?” These are some excellent questions submitted by both Peter and …

Category: Book Proposals, Genre, Get Published, PitchingTag: book proposals, Series, Stand Alones

54 Pieces of Advice for Your Writers Conference Success

By Steve Laubeon August 15, 2016

Our agency believes in the importance of a writer’s education and the value of the writers conference experience. We have written over 50 articles that can help you make the most of your conference experience, all of them are listed below. If bound in a single volume it would be a book of nearly 40,000 words. Enjoy! Conference Preparation The Writers Conference Decision Six Excuses (That …

Category: Conferences, Get PublishedTag: writers conferences

What Editors Wish You Knew about Meeting with Them at Conferences

By Karen Ballon June 29, 2016

Thanks to Becky McCoy for requesting advice for conference meetings with agents and editors at conferences. You can find a lot of counsel for meeting with agents on the different agency blogs, but I thought I’d supplement those posts with advice from some of the in-house editors you’ll find at this years’ conferences. So I emailed said editors and asked them to share their wishes with you. Here …

Category: ConferencesTag: Pitching

How to Read More in Less Time

By Steve Laubeon August 3, 2015

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I have the privilege of reading for a living. Someone once asked “What do you do for a living?” I replied, “I read.” Then they asked what I did for fun. And I replied with a huge smile, “I read.” But not all reading is alike. There is immersive reading of a technical nature. There is escapist reading of a great thriller. And there is cursory reading where you …

Category: Book Business, Book Review, Reading, TrendsTag: Reading

Proposals: Creating a Strong Hook

By Karen Ballon September 10, 2014

Last week we tackled the proposal synopsis. The cool thing about creating that aspect of the proposal first is that you can use it as the springboard for your hook: those few lines at the beginning of your proposal that draw an editor/agent deeper. (One note here: many writers have asked if they need to put something in the hook about genre. My vote: put the genre right after the title on the …

Category: Book Proposals, Get PublishedTag: book proposals, Get Published, Hook

The Perils of Social Media

By Steve Laubeon January 9, 2012

Facebook. Twitter. Shoutlife. LinkedIn. Dopplr. Google+. Plaxo. Blogger. WordPress. Shelfari. Goodreads. Writer's loops. Conference loops. Endless loops.

By the time I finish updating my status, writing my blogs, tweeting, pasting my bulletins, my newest pictures, my URLs and YouTube links, recruiting friends, recommending friends, sharing reads, rating reads, ranking reads, ranking friends, …

Category: Book Business, Get Published, Guest Post, Humor, Marketing, Social Media, Writing CraftTag: Agents, Facebook, Marketing, Social Media, Time Management, Writing Craft

Guidelines

By adminon June 4, 2009

Please do not just send a query letter (or query email). Please send a full proposal with sample chapters (preferably in one document). We need to have something whereby we can evaluate your writing. Our agency receives over 4,000 proposals a year, therefore, following the guideline will help yours be evaluated properly. Those that do not follow the guidelines will slow down the …

Category: Get Published