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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 » book proposals » Page 7

book proposals

The Best Time to Submit to an Agent

By Karen Ballon August 3, 2016
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Thanks to Katie Powner for her question on my May 25, 2016 blog, which sparked this blog.

There have been many changes in publishing over the last few years. In fact, it seems we just get used to some element of publishing, and wham! It’s turned on its head. But there is something that hasn’t changed. Something I don’t think will ever change. At least, I pray it won’t.

Story trumps all.

Oh, I know, there are a lot of well-written manuscripts out there that aren’t finding traditional publishing homes. But I’m not talking about manuscripts that are “well written.” When I say “Story trumps all,” I’m talking about STORY. You know, the story, be it fiction or nonfiction, that’s so powerful, that so resonates with you as you read, that you can’t put it down. You HAVE to keep devouring the words on the page.

The STORY that unfolds, launching truths that strike so close to home that you find yourself weeping. Laughing. Convicted. And above all, changed.

Characters that live on in our hearts and minds. Experiences that tell us, in ways we’ve never heard it before, that we’re not alone. Plots that keep us on the edge of our seats, our hearts pounding as we agonize, wondering if what we hope will happen will really happen. Insights that shatter our preconceived ideologies. You know…

STORY.

You’ve read books with STORY. You’ve been transported and transformed by them. Challenged and Changed. And all it takes is one or two words from those books to stop us in the here and now and plunge us deep into the STORY again…

“Jean Louise, stand up…”

“When you go after honey with a balloon, the great thing is to not let the bees know you’re coming.”

“It was so quiet, one of the killers would later say, you could almost hear the sound of ice rattling…”

“One ring to rule them all…”

“In the predawn darkness of August 26, 1929, in the back bedroom of a small house…”

“Oh, children, catch me if you can!”

 “Trouble with mice is you always kill ‘em.”

“I had a farm in Africa, at the foot of the Ngong Hills.”

“Marley was dead.”

“We will all feel very much ashamed if we do not yield to Jesus…”

“The unicorn lived in a lilac wood, and she lived all alone.”

So, what does all this have to do with the best time to submit with an agent. Well…everything. Because the best time to submit to an agent doesn’t have anything to do with the calendar. Oh, it used to, back in the day. But now, with the internet, agents can hop  onto their email and take a quick look at things anytime they want—even, heaven forbid, at Christmas. No, the best time to submit to an agent isn’t about the calendar. It’s about your manuscript. And the power of your STORY.

When should you submit?

When you’ve taken your manuscript from story to STORY.

When your STORY engages and moves and transports people.

When you read your STORY and sit back, heart pounding as you wonder…Did I really write that?

 Submit when the book is ready. Really and truly ready. Ready to move and change people. Ready to move and change the agents who will ready it.

That, my friends, is the best—and only—time to submit to an agent.

(Book quotes are from the following STORIES that impacted me: To Kill a Mockingbird; The Complete Tales of Winnie the Pooh; Helter Skelter; The Hobbit; Unbreakable; The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; Of Mice and Men; Out of Africa; The Christmas Carol; My Utmost for His Highest; The Last Unicorn)

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Category: Agents, Book Proposals, Get PublishedTag: Agents, book proposals, Get Published, story

I’m Always Open to Submissions

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon July 21, 2016
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Sometimes authors send me an email asking, “Are you looking at new submissions?” or “Are you accepting new clients?” I appreciate these authors’ desire not to waste my time or theirs, but I’ll say it here: I’m always open to submissions and new clients. Now, does this mean I’m open to reading entire unpublished books on every and any topic? Or that I hope to sign five new clients every week? No. I …

Read moreI’m Always Open to Submissions
Category: Agency, Book Proposals, Get Published, RejectionTag: Agency, book proposals, Submissions

What’s Wrong with my Book?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon July 14, 2016
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As you can imagine, we see hundreds of proposals and manuscripts each month. And, as you can also imagine, we must decline most. However, there are a few mistakes you can avoid to help your submission rise above others: Not beginning the story in the right place. All too often, an author will tell us about the main characters’ backgrounds before getting to the crux of the story, where the …

Read moreWhat’s Wrong with my Book?
Category: Book Proposals, Craft, Editing, Get Published, RejectionTag: book proposals, Get Published

Why I Don’t Critique Your Work

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon June 30, 2016
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A fantastic blog post from Ramona Richards reminded me why I, as a literary agent, don’t offer critiques on rejected proposals. Believe me, as someone who used to write books, I understand the disappointment of the unhelpful rejection letter. So much that I blogged about it (click to read it). I appreciate writers who are looking to learn more about craft, style, and what will make their books …

Read moreWhy I Don’t Critique Your Work
Category: Agents, Book Proposals, Editing, Get PublishedTag: Agents, book proposals, Editing, Get Published

The Why and How of Selecting Endorsers

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon June 23, 2016
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Some authors find the endorsers section tricky when they write book proposals. If this describes you, or if you would like a refresher, I hope this post will be helpful. The Why: I can’t say I’ve ever sold a book based on an endorsement alone. Content is king. But the endorsers (or you can call it Potential Endorsers) section is important. To wit, here’s a quote from Mallory Ortburg’s May 3 …

Read moreThe Why and How of Selecting Endorsers
Category: Book Proposals, Get Published, MarketingTag: book proposals, Endorsements, Get Published

The Hardest Part of Being a Writer

By Karen Ballon June 8, 2016
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If there’s anything I hate to do, it’s wait. At the gas station, at the grocery store, at the doctor’s office…it’s wait, wait, wait! Drives me nuts. I want to get going, get things done, move, do something! Not just stand or sit there. If you’ve been at this writing gig for long, you’ve faced that most difficult aspect of writing. The Waiting. You scramble to refine your craft, make your …

Read moreThe Hardest Part of Being a Writer
Category: Book Proposals, The Writing Life, TheologyTag: book proposals, The Writing Life, waiting

Limitations Inherent to Non-Fiction Publishing

By Dan Balowon May 31, 2016
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Some categories of books in the Christian market have very limited potential for publication. A publisher may do just one every year or every ten years on a particular topic or category. When you send your proposal to an agent or ask your agent to pitch a title in one of these categories, our first reaction would be how limited the potential is to sell. I am not writing about the potential for …

Read moreLimitations Inherent to Non-Fiction Publishing
Category: Book Proposals, Branding, Career, Economics, Get Published, PlatformTag: Bet Published, book proposals

The Right Number of Words

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon May 26, 2016
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More times than I’d like, my office must send out letters advising aspiring authors that their manuscripts are too short or too long. Much of the time, the author is talented but hasn’t investigated the market well enough to know if the word count is right. Submitting a project that’s simply the wrong word count wastes everyone’s time – including yours. If we mention that your book is the wrong …

Read moreThe Right Number of Words
Category: Book Proposals, Craft, Get Published, Rejection, Writing CraftTag: book proposals, Get Published, word count

Nonfiction Checklist

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon April 28, 2016
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Although I represent many works of quality fiction, I also look for the very special nonfiction project. As you prepare your proposal, here is a four-point checklist that might help determine if yours could work for an agent: A Great Title Lots of nonfiction is geared to impulse buyers. If you can convince a shopper to pick your book up from a spin rack or click and place in a virtual cart, based …

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

What Makes an Agent Say Wow?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon April 14, 2016
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As part of an interview for the upcoming Blue Ridge Writers conference in Ridgecrest, NC, May 22-26, Tamela was asked a series of questions by Al Gansky. (Be sure to check out the new conference web site.) 1) When you review proposals what stops you in your tracks? Tamela: Since this question is aimed at writers attending a major conference, I’m answering as though you’re an author …

Read moreWhat Makes an Agent Say Wow?
Category: Book Proposals, Get PublishedTag: book proposals, Get Published
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