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The Steve Laube Agency

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The Steve Laube Agency

The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World Word by Word

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Home » Career

Career

When You Hit the Wall of Discouragement

By Steve Laubeon June 6, 2022
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I once received the following question from an award-winning author:
Is it common for an author to hit a wall of discouragement? To feel as though they’re working so hard for so little? To question why they’re doing this?

Unfortunately, it is quite common. Doesn’t mean it aches any less. Sort of like getting old: everyone does and it aches, but it is a common malady.

One writer in the general market wrote in their blog, “Why am I doing this? I work so hard for so little money only to have critics tell me I have no talent at all.”

It truly comes down to whether your calling is stronger than the frustration and anguish of the writing process. I will never forget reading Charles Spurgeon’s Lectures to My Students (in particular chapter two starting on page 19 of the linked PDF). I read it in college while trying to decide whether to pursue becoming a pastor or a teacher with my Bible degree.

Spurgeon, in essence, said the only reason you should become a pastor is if you cannot do anything else. The call is that strong. I realized I was making the pastorate one of a number of options, which immediately revealed where I placed it in my passions. So I began changing directions immediately. I set my sights on becoming a professor of theology after going to seminary and graduate school (my fiance, now my wife, would be a professor of Old Testament). But in my last college semester, I began working part-time in the Christian bookstore located one block off campus. And a rather different journey to my profession began. If God had not led me to make a life-decision regarding my calling, I may not be where I am today.

In some ways, it is like the life of the writer. If you can’t not write, then you know where your passions lay. If you can put it aside and write only when the inspiration strikes, then that may speak to your passions differently, and you should treat writing as something to explore. I find this separates many in this profession rather quickly. There’s nothing wrong with the latter. In fact, you won’t know if the skills and passions are aligned until you explore. I think you catch my intent here.

The author who asked the original question above replied a day later with this:

“I had two dark days, for whatever reason. But yesterday afternoon, wouldn’t you know, those dark hours translated into my writing in just the way the manuscript needed. I’m learning that the work of writing and the love of writing are a bit different. I love having written! And I could step away from it for a time, but writing will always woo me. I fought for 17 years to follow what I believed was a call from God, so throwing in the towel now would be silly.”

I pray that, for you, this is not a day of discouragement, but one of hope and joy. That you take every thought captive and your work is for the glory of God, in everything you do or say.

Your Turn:
What do you do when discouragement strikes in your writing career?

Leave a Comment
Category: Book Business, Career, Personal, Writing CraftTag: Career, Discouragement

When the Outlook Is Bleak

By Steve Laubeon April 26, 2021
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by Steve Laube

In the constant ebb and flow of this industry we have authors celebrating and authors in tears. Ask any agent and you will hear the same. For every author excited about their new contract there is another experiencing bitter disappointment.

And I wish I could fix it.

To hear the anguish is difficult, but to be the one who delivers the bad news is heart-wrenching. Why is it …

Read moreWhen the Outlook Is Bleak
Category: Book Business, Career, TheologyTag: Career, Encouragement, Outlook

Age Is Just a Number

By Steve Laubeon March 22, 2021
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by Steve Laube

Last Friday in the comments Dr. Richard Mabry wrote, "Tired after doing a few household chores that never used to leave me dragging. Now I’m ready to be up and dancing. Age is just a number, isn’t it?"

Then on Saturday I spoke at the Christian Writes of the West mini-conference where one of the writers asked "Do older writers have a chance? Especially if agents and …

Read moreAge Is Just a Number
Category: Book Business, Career, CreativityTag: Age, Career

Coming Full Circle

By Guest Bloggeron February 17, 2021
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by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Today's guest blog is from Kim Vogel Sawyer a best-selling author whose books have topped the sales charts and won awards since 2005, when she left her elementary school teaching job to write full time. Her books have won the Carol Award, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, and the Inspirational Readers Choice Award. Her stories are designed to offer hope and …

Read moreComing Full Circle
Category: Career, Get Published, Guest Post, Inspiration, TamelaTag: Career, Get Published, Inspiration

When the Gloves Come Off

By Steve Laubeon August 17, 2020
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Fist Slams Table in Anger

The publishing experience is rarely done in isolation. This means working with other people. And if their performances or efforts do not meet your expectations, conflict can occur. Over the years I’ve seen more conflict than you can imagine–of all types and variety. But the majority of issues boil down to four areas: Editorial Production (cover design?) Marketing and publicity Getting …

Read moreWhen the Gloves Come Off
Category: Book Business, Career, Communication, EditingTag: Career, Communication, Editing, Money

How Do You Measure Success?

By Steve Laubeon December 9, 2019
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by Steve Laube

A few years ago while talking to some editors they described an author who was never satisfied (not revealing the name of course). It this author's latest book had sold 50,000 copies the author wondered why the publisher didn't sell 60,000. And if it sold 60,000 why didn't it sell 75,000? The author was constantly pushing for "more" and was incapable of celebrating any measure of …

Read moreHow Do You Measure Success?
Category: Book Business, Career, TrendsTag: Book Business, Career, Money, Success

How Authors Make Money

By Bob Hostetleron August 29, 2018
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So, you’ve written a book. Good for you. Now the money will start rolling in, right? Not exactly. There are a number of ways authors make money, but writing a book is only one step in a long and arduous journey. And, though the details vary widely from one author to another (and one book to another), there are six basic ways an author makes money. An advance When you sign a book contract, the …

Read moreHow Authors Make Money
Category: Book Business, Money, The Writing LifeTag: Career, Money, The Writing Life

Four Myths about Fame

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon August 23, 2018
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Being rich and famous solves every problem, right? Let’s give that some thought. 1)  Once I have my first book published, I’ll be famous and the journey will be downhill from there. We’re tackling two myths here. One, once you are published, it’s not likely you’ll be famous, at least not Billy Graham famous. But as a Christian writer, you may become well known and loved in Christian circles. And …

Read moreFour Myths about Fame
Category: Awards, Career, The Writing LifeTag: Career, Fame, The Writing Life

Same Message, Different Reader

By Dan Balowon August 7, 2018
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When a published book is successful (sells well), the publisher and author begin pondering how to be successful again with the next book. Often times, the solution to the repeat-success puzzle in non-fiction is having a similar message but aimed at a different audience. You’ve seen it happen many times, whether you realized it was intentional or not. Examples of branded book lines which have been …

Read moreSame Message, Different Reader
Category: Book Business, Creativity, The Writing LifeTag: Book Business, Book Sales, Career, Creativity, Nonfiction, The Writing Life

How Much Time Should I Budget to Write My Book?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon July 26, 2018
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New authors have a distinct advantage over established authors under deadline: no deadline. As a new author, you may have fiddled with your novel for years. Perhaps you’ve entered contests and incorporated feedback. Maybe you’ve read books about writing and attended conferences. After all this effort, you landed a contract. Congratulations! Now you may have another happy problem: estimating how …

Read moreHow Much Time Should I Budget to Write My Book?
Category: Career, The Writing LifeTag: Career, Deadlines, The Writing Life, Time Management
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