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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 » Page 7

Career

Appreciating Reviews

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon March 24, 2016
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While researching my St. Patrick’s Day blog, where I reminisced about writing a novella, I must confess I poked around and looked at the fate of a few other books I wrote as well.
I tell authors that a one-star review isn’t as bad as they think because that shows that your book is being read by impartial readers. I had to remind myself of my own advice as I read a few poor reviews. What writers feel that negative reviews are justified? I’d venture that none really do.
Needless to say, I enjoyed reading the favorable reviews.
Then, I felt truly humbled. People had taken time not only to read my books, but many shared what they liked about the plots. I couldn’t help but feel amazed that anyone would not only read my work, but discuss stories I’d made up. Just typing this brings back that awestruck feeling.
Even though I’m not writing books now that I’m an agent, I feel a sense of gratitude to those readers who felt strongly enough about my work that they shared those feelings with others. As you take your publishing journey, I wish for you many engaged readers, too.
Your turn:
What is your favorite comment anyone has made about your work?
What comments have you learned from?
Do you read all the reviews on a book before you purchase? Why or why not?
Leave a Comment
Category: Book Review, CareerTag: Career, reviews

The Credibility Gap

By Dan Balowon March 22, 2016
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This was a tough post to write. I felt at times that I was arguing with myself on these issues, but maybe in today’s “journey” through the topic of author credibility you will sense the struggle that Christian authors confront and maybe some truth with be revealed in the process. If you were a mathematics professor at a junior college and had a revolutionary insight related to something about …

Read moreThe Credibility Gap
Category: Book Business, Career, Platform, The Publishing LifeTag: Career, Credentials, The Publishing Life

Turn Envy Upside Down

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon March 10, 2016
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Envy is one of the seven deadly sins and not easy to conquer. Who hasn’t felt jealous over someone else’s success, especially when it doesn’t seem deserved? Seeing an outright enemy succeed is even worse. It doesn’t have to be this way. Instead, take your feelings of envy and put them to good use. That is, make those feelings work for you so you can succeed. Here’s how: When someone in your sphere …

Read moreTurn Envy Upside Down
Category: Career, Communication, The Writing LifeTag: Career, Envy, The Writing Life

The Truth About Criticism

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon March 3, 2016
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Last week I talked about limiting the amount of mean criticism you have to put up with. This week, let’s revisit that topic, only to learn from it. Yes, we can learn when someone is mean to us. We’ve all had unhappy feelings when attacked. Maybe it’s a twinge in your chest or gut, a reflexive desire to lash out, a sense of unfairness, of being misunderstood. Maybe it’s all of those. Everyone has …

Read moreThe Truth About Criticism
Category: Career, Communication, Social MediaTag: Career, Criticism

You Might As Well Face It, You’re Addicted to Input

By Dan Balowon February 9, 2016
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With great fear of being sued by Robert Palmer for messing with his song lyrics: You like to think that you’re immune to the stuff…oh yeah It’s closer to the truth to say you can’t get enough You know you’re gonna have to face it You’re addicted to love INPUT. Publishing is such a subjective field of endeavor that at one point or another an author, editor or …

Read moreYou Might As Well Face It, You’re Addicted to Input
Category: Career, Communication, Editing, The Writing Life, Writing CraftTag: Career, Input, The Writing Life

Deadlines: Pre-Emptive Strike

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon January 28, 2016
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Last week I wrote about a process on how to manage deadlines. Despite our best efforts, events may put us awry. To avoid this, eliminate overconfidence. When you see a contract and the advance – one you may desperately need, you may be tempted to say, “You know what? I really don’t need to go to the beach this year. I’ll write all summer instead.” Or, “Sure, I can write 3,000 words a day, seven …

Read moreDeadlines: Pre-Emptive Strike
Category: Career, CraftTag: Career, Deadlines

Tossed by the Ocean of Emotion

By Steve Laubeon January 25, 2016
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It is hard to be a writer or to work in the publishing industry. Everyone defines success differently and we strive to meet those expectations at every turn. Often we let “success” define us, especially when a writer is told “You are only as good as the sales of your last book.” Or an agent is told, “You are only worth the value of your last contract.” Henri Nouwen, in his book The Return of the …

Read moreTossed by the Ocean of Emotion
Category: Art, Career, Get Published, RejectionTag: Career, Get Published, Rejection

Meet Deadlines with Simple Math

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon January 21, 2016
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During your publishing journey you may have the delightful problem of too many deadlines. You may have to ask yourself if you can accept another contract because you’re so busy. I’ve advised many clients about this over the years, taking them from panic to peace. Simple math can help. Determine time Look at all your contracts and how much time you have to write the books. Calculate how many days …

Read moreMeet Deadlines with Simple Math
Category: Career, CraftTag: Career, Deadlines

I Hate the Church (?)

By Karen Ballon January 6, 2016
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Wow. Another year ended, another new year begun. As I considered what to say about 2015, something struck me: I heard more hard words from believers in 2015 than ever before. No, not “hard words” as in hard things the Lord told people to say. Just hard words. Words spiked with negativity, frustration, even a tinge of hatred. I’m a PK. A preacher’s kid. What’s more, I’m a PGK—a preacher’s grandkid. …

Read moreI Hate the Church (?)
Category: Career, TheologyTag: Career, Theology

Tomorrow Starts Now

By Dan Balowon January 5, 2016
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1956 was an interesting year (other than the year of my birth).  There were wars and rumors of wars, great music, movies, books, political campaigning, controversy involving Islamic control of various nations and trouble in the Middle East. Sound familiar? Woody Guthrie’s song “This Land is Your Land” was popular, Norman Vincent Peale’s book on The Power of Positive Thinking was still hot and …

Read moreTomorrow Starts Now
Category: Career, TheologyTag: Career, God's Will, Theology
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