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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 » Communication

Communication

Diligence Is Rewarded

By Steve Laubeon September 28, 2020
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The ease of today’s communication brings a casual layer to the task of writing. Careful composition is a casualty of the need for speed. “Throw-away” emails and posts are the new “quick call.” However, it should never leak into the business of writing, either in craft or in professional communication.

The other day I received an email query. There was a very large file attached and the body of the email read, “Here is my book. Please take a look.” No signature line and no subject line. Only these two sentences. At least it rhymed. This was not a friend, a client, or someone I had ever met. The casual, even flippant, nature of the note all but said, “I’m not serious about the craft or business of writing.”

The best writers are those who take their ideas and their words and run them through a gauntlet of critique and reformation. They pour their words into a garlic press and slice and dice them into bits that can flavor their entire book.

This takes time. This takes hard work. And it is a process that seems endless.

You writers out there know what I’m talking about. It is the middle part of the project that is the worst. It becomes a slog instead of a joy. You no longer like the story, you no longer think your book idea is a good one after all. If you are writing a novel, you might be wishing for the demise of your main character; it would be so much easier to have that character croak so you could write “the end” and be done with it.

But diligence has its reward. A finely crafted book can bring hope to those who are hurting. A well-told story can take a reader to a place they’ve never been before. As one writer said, “A book is a place where you can consider an explosive idea without fear of it going off in your face.”

Those words you struggle to express will be a gift for someone who is struggling to express their own.

So as you wrestle with your writing demons, remember the word “diligence.” Write it on a Post-it note and place where you will see it regularly.

Samuel Johnson wrote, “What we hope ever to do with ease, we must first learn to do with diligence.”

Second Peter 1:5-7 says, “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.”

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Category: Book Proposals, Communication, Craft, Pitching, The Writing Life, Writing CraftTag: Communication, Craft, Diligence, Writing Craft

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

Barriers to Effective Communication

By Steve Laubeon June 8, 2020
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By Steve Laube

It has been said that ninety percent of all problems in the universe are failures in communication. And the other ten percent are failures to understand the failure in communication. In the publishing business, or any business for that matter, this is so true. There are a couple common barriers to effective communication, assumption and expectation.

But I Assumed

Often …

Read moreBarriers to Effective Communication
Category: Book Business, Career, Communication, Writing CraftTag: Communication, e-mail, Gossip, Internet Usage

How Can You Manage So Many Clients?

By Steve Laubeon March 23, 2020
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by Steve Laube

I am frequently asked this question. It is perfectly understandable as many agencies carry a sizeable list of clients. A prospective client or even an existing one wonders, “Will this agent or agency have time for me?”

We post a list of our clients on the web site because we are honored to work with so many gifted people. Not every agency makes their client list public. It …

Read moreHow Can You Manage So Many Clients?
Category: Agency, Book Business, CommunicationTag: Authors, Clients, Communication, Too many clients?

Markets are Different Than You Think

By Dan Balowon February 13, 2018
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Last week I addressed the issue of trying to be too specific or too general in identifying a reader-market and the need to continually address new generations. Today, let’s discuss the culture in the United States and the Christian writer. Here are some unavoidable things to keep in mind as you write: Ours is an “entertainment culture” where all forms of diversion are more important than just …

Read moreMarkets are Different Than You Think
Category: Communication, Marketing, The Writing LifeTag: Audience, Communication, readers, The Writing Life

The Challenge for American Christian Authors

By Dan Balowon September 26, 2017
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The majority of Christian books published every year are written in English by authors in the United States. U.S. Christian publishers in a billion dollar industry publish many thousands of new titles every year. Still, I am not sure all American authors who desire to have their books spread across the globe and translated into various languages have the credentials nor the global insight to be …

Read moreThe Challenge for American Christian Authors
Category: Communication, Publishing History, The Publishing Life, The Writing LifeTag: Christian, Communication, Culture, Faith, The Writing Life

Too Much Communication with Your Agent?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon August 10, 2017
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Some authors ask me if they share too much. If you’re asking, you probably aren’t! In my opinion, most authors connect the right amount, or if anything, err on the side of not communicating enough. You might ask: Too much information? Not for me. I once heard a sermon that everyone needs to hear something eight times to remember it. I don’t mind hearing about something critical eight times, …

Read moreToo Much Communication with Your Agent?
Category: Agents, CommunicationTag: Agents, Communication

Great Customer Service

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon August 11, 2016
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Last week I blogged about a poor experience I had with a hotel, comparing it to a great experience with a different property. This week, I offer a few more tips on how writers can meet and exceed expectations in customer service. Answer in Person I was interested in a particular clothing line and called ahead to the store since it was located in the next state. Excellent customer service point …

Read moreGreat Customer Service
Category: Career, Communication, EditingTag: Career, Communication

You Say Tomato, I Hear Guacamole, Parte Dos (Part 2)

By Dan Balowon August 9, 2016
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A while ago I made a weak attempt at humor with my post about hearing something different than was spoken to me. Today is part two on a similar theme, getting serious this time about understanding something different than was actually communicated. Through this process you might get a glimpse into the heart and mind of non-Christian and even some Christian readers as well. To be blunt, Christians …

Read moreYou Say Tomato, I Hear Guacamole, Parte Dos (Part 2)
Category: Christian, Communication, CraftTag: Christian, Communication

Not So Great Customer Service

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon August 4, 2016
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In publishing, all of us are really in Customer Service. The agent serves the writer. The writer serves the editor. The editor serves the publisher. The publisher serves the reader. Of course, there’s lots of overlap, but you get the idea. Recently I had a not-so-great customer service experience when I tried to check into a hotel early thanks to a morning flight, a situation I could not control. …

Read moreNot So Great Customer Service
Category: Career, Communication, EncouragementTag: Career, Communication
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