Trends

News You Can Use

By Steve Laubeon August 2, 2011

45 Ways to Blog as a Novelist – Do you have blogger’s block? Here are some great tips for finding stuff to blog about.

Why You Are Receiving Rejections – Nathan Bransford weighs in and is both simple and profound.

Read Your Old Tweets – If you are an aggressive tweeter you’re stymied if you want to review your archives. The linked tool is an amazing way to pull them all into one document for your review. If you use Twitter like a diary it creates a timeline of your life.

What Should You Podcast About? – If you are thinking about adding a podcast to your marketing efforts read this article.

Find the Right Writers Group for You – A short article and a video from Joanna Penn. If you want to find out the Christian Writer’s groups in your area contact Reg Forder at American Christian Writers or ACFW (www.acfw.com).

iPhone app for 1500 Classic Books – A cool free app from Penguin Classics. Annotated descriptions of all 1500 titles in their collection and 65 quizzes for specific titles in the series.

Get the ESV Bible for Free – The English Standard Version is available for free in nearly every digital platform possible…for free.

The Ultimate Guide to Emoticons – Found at ChurchMag.com which is a really interesting place to visit.

Bon Voyage — or A New Adventure?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon July 28, 2011

On Monday, Barbour Publishing informed the industry that they will be discontinuing their Heartsong Presents imprint. After 18 years and 1,000 titles, it will end its run in December 2011. Publishing has always been fluid. Steve Laube says that it is important to stay flexible because “A publisher can dramatically change directions after a meeting on Tuesday.”

I never thought Heartsong …

Category: Get Published, Publishing A-Z, Tamela, TrendsTag: Agents, Get Published, Tamela, Trends

News You Can Use

By Steve Laubeon July 26, 2011

The Publishers Who Lost the Most When Border's Closed - The next time you criticize "traditional publishers" for their seemingly high prices and slow adoption of new technology, remember this list. Penguin/Putnam lost $41 million when Borders went bankrupt. Ouch.

Twenty-five Rejection Proof Markets - A clever article by James Watkins. I like #24. Proof that I can remain rejection …

Category: Book Business, News You Can Use, SteveTag: News, Publishing News, Trends

News You Can Use

By Steve Laubeon July 20, 2011

Winnie the Pooh's Cultural Dominance - A great slide show of the history of A.A. Milne's character growing into a phenomenon. Did you know he sold the rights to Pooh in 1931 for $1,000 and a % of licensing fees? Today the licensing generates $5.6 billion in annual revenue. Wow.

Free Magazine on Writing - The July issue of the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA).

Agent Andrew …

Category: Book Business, News You Can Use, SteveTag: News, Publishing News, Trends

The Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread?

By Steve Laubeon July 11, 2011

Guest Post by Teddi Deppner

Today debuts our first guest post. I first met Teddi at the Mt. Hermon Writers Conference while she sat through my Major Morning Track, listening patiently to 8 1/2 hours of lecture over four days. She has recently been asking some penetrating questions about technology and the publishing industry so I invited her to create a post and express those thoughts for …

Category: Book Business, E-Books, Guest Post, Publishing A-Z, TrendsTag: Book Business, Creativity, E-Books, Get Published, Ideas, Traditional Publishing, Trends

News You Can Use

By Steve Laubeon July 5, 2011

Would John Locke Be Better Off with a Traditional Publisher? - Mike Shatzkin analyzes the revenue of million copy e-book selling author John Locke. The math is fascinating. According to Shatzkin, the author is making less than $30,000 per book. It is highly likely a traditional publisher would pay him a lot more for his work. Read the post. You decide.

Twenty-five Rejection Proof Markets - A …

Category: Book Business, News You Can Use, SteveTag: Bookselling, Grammar, Marketing, Publishing News, Trends, Writing Craft

News You Can Use

By Steve Laubeon June 28, 2011

A $30 iPad...for kids? - take a look at the new anaPad. Have to admire the entrepreneur, even when the idea seems a little odd.

Twitter Profile Mistakes - Excellent advice for writers who tweet.

Andrew Wylie in the Wall Street Journal Magazine - See what this uberagent has to say about the future of publishing. Especially note his thoughts on the global market.

Would James Joyce have used …

Category: News You Can Use, SteveTag: News, Trends

Print: A Thing of the Past?

By Karen Ballon June 22, 2011

by Karen Ball

Remember the musical Oklahoma? Gordon MacRae singing to, of all people, Rod Steiger: "Poor Jud is daid, poor Jud Fry is daid..."

Well, the way folks have been talking lately, I'm waiting for the new musical, "Digital World," where a Gordon MacRae-esque editor will stand next to a book and sing out, "Poor print is daid, poor print books is daid, they're lookin' oh, so tattered …

Category: Book Business, Get Published, Publishing A-Z, TrendsTag: Print, publishing, Trends

Writing that Sings

By Karen Ballon June 10, 2011

Tweet8

As I've started the work of being an agent and building a client list, I've had a number of folks in different venues ask me what I'm interested in representing. So thought I'd address that here.

First and foremost, you need to know that I'm looking for books that share God's truth. I want to work with authors whose books will change lives. Who bring the depth and wealth of their own spiritual …

Category: Agency, KarenTag: Agents, Karen, Marketing, Pitching, Proposals, Trends