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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 » Writers

Writers

Your Obligations to Yourself

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon April 12, 2018
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Anyone who writes books knows it’s not a sprint, but a journey. Here are some tips for staying on the path:

Allow Yourself Time

No matter where you are in your career, allow yourself time to write. Making time may be especially hard before you start seeing income from your work if for no other reason, because someone paying you to write is a form of validation. But the more you persist, the greater your chances are for success.

Take Yourself Seriously

If you’re still at the stage where your writing is a hobby, that’s fine. It’s even a natural part of the process. However, this is one hobby that you must treat as a job if you want it to blossom into a career. Once you’ve allowed yourself the time to write, stick to it. If the reason for not writing wouldn’t hold up with your supervisor at a traditional job, then don’t let that reason excuse yourself.

Commit to the Relationships You Need

You’d make friends at a traditional office, right? Spend some of your time forming meaningful friendships in our industry. This is one instance where social media is a great thing!

Decide on a Budget

Being self-employed has its freedoms but it also means a company won’t cover expenses such as conferences and office supplies. You don’t have to be wealthy to write, nor is it imperative for you to go to conferences to be published. But do go through the process of deciding how much you can spend, and where best to spend your money to further your career. This is one place where an agent can advise.

Ask Your Tax Advisor

Transitioning to a new tax situation can be tricky. I recommend consulting a professional at least one or two years to help you learn how to pay taxes as a self-employed person.

Call Yourself a Writer

Putting a label on yourself is the scariest part. However, who will take you seriously as a writer if you never call yourself one? Soon, the label will feel natural – and wonderful.

 

Your turn:

What advice can you offer writers?

What commitments have you made to yourself as an author?

Leave a Comment
Category: Career, The Writing LifeTag: Career, The Writing Life, Writers

Two Kinds of Writers in the World

By Bob Hostetleron April 11, 2018
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I often tell developing writers at conferences that there are two kinds of writers in the world: the “hobbyist” and the “professional.” Yes, it’s an oversimplification. It’s shorthand. But I think it gets the point across. Both the hobbyist and the professional may be good writers, even great. Both may often work hard. Both are valuable and worthy of admiration. Both may publish. But there is a …

Read moreTwo Kinds of Writers in the World
Category: Editing, Get Published, The Writing Life, Writing CraftTag: Career, Get Published, The Writing Life, Writers

Newsflash: Most Writers Don’t Make a Lot of Money

By Steve Laubeon September 14, 2015
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This past week the Author’s Guild released a survey revealing that 56% of their surveyed writers made less than the poverty line, when only counting writing revenue. Publisher’s Weekly reported the findings this way: “The survey, conducted this spring by the Codex Group, is based on responses from 1,674 Guild members, 1,406 of whom identified either as a full-time author, or a part-time one. The …

Read moreNewsflash: Most Writers Don’t Make a Lot of Money
Category: Career, Economics, MoneyTag: Career, Money, Writers

How Do You Know What Will (or Will Not) Sell?

By Steve Laubeon April 13, 2015
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There is a mysterious magic embedded in the mythos of the publishing industry…the ability to pick successful books. I was recently asked “You say ‘no’ so often, how do you know when to say ‘yes?’” I wish I could claim that every agent and publisher have a secret formula that we consult to know what will sell. Ask any group of us for that secret and we will all laugh because there is no “secret.” …

Read moreHow Do You Know What Will (or Will Not) Sell?
Category: Book Business, Book Proposals, Branding, Career, PlatformTag: Agents, book proposals, Career, Pitching, What Sells, Writers

10 Things Every Writer Should Do

By Karen Ballon April 16, 2014
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    I’m a list person. In part, that’s because said lists serve to bump my memory when it gets…um…lost. But I also just love lists—especially lists of things you should (or shouldn’t) do. So here, for your perusal, are my top ten things every writer should do every day: Stretch your word muscles. Learn a new word. Read a new writer. Do a crossword puzzle. Flip through the dictionary. Do the …

Read more10 Things Every Writer Should Do
Category: Career, Communication, Editing, Karen, The Writing Life, Writing CraftTag: The Writing Life, Writers

Wanted: More Choir Members

By Dan Balowon February 11, 2014
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Dan Balow

At some point in their writing career, many Christian authors express a desire to write a book that would reach the un-churched. That desire is a completely honorable and wonderful goal, just as any believer should desire to represent Christ in their lives in such a way that unbelievers would ask them questions about the hope that is in them. 

However, the inference by such …

Read moreWanted: More Choir Members
Category: Book Business, Creativity, Dan, Get Published, The Publishing Life, TrendsTag: Christian, publishing, Writers

The Writing Book for Your Year

By Steve Laubeon January 7, 2013
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by Steve Laube

Note the title of this post did not say “of the year” but “for your year.” It is rare for me to recommend books on writing because there are so many good ones out there, but this one is an exception.

The spiritual foundation of the writer is critical to surviving and even thriving in the call as an artist.  Acceptable Words: Prayers for the Writer (published by Eerdmans) …

Read moreThe Writing Book for Your Year
Category: Book Review, Faith, Reading, Steve, TheologyTag: Book Review, Faith, Reading, Writers

Proper Care and Feeding of …You!

By Karen Ballon December 12, 2012
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Thanks so much for all your thoughtful responses last week. I gained a great deal from reading and pondering them. This week, I’d like to take a look from the other side of the desk. As an author myself, I know how hard the writing gig is. And I know a LOT of authors, published and not, who have hit speed-bumps -or even felt like the Editor/Publisher/Agent semi just flattened them in the middle of …

Read moreProper Care and Feeding of …You!
Category: Agents, Book Business, Career, Craft, Karen, Writing CraftTag: Critique, help, Writers

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