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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 » Writing Craft » Page 9

Writing Craft

Ask Me Anything

By Steve Laubeon July 17, 2017
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With Summer in full mid-form and some planning the rest of their year’s writing efforts, I thought it might be a good chance for you to post below any question you might have about the publishing business.

Editing? Proposals? Why so many rejections? How does it all work? Will Amazon doom us all? Are bookstores dying? etc. I only ask that you keep within the topic of writing and publishing. I can’t solve your calculus homework. I won’t comment on political debate. And while I might like to weigh in on the Kenotic Theory regarding Jesus’ incarnation, it would not be a good fit for this blog.

Some may be answered below. Some may be saved for a longer blog post later this Summer. Be aware that some questions may not be able to be properly answered in a short post.

I recently did a “Ask Me Anything” session at a writers conference. It was scheduled for an hour. The fifty people who attended had a lot of questions and it lasted three hours (with me losing my voice by the end)!

Please let us help you on your journey.

You can also ask more than one question. There isn’t a limit.

 

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Category: Agents, The Publishing LifeTag: publishing, questions, Writing Craft

Should I Use Song Lyrics in My Writing?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon July 13, 2017
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While catching up on newspaper reading, I ran across an article about movie soundtracks and how uneven they can be. The article’s author offered praise for some for adding atmosphere, while opining that the soundtrack took away from other movies. But what about books? Do song lyrics offer atmosphere, or add to characterization? In my opinion, song lyrics are more problematic than they’re worth, …

Read moreShould I Use Song Lyrics in My Writing?
Category: Craft, Writing CraftTag: Song Lyrics, Writing Craft

How to Write Better Novels

By Steve Laubeon June 26, 2017
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The Christian Writers Institute is excited to announce a new book by Kathy Tyers called, Writing Deep Viewpoint: Invite Your Readers Into Your Story. (releasing July 14th.) It is one of few fiction craft books to explore the topic of writing the deep point-of-view. Here is what bestselling author Davis Bunn has to say about it: There is no single component of the writing craft as vital to good …

Read moreHow to Write Better Novels
Category: Book Review, Craft, Writing CraftTag: Book Review, Deep POV, Writing Craft

Writing Cinematically: 10 Movie Techniques to Apply to Your Novel 

By Guest Bloggeron June 19, 2017
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Our guest blogger today is Deborah Raney. We have had the fun of working together since I first became an agent. It also happens that while at Bethany House I was one of the first to review the proposal which became her first novel, A Vow to Cherish, (the inspiration for the World Wide Pictures film of the same title) and launched Deb’s writing career. Twenty years and thirty-plus books later, …

Read moreWriting Cinematically: 10 Movie Techniques to Apply to Your Novel 
Category: Craft, Writing CraftTag: Cinematic Technique, Craft, Writing Craft

How to Ruin Beloved Characters

By Karen Ballon June 14, 2017
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Did you all read Steve’s post about Edgy Christian Fiction? An excellent post, and one that addressed vitally important issues for us as Christian who write. So why am I writing about it when Steve dealt with it so well. Because last night I experienced the ugly effects of edginess on characters I have enjoyed and loved. First, let me say that I know my experience has nothing to do with …

Read moreHow to Ruin Beloved Characters
Category: Writing CraftTag: Characters, Edgy, Writing Craft

Choosing Your Words Wisely, Part 2

By Dan Balowon May 2, 2017
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Here are some of my all-time favorite jokes: To get to the other side. Hugh and only Hugh can stamp out florist friars. Silly Rabbi, kicks are for Trids! Oh, my baking yak! Minnie was called, but Chew was frozen. I better run this through again! Give me a couple of eggs. Place one of these on every corner and wait for my signal! After all these years, those jokes still make me laugh. What? …

Read moreChoosing Your Words Wisely, Part 2
Category: Craft, CreativityTag: Language, Writing Craft

Are You Sure You Want to Write Great Literature?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon April 27, 2017
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“′Classic′ – a book which people praise and don’t read.” – Mark Twain At my college preparatory school, our vacations weren’t unfettered thanks to “Summer Reading” that required us to read four books during break. Our list going from seventh to eighth grade was limited to four books so we had no choices. I only remember two – Pride and Prejudice and The Oxbow Incident. I’m sure none of …

Read moreAre You Sure You Want to Write Great Literature?
Category: Reading, The Writing LifeTag: Reading, Writing Craft

Choosing Your Words Wisely, Part 1

By Dan Balowon April 25, 2017
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There are a number of reasons for the apparent decrease in reading in the world, from attention-span changes brought on by reader’s addiction to various “screens” to climate change. But it might simply be a vocabulary problem. The first time this concept came to me was about 25 years ago in a New York City taxi when a very talkative driver and I discussed local sports, politics and society in …

Read moreChoosing Your Words Wisely, Part 1
Category: Craft, CreativityTag: Creativity, Vocabulary, Writing Craft

Writing the Deeper Story

By Dan Balowon March 21, 2017
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I realize this will probably date me, but I sincerely enjoyed a popular radio feature by Paul Harvey called, “The Rest of the Story.” I assume some reading this post today also remember it. For generations, the venerable radio commentator, who passed away in 2009 at the age of 90, told a little known story about a well-known person or event, only revealing the subject of the story at the end of …

Read moreWriting the Deeper Story
Category: Craft, Creativity, Encouragement, Inspiration, Marketing, TheologyTag: Inspiration, Writing Craft

Remove the Barriers in Fiction

By Karen Ballon February 15, 2017
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Few things empower fiction better than well developed characters. Which is why you don’t want to create unintentional barriers between your characters and your readers. What barriers, you ask? Well, here’s one that affects POV characters: John knew he was about to learn something important. Do you see it? The barrier? No? How about here… Sally realized she wasn’t getting it at all. This barrier is …

Read moreRemove the Barriers in Fiction
Category: Craft, Writing CraftTag: fiction, Writing Craft
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