Helping to Change the World…Word by Word
The Steve Laube Agency
Helping to Change the World Word by Word
To make your book successful, you need a team of around 20 people working in sync. The result is a work of art!
Today’s video is a great picture of what it looks like!
[If you cannot see the video in your newsletter, please click through to the site to view it.]
Some scenes have plenty happening—but still don’t work. Wait. What? How can that be? The characters are moving. Talking. Discovering things. Maybe somebody is even running for her life. But the scene feels rushed. Or heavy. Or weirdly distant. So, what’s the problem? Well, often it simply boils down to balance. Let’s look at that. Most scenes contain some combination of three things: Action. …
I was once asked this question: Are today’s publishers more interested in an individual novel or a trilogy? Also, when submitting a proposal for the completed first novel in a planned trilogy, is it better to focus on the first novel or give an overview of the complete trilogy? Is there an upper limit to how many books should be in a series? Stand Alone Versus Series There is no firm “rule” …
The work of a stenographer or court reporter is an art. Today’s video introduces some basic elements of their work and the keyboard they use. Did you know that the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) and federal courts require a minimum speed of 225 wpm with high accuracy (usually 95% to 98%) to get certified or hired? I can’t remember a time in my life when I typed anything …
Maybe you’ve seen those lists or surveys on social media asking you to check every city you’ve visited or how many old-timey things you’ve done (“used a rotary phone,” “heard of a rotary phone,” “have scars from using a rotary phone,” etc.). Well, here’s one for writers. How many of the following twenty marks of a writer can you claim? a strong opinion on the Oxford comma multiple (currently …
Years ago, I taught on Luke 18:1-5 (verses below, click here for the audio of the class) about the parable of the persistent widow and developed some thoughts that might be pertinent to you today. In our world, commerce is based on the idea of a transaction. I give you something (like money), and you give me something in return (like a service or a product). We are immersed in this concept. Give = …
Today’s video is a vivid word picture of what it looks like when you fling your proposal out into the market, only to have it come back to you… where you cradle it with both love and humiliation. [If you cannot see the video in your newsletter, please click through to the site to view it.]
In my opinion, the most powerful part of a persuasive piece of writing is the application for the reader. A writer may be brilliant in identifying a problem and even present a solution. But if it doesn’t change a mind or soften a heart, it was an intellectual exercise, albeit a brilliant one. While that statement may be simplistic, I think you get my “persuasive” point. When a writer comes to the …
Just driving along and thinking, Could I make this lawnmower into a tank? Sure. Perfectly normal thinking. Then he did something about it. Enjoy today’s video! Could your next brainstorm become a reality by using the gifts and talents you have? [If you cannot see the video in your newsletter, please click through to the site to view it.]
As you can imagine, publishers consider titles carefully. Many hold titling meetings to arrive at the best decision. This care is well placed. Avid readers rarely say, “Who cares about a book title?” Granted, fame might allow an author to publish under any title. I remember perusing library books to find no plot summary or any information other than the author’s name and book title. The author’s …
