Steve Laube of the Steve Laube Agency has graciously agreed to be my very first interviewee. Quite an honor!—for him of course. Just Kidding! Steve is my agent and I’m grateful he answered the questions so candidly.

1.) Q: You’ve had your own agency (www.stevelaube.com) for awhile now. What are the most common reasons you’ve found for rejecting a proposal?

A: Bad writing. Pure and simple. So many people have not taken the time to develop their craft or have a blind spot in thinking their material is ready.

2.) Q: Okay, on the flipside, what makes you do a double take? How do you know if an author has that “magic” you’re looking for?

A: With novels it is the power of the story. Sometimes the craft isn’t quite there, but the story itself is extremely compelling. Conversely there are times where the craft is great but the story itself is boring.

3.) Q: Agents are as different in their approach to clients as editors are. As you work with an author to develop an idea, how involved do you become in the creative process? In other words, how much do you meddle?

A: I try to help the author create something that will wow an editor when they see the proposal for the first time. Editors want something 90-95% ready for the market and they have the luxury of waiting for that to land on their desk. I’m forever pushing back a proposal or sample chapters to an author and giving them input to bring it to the next level. I’ve even occasionally written, “I know you can do better than this.”

Just last week I called an author after they sent me a half-baked proposal. I said, “This feels like you threw it together in a half hour without giving it much thought.” They weakly replied, “Well, actually it was more like fifteen minutes.” The author was feeling the need to put something…anything in my hands and hoped I wouldn’t notice. Life and time pressures had created turmoil for this person and their writing career has been suffering. This gave us time to talk through this, for me to provide some encouragement and some needed chastisement. The author will go back to the drawing board and realize that there isn’t any pressure coming from me.

4.) Q: Do you consider first time authors as clients?

A: Absolutely. The door is always open. I currently have eleven clients who are first time authors. Of those eleven, seven have been contracted…the other four have projects circulating with publishers right now.

5.) Q: Your website says part of your goal is to help guide the careers of your clients, how do you do that?

A: Every client has different needs. I am a bit of a teacher, coach, parent, pastor, or drill sergeant depending on the circumstances.

One of the biggest challenges for a writer is the subtleties of the industry. I’ve been in the book business for over 24 years and it is a constant battle to stay on top of the shifts. Just this morning I received an e-mail from a publisher, responding to one of my questions, saying that they are wanting to re-enter the fiction side of publishing again. This is a significant shift that isn’t even on the industry radar yet. An author would rarely hear this kind of “insider” information.

Often a writer feels restless and wonders if the grass is greener at another publisher. These questions are important to be discussed as we strategize the next step in their career.

6.) How many proposals do you receive in a week, and of these how many would you say are signed with The Steve Laube Agency?

A: We average around 30 or more queries and proposals each week. We actually represent less than 1% of what we see.

A while ago I decided to count what was received in one seven day period. In one week I received seven proposals from existing clients, four proposals from previously published authors who were seeking new or first time representation, and thirty unsolicited proposals or queries from first time writers. The seven have priority because they are existing clients. Each needs to be read, evaluated, critiqued and eventually put into a presentation package.

The four take next place because each has a history of success. Of those we selected one for representation.

The other thirty also went through the review process. Of those, one has possibilities, but still needs work to push its way onto our roster. A letter went to that person with suggested comments. The other 29 received rejection letters.

That was one week. It took about a month to process everything received in that one week.

7.) Q: Can you give prospective clients some hints that might keep their proposal out of the slush pile?

A: Be a student of the craft. Go to conferences, join a good critique group, read books on the craft and books that are competitive to yours. It takes a long time for all of this to bear fruit. It is like earning a college degree while working full time.

Tracey, you told me that you and your friend Christine attended a conference where I spoke in 1998. You were both working on writing romance and at the time I worked for Bethany House and wasn’t looking for romance novels. Yet you still sat in the classes and picked up a few hints here and there about the industry and the writing process. You talked to me briefly but never sent me a proposal. It wasn’t until summer 2003, after I had become an agent, when you and I first talked about working together. This is a five year snapshot. So many writer’s think they’ll land an agent or a publisher at the first conference they ever attend. It can happen, but it is very rare (they end up making great stories because they are so unique). Jack Cavanaugh attended writers conferences and worked at his writing for 10 years before he sold his first novel. Now he is a full time writer. Ten years…..

7.) Q: Okay, Steve. You’ve been a sport to answer these questions, here is the biggest, most important question of all…. Who is your favorite client? Come on, pony up. Let’s hear it.

A: Chuck Holton, because as a former Army Ranger he knows fifteen ways to maim me with a dinner napkin. Karen Ball, because is a great writer, but also the Executive Editor for Zondervan Fiction…I’m not stupid. Tracey Bateman, because she is sweet, demure, and sends me 12,000 e-mails every week.

For anyone seeking publication, the waiting, wishing, dreaming process can be torture! This section is devoted to those writers who have not yet received that coveted “call” from a publisher.

Meet Debra Ullrick, a not-yet-published author

1.) Q: What do you write? Genre, length, etc.

A: I mostly write Christian romantic suspense. But I also write contemporary and historical romance. Depending on the publishing house I’m targeting, my novels range from 55K and 75K. I also write short stories (800 to 3500 words)

2.) Q: When did you decide you were going to pursue publication?

A: At first it was because I had a large credit card debt I wanted to pay off. Then the more I fellowshipped with other writers, the stronger my love for writing grew. Eventually my goals and dreams changed. It was no longer about paying off the credit card. I found myself wanting to bless others, as so many of my favorite authors have blessed me with wonderful stories of faith, love, and happiness. And entertainment.

3.) Q: What steps have you taken to learn the craft of writing?

A: The first step was, I found some Christian authors, whose books I enjoyed, online and contacted them. (Jeri Odell and Lyn Coleman) Lyn directed me to the ACFW site, which I joined immediately. There I discovered many published authors who were more than willing to share their time, talents, and wisdom with a new writer like myself. They encouraged me to write, write, and write, and to not give up. Several people on the ACFW took me under their wings and mentored me. Many authors suggested that I spend time learning my craft. So I invested in “how to write” books, and writing tools, such as: The Christian Manual of Style, Roget’s 21st Century Thesaurus, Super Thesaurus, a Flip Dictionary, On Writing by Sol Stein, Make Your Words Work by Gary Provost, and many more.

In September of last year, I attended the ACFW conference in Denver, attended as many workshops as I could cram in, and purchased several workshop CD’s.

I joined a critique group, and also completed a Writer’s Digest course.

4.) Q: Do you have a “day” job? How many hours per week do you spend writing?

A: My day job IS writing. On an average week, I probably spend fifty hours writing. I’ve learned in order to meet the writing goals I set for myself, I have to turn the ringer off of the phone and concentrate on writing. Sometimes my goal is to write a chapter in my WIP. Other times it is to edit a certain chapter or chapters. This helps me stay focused and disciplined.

5.) What about rejections? Have you racked any up yet? What have you learned, experienced through the submitting process?

Yes. Being a member of the ACFW, I was prepared that God has a timing for everything. So, when the proposal I pitched at the Denver conference in September of 2004 was rejected, I was able to rest in the knowledge that it wasn’t God’s time for me yet. Rejection isn’t something to fear. It’s something to embrace. With it comes the desire to work harder, and to learn more. It helps you grow as a person and a writer. Now, I’ve learned to relax and enjoy the trip.

Sometimes as writers we get so caught up in trying to make our novel publishable that we forget to enjoy the thrill of the writing process.

Plus, I was proud of myself that I had pushed through the frustrations and hardships that come with being a new writer, and finished something I’d started. After all, how many people have manuscripts that they’ve started and have never finished?

The scariest thing for me was sending out that first story. I didn’t have a clue about how to write a query letter, cover letter, or synopsis.

6.) Q: Speak from the heart. What are your hopes, dreams, goals

A: My first reaction to this question is to respond in a religious manner, but to be really honest, I dream of someday seeing my name in print. My goal is to keep learning my craft and do the very best I can. My hope is that God will change my heart so that I desire to write solely for Him. I can honestly say that I’m not there yet. One day, I hope to embrace the talent God has given me and become a confident writer. (Not because of my own ability, but because of His ability in me.)

7.) Q: Who are your favorite authors? Books?

A: I have many favorites. My very favorite authors are: Tracey V. Bateman, Gail Sattler, Lyn Cote, Cheryl Wolverton, Cathy Marie Hake, Terry Fowler, Andrea Boeshaar, Jeanne Marie, Rene Gutteridge, and LeAnne Hill.

Some of my top favorite books are: Leave It To Claire, Torey’s Prayer, Laney’s Kiss, Emily’s Place, all by Tracey V. Bateman, Angel in the Saloon by Jeanne Marie, A Family For Kate by LeAnne Hill, Mixed Blessings by Cathy Marie Hake, Boo, and Boo Who by Rene Gutteridge, Through the Fire by Christine Lynxwiler, The Long Ride Home by Andrea Boeshaar, A Woman Named Damarius by Janette Oak, and A Kingdom Divided by Tracie Peterson.