Member Spotlight: hope*writer Caleb Ward

At hope*writers, we love to highlight our members and their writing progress, and this month we’re celebrating fiction writer Caleb Ward.

We asked Caleb to tell us about his writing journey as a hope*writer. Here’s Caleb’s story in his own words.

When did you first realize that you are a writer?

When I was little . . . . I would create characters and stories in my head, a process I called imaginating. Those characters stuck with me, and when I was in high school, I started writing some of them down. I quickly fell in love with storytelling through the page.

What is the value of having a community of writers to come alongside you?

Community is so important because we encourage and hold each other accountable. When my novel was rejected for publication the first time, I wanted to give up on the book. Instead, I got encouragement from my peer hope*circle and kept working on it. Within three months, I had a publishing contract with the same publisher that rejected me.

Why is hope*writers the right community for you?

I love hope*writers because the culture is wonderful. The very intentional hard work put into making hope*writers feel welcoming makes me love being a part of this community.

The hope*circles, both peer and guided, have been instrumental in forming relationships, having accountability, and making progress.

To learn more about Caleb’s writing, you can visit his website or find him on Instagram.

Caleb’s big win after joining hope*writers was to publish his first novel. When asked where he sees himself in one year, he said, “Preparing to publish my second novel!” Congratulations, Caleb!

Are you a fiction writer who feels alone in the writing life? Wherever you are on the writing journey, we’re here to help. Here’s the good news: there's a path to making progress, and you're already on it. Take our short quiz to discover your writing stage.