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HAVE YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO WRITE A NOVEL, BUT YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START?


At hope*writers, we hear from writers like you every day: You want to make progress on your manuscript, but the magnitude of the project can feel overwhelming.

BEFORE DISMISSING YOUR DREAM OF WRITING A NOVEL, ASK YOURSELF THESE QUESTIONS:

  • Do you have a story you want to share with the world?
  • Have you been keeping notebooks with plot ideas and character sketches but can’t find the time to put it all together?
  • Are you overwhelmed by decisions about structure, point of view, and writing dialogue, and you're unsure how to create a compelling story?
  • Do you read stories by successful novelists and long to learn more about their process so you can make progress on your own work?

If you answered these questions with a confident “yes,” we have good news.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO STAY STUCK.

 

If you’ve been wanting to write a novel but haven’t taken action yet, you’re not alone. 

At hope*writers, we understand:

  • Calling yourself a writer can feel terrifying.
  • Setting aside your precious time to write fiction can feel indulgent.
  • Hearing people dismiss your “little writing project” hurts.
  • Figuring out how to bring together all the elements of a story can be confusing and overwhelming.

How do we know this?

Because we’ve experienced it in our own lives, and for the past six years, we’ve been helping writers just like you overcome these obstacles and make real progress on the writing path.

Every writer has to start somewhere. We believe you can make progress on your novel without high pressure or tight deadlines. 

There is a way to defeat overwhelm and start your novel with:

  • Connection and support instead of competition.
  • A clear understanding of your options so you can make decisions about your manuscript with confidence.
  • Practical insight and tips on craft from successful novelists who’ve been there.

That’s why we created an online course to help you get started!

HOW TO START YOUR NOVEL

How To Start Your Novel is a course designed to help you start your novel. Novel idea, huh? (Sorry, we couldn’t resist!)

Most writers struggle to get started because: 

  • They’re afraid of making a mistake.
  • They think they need to dedicate hours each day to their writing.
  • They get discouraged when they can’t keep up with the grueling schedule they created.

When it comes to writing, we believe your pace is your pace. 

Some writers will be able to whiz through the training content and write their novel in a month or two, while others may take years.

This isn’t a race or a competition. How To Start Your Novel is about providing the foundational training you need to make progress on your writing.

Whether you’ve been thinking about writing a novel for a long time, you’re serious about getting your novel published, or you just want to learn more about the mechanics of writing fiction, How To Start Your Novel is for you!

How To Start Your Novel includes:

  • Lifetime access to 10 exclusive teachings with well-known novelists who share tips and techniques that actually work.
  • A digital workbook with writing prompts and questions that correspond with each teaching.
  • Access to a private Facebook group and a supportive community that will help you make progress.
  • Live virtual events for Q&As with special guests throughout November.


Progress begins November 1st!

For only $29, you can join us throughout the month for the training and support you need to finally start your novel.

I'm ready to make progress!

SEE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS FROM . . .

CYNTHIA RUCHTI

Cynthia Ruchti tells stories hemmed in hope through award-winning novels, nonfiction, and speaking events for women. Her tagline undergirds everything she writes: "I can't unravel. I'm hemmed in hope." She and her grade-school-sweetheart husband live in the heart of Wisconsin, not far from their three children and six grandchildren.

BECKY WADE

Becky Wade makes her home in Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three children. She’s the Christy Award Book of the Year, INSPY Award, and Carol Award-winning author of heartwarming and humorous contemporary Christian romances.

SHAWN SMUCKER

Shawn Smucker is the award-winning author of These Nameless Things and Light from Distant Stars, the young adult novels The Day the Angels Fell and The Edge of Over There, and the memoir Once We Were Strangers. He lives with his wife and six children in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

JULIE CANTRELL

Julie Cantrell is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author and TEDx speaker whose work has earned literary acclaim across both the inspirational and general market. In addition to writing contemporary and historical fiction, creative nonfiction, children’s books, poetry, and essays, she served a two-year stint as editor-in-chief of the Southern Literary Review and currently works as a developmental editor, book coach, copywriter, and ghostwriter across numerous genres.

FRANCINE RIVERS

Francine Rivers continues to win both industry acclaim and reader loyalty around the globe. She is the New York Times bestselling author of the novel Redeeming Love, and its spinoff products, A Path to Redeeming Love: A Forty-Day Devotional and Redeeming Love: The Companion Study. Her other bestsellers include A Voice in the Wind and The Masterpiece. Her books have been translated into more than 30 different languages, and she has been featured in Christianity Today, Today's Christian Living, CBN.com, and many other outlets.

MORGAN BUSSE

Morgan L. Busse is a writer by day and a mother by night. She is the author of the critically acclaimed Follower of the Word series, The Soul Chronicles, and the award-winning Ravenwood Saga. When she’s not writing, she enjoys games, taking long walks, and dreaming about her next novel.

STEVEN JAMES

Steven James is the critically- acclaimed author of 17 novels. He is a contributing editor to Writer’s Digest Magazine and is the author of Story Trumps Structure and Troubleshooting Your Novel. When he’s not working on his next novel, Steven teaches Novel Writing Intensive retreats across the country with New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni. Steven’s latest book is a near-future sci-fi thriller called Synapse.

TONI SHILOH

Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and multi-published Christian contemporary romance author. She writes to bring God glory and learn more about His goodness. Her novel, Grace Restored, was a 2019 Holt Medallion finalist, and Risking Love was a 2020 Selah Award finalist.

ARIEL LAWHON

Ariel Lawhon is a critically acclaimed New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction. She is the author of The Wife, the Maid, and the Mistress; Flight of Dreams; I Was Anastasia; and Code Name Hélène. Her books have been translated into numerous languages and have been Library Reads, One Book One County, Indie Next, Costco, Amazon Spotlight, and Book of the Month Club selections. She lives in the rolling hills outside Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband and four sons. Ariel splits her time between the grocery store and the baseball field.

SUSAN MEISSNER

Susan Meissner is a USA Today bestselling novelist with more than half a million books in print in 15 languages. Her critically acclaimed and award-winning works of historical fiction have been named to numerous lists, including Publishers Weekly’s annual roster of 100 best books, Library Reads Top Picks, the Real Simple annual tally of best books, Booklist’s Top Ten, and Book of the Month. She lives in Southern California with her husband and their yellow lab, Winston.

WHAT FICTION WRITERS ARE SAYING ABOUT HOW TO START YOUR NOVEL:

 

ALICIA WORELY PALACIOS

"After listening to the unbelievably helpful interviews, I have a better sense of what to do before I start writing the novel. The authors answered questions I didn’t know I had, and their answers gave me a sense of what I want to do next. I am less likely to get discouraged having heard what successful writers have done to reach their goals (and how long it has taken them). I feel so much more equipped to do the hard stuff, thanks to the resources shared."

ERIN BOJARZIN

“The interviews were so ENCOURAGING! Thank you for leading this and coordinating such a great lineup of authors. It was so inspiring to hear how the different authors got started and to hear the challenges they encountered along the way. It can be easy to think they have it all together since they are accomplished, well-known authors, but it was so refreshing hearing them talk about all the work and challenges that went into publishing their books. I also loved the specific questions about writing that helped me understand more of the craft (how to write good openings, character development, first vs. third person, etc.).”

CARRIE FISHER

“I felt encouraged that every writer's path to success is very unique. While there are great road maps, our skills, connections, and journey may look entirely different than another person. So I feel more empowered to just write and see where it takes me.”

FAQs

If you don’t see your question answered here, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].

HOW TO START YOUR NOVEL INCLUDES:


Lifetime access to 10 teachings with well-known novelists.

A digital workbook with questions and writing prompts.

Access to a private Facebook group.

Live virtual events throughout November.

For only $29

The course begins: November 1st
Last day to join: November 5th

At some point, if you’re serious about your writing, you’ll need to invest in your growth as a writer. If you invest at the beginning of your journey, you set yourself up for long-term success because you know where your work is headed and how you’ll get there.

Stop procrastinating and searching for support — we’re here to help. Start writing your novel today!

Sign me up!