At hope*writers, we love to highlight our members and their writing progress. This month, we’re celebrating writer Ashley Olivine.

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

When did you first realize that you are a writer?

I had lunch with a publisher at a business retreat about four years ago. We chatted, and she encouraged me to share my story in her collaboration book. Hesitantly, I embarked on the journey. As the words spilled out of me, I realized there were people out there in need of what I had to offer. As soon as it was published, I knew I had to write a novel, but I still didn’t consider myself a writer. Joining hope*writers and diving in was when I started to actually call myself a writer. Before that, I didn’t really believe it.

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

My writing community is everything. It has helped me...

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...

At hope*writers, we love to highlight our members and their writing progress. This month, we’re celebrating nonfiction writer and hospice nurse Ellen Morgan.

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

When did you first realize that you are a writer?

Thinking back over my life, there were times of confirmation of my ability to write. In high school, my junior English teacher made positive comments on my papers that boosted my confidence. In college, one of my English professors read my writing aloud in class as an example of “good writing.” I didn’t believe it was that good, but he did. That was another huge affirmation for me. 

In 2003, I saw an ad about being a children’s writer through the Institute of Children’s Literature. It posed a question: “Do you have what it takes to be a children’s writer?” I sent in a piece about my embarrassing...

At hope*writers, we love to highlight our members and their writing progress, and this month we’re celebrating nonfiction writer Stephanie Lewis.

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

When did you first realize you were a writer?

Childhood — I wrote poems or letters and gave them to people I loved and/or looked up to. It was clear to me early on that I communicated best in writing.

What specific progress have you made since becoming a hope*writer?  

My big win is the confidence I have developed. I have known that I am a writer for most of my life. I just didn't dare say that out loud. Now, I am confident that the words I write are making a difference for people. I publicly admit to being a writer. That has opened doors for me in my local community. 

What membership benefit had the biggest influence on helping you make this progress? 

Guided...

We love to celebrate our members and their writing progress. Each month, we highlight a member whose work caught our attention, and this month we’re celebrating nonfiction writer Michelle Layer Rahal. To learn more about Michelle’s writing, you can visit her website or find her on Instagram and Facebook.

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

When did you first realize you were a writer?

I've been writing since I was a little kid. I remember my 6th grade teacher telling me to become an author. Instead, I went into radio newscasting, then into the field of education, where I worked on state and federal studies. I love conducting interviews, doing research, and working with data, then turning it into a story that is comprehensible for everyone. 

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

It has been AMAZING! I put off joining hope*writers for...

At hope*writers, we love to celebrate our members and their writing progress. Each month, we highlight a member whose work caught our attention, and this month we’re celebrating nonfiction writer Amanda Dzimianski. To learn more about Amanda’s writing, you can visit her website or find her on Instagram and Twitter.

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

When did you first realize you were a writer?

During a drive in 2018 when I listened to episode five of The Next Right Thing podcast, called "Offer Your Work With Hope." I suddenly realized that I didn't have to fight against the desires I'd carried in my heart since childhood, when I dreamed of a career writing books. I could accept those desires as part of who I am, and who I am meant to be.

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

Priceless. When I get bogged down by my own doubts, there...

To learn more about Becky’s writing, you can visit her website or find her on Instagram and Twitter. 

At hope*writers, we love to celebrate our members and their writing progress. Each month, we highlight a member whose work caught our attention, and this month, we’re celebrating nonfiction writer Becky Beresford.

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

When did you first realize you were a writer?

I have always been a journaler, but I never thought I would be an actual writer — sharing my words on display for others to see. But after I became a mama, something inside of me shifted. I had spent the previous seven years of my life doing women's ministry in different forms, and my heart was still very passionate about women. But I just couldn't meet in person much anymore. That's when God laid the idea on my heart to try writing to them instead . . . As it turns out, I...

At hope*writers, we love to celebrate our members and their writing progress. Each month, we highlight a member whose work caught our attention, and this month we’re celebrating nonfiction writer Torrie Sorge.

We asked Torrie to tell us about her writing journey as a hope*writer. Here’s Torrie’s story in her own words. To learn more about Torrie’s writing, you can visit her website or find her on Instagram.

When did you first realize you were a writer?

I first knew I enjoyed writing in high school. Over the years, I dabbled with writing as a hobby. In January 2021, I first typed the words, "I am a writer."

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

Hope*writers has already proven to be invaluable in my writing journey. As I scroll through the hope*writers library, I find video after video, teaching after teaching, aimed at not only providing answers to questions, but equipping and encouraging me along the...

To learn more about Anna’s writing, you can visit her website or find her on Instagram.

At hope*writers, we love to celebrate our members and their writing progress. Each month, we highlight a member whose work caught our attention, and this month we’re celebrating nonfiction writer Anna Beard-Greeno.

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

When did you first realize you were a writer?

I have always loved writing, but didn’t start taking it seriously until about two years ago. I had just come to the end of a twenty-year homeschooling journey with my five children and was wondering, “Now what?” I started listening to Emily Freeman’s The Next Right Thing podcast and decided to start getting serious about my writing. The writing I do is nonfiction. My goal is to encourage others in their relationships with Jesus, others, and themselves through my writing.

...

To learn more about Erica’s writing, you can visit her website, check out her podcast, or find her on Instagram.

When hope*writer Erica D. Welch planned her first live online workshop on self-publishing, she wasn’t expecting that everything would go wrong all at once. Even after she lost her internet connection, had to move locations, forgot her microphone, and had family members drop in unexpectedly, she decided to view the experience not as a failure, but as valuable feedback for her next live event.

"Yesterday was as bad as it could get,” Erica wrote in our hope*writers Facebook group. “If you’ve recently experienced a ‘fail,’ look at it as valuable feedback for your next attempt. Press into the disappointment . . . then show up again." 

Erica has been showing up to write since she was a child, and she’s never given up. She’s always taken her writing seriously, and her family supported her writing...