fiction friyay!!!

Have you ever thought about writing fiction? Here's some great advice from Colleen Coble, CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers.  Colleen Coble: What Every Aspiring Fiction Writer Should Know   It's Fiction Friday!   Today, we get to hear from our friend, Colleen Coble, a USA TODAY bestselling author and the CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers. If you love story-telling or you've thought about writing, Colleen shared with us 10 Essentials Every Aspiring Fiction Writer Should Know. Plus, keep scrolling for some incredible deals on her books - save up to 60% off for one week only!   Expect rejections. The rejection isn't a personal thing either. The publishing house might have recently bought something similar or they don't publish the type of story you wrote.   While you're submitting your first novel, get started on the next. That's the biggest mistake I made in my career. I was so determined to get that first book published that I kept rewriting it instead of moving on to the next book. You learn to write by writing. Nothing can take the place of crafting the new story, then the next story.   Read extensively in the genre you want to write. You'll begin to understand the way a novel is constructed, how to write dialogue, etc.   Read books on craft. I'm always reading a book on craft. That's the really great thing about being a writer—you never arrive. There is always something new to learn. Some of my faves: Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell and Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass. A terrific video or audio instruction to get is Michael Hauge's The Hero's 2 Journeys.   Join a writing organization and attend at least one writer's conference a year. I highly recommend American Christian Fiction Writers. The conference is excellent, with nearly every editor and agent in Christian publishing in attendance. Great teaching and great opportunity to connect with others in the industry.   There is no "right" way to write. Some novelists construct scenes out of order. Some meticulously plot out everything. Some are seat-of-the-pants writers. Do what works for you. Try everything though to see what releases your creativity. I'm a seat-of-the-pants writer. I've tried plotting and it ruined the fun for me, but others would get hives at the thought of not having structure. We are all different.   Mine your experiences. My family knows nothing is sacred and just might end up in a book!   Utilize setting for the story's benefit. It's one of those layers that can really lift a novel out of the ordinary. You can use what's happening in your setting to help figure out the plot and to add texture and mood to your story.   Find a critique partner. My buddy, Denise Hunter, and I have been critique partners for 17 years! Even though we write different stories, I know what needs to go into her brand of story, and she knows what needs to go into mine. And brainstorming with another writer is a fabulous way to take a book to the next level.   Embrace the editing process. I adore getting feedback from my editor! You never know if you really got across what you thought you did until someone reads it. Don't assume suggestions mean "you did it wrong." The publishing process is a team effort. We all want the very best book, and those suggestions are a gold mine. Learn to love that process!   * * *   Your Turn   Do you love digging into a great novel? Are you an aspiring author? Come join the conversation! We want to hear from you! FICTION FRIDAY DEALS   Save up to 60% off for one week only!   Colleen's gripping romantic suspense novels in The Pelican Harbor Series    Book 1: One Little Lie Book 2: Two Reasons to Run Book 3: Three Missing Days 1 One Little Lie   Jane Hardy is appointed interim sheriff in Pelican Harbor, Alabama, after her father retires, but there's no time for an adjustment period. When her father is arrested for theft and then implicated in a recent murder, Jane quickly realizes she's facing someone out to destroy the only family she has. After escaping with her father from a cult fifteen years ago, Jane has searched relentlessly for her mother — who refused to leave — ever since. Could someone from that horrible past have found them? Hardcover was $26.99 Sale $16.19 (40% off) Buy Now Praise for One Little Lie   "Colleen Coble always raises the notch on romantic suspense, and One Little Lie is my favorite yet! The story took me on a wild and wonderful ride." ~ Diann Mills, bestselling author  2 Two Reasons to Run   A lie changed her world. Police Chief Jane Hardy is still reeling from the scandal that rocked her small-town department with one little lie. Now a crisis looms. A killer targets her son. Then the terrorist puts her son Will's life on the line. Protecting him could be the common ground they need... but then ghosts from the past threaten to ruin Jane and Reid for good. She's got plenty of reasons to run. But what if she stays? Hardcover was $26.99 Sale $10.80 (60% off) Buy Now Praise for Two Reasons to Run   "Colleen Coble's super power is transporting her readers into beautiful settings in vivid detail. One Little Lie is no exception. Add to that the suspense that keeps you wanting to know more, and characters that pull at your heart." ~ Terri Blackstock, USA TODAY bestselling author of If I Run    "Colleen Coble's latest has it all: characters to root for, a sinister villain, and a story that just won't stop." ~ Siri Mitchell, author of State of Lies   3 Three Missing Days   Three days of Jane's past are missing from her memory, and that's not all that has been stolen from her. As she works to find the woman's murdered and clear her son's name, finding out what happened in those three days could change everything. It all started with one little lie. But the gripping truth is finally coming out. Hardcover was $26.99 Sale $16.19 (40% off) Buy Now Praise for Three Missing Days   "Colleen Coble is my go-to author for the best romantic suspense today... a stay-up-all-night page turning story!" ~ Carrie Stuart Parks, bestselling and award-winning author of Relative Silence THERE'S MORE Save up to 60% off even more fiction deals in the store now for one week only! SHOP ALL FICTION DEALS *Sale price ends on 7/31/21 at 11:59 pm CST. Sale pricing exclude eBooks and audiobooks, unless otherwise noted.  You are subscribed to Faith.Full, the women's newsletter at FaithGateway Our mission is to help you grow and share your faith Copyright © 2021 HarperCollins Christian Publishing. All Rights Reserved. 501 Nelson Place, Nashville, TN 37214, USA Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions  *Manage Your Email Preferences or *Unsubscribe    Subscription Information This email was sent to Webmaster220 Bible Study Blog  *the blog owner has deleted the hyperlink intentionally