Today I welcome author Elva Cobb Martin, who is sharing why we should never give up -- whether it's a dream to publish our book, or something else God has called us to do.

My first novel contract, which was for my romantic suspense, Summer of Deception, took at lo-o-o-ng time coming. Hope this blog encourages you if you are a writer-in-waiting like I was for many years. Make the wait productive!

Here are what I consider five important steps to that elusive contract. I will only share in brief, for time’s sake. To get a full blog on each of these steps start Part one on my blog at https://bit.ly/3d4W1xf and go forward.
 
1) NEVER Give Up!
2) Hone Your Craft - a big, continuing step
3) Importance of Conferences and Writing Groups
4) Help Other Writers
5) Learn How to Submit to Editors and Agents 

Step 1 - NEVER GIVE UP
I researched and wrote the first draft of Summer of Deception thirty years before obtaining a contract. Of course, life took me 20 years off task after a call into the ministry for me and my husband. After retirement, I started rewriting and submitting it to publishers and agents. It was rejected 26 times.  Once published, it has spent time on Amazon’s 100 Bestsellers list for its genre.

Many may reject your ms, but someone will love it, if you don’t give up. Make up your mind you are committed for however long it takes and whatever it takes to get your book written, polished, sold, and marketed or indie published. Carve out praying time, writing time, reading time in your genre.

2) Hone your craft—a Big Continuing Step

Study writing craft, especially how to plot, how to show and not tell, and write in deep point of view (DPOV). For Summer of Deception I actually broke down the main plot into three plots:

The main romance plot between heroine Rachel and hero Luke, the suspense/mystery plot of who is smuggling drugs on the Charleston coastline, and what really happened to Rachel’s brother declared dead by the DEA, and the important spiritual plot of Luke’s struggle to regain faith and the testing of Rachel’s faith. Each of these has a beginning, middle an end.

3)Attend Conferences,Writing/Critique Groups, and Join Writing Blogs

There are many great conferences these days in person and online, great groups like ACFW and many good blogs to follow. Choose the best fit for you and your genre.

4) Help Other Writers.

The Bible’s promise of sowing and reaping work here. Help others obtain their writing goals and the Lord will help you do the same. Share writing goodies, be on launch teams, and write good reviews.

5) Learn How to Submit to Editors and Agents

Enough said. STUDY their submission guidelines and give them exactly what they want.

And here's a scripture promise for you that I often used to overcome discouragement.

Philippians 1:7  “Being confident of this very thing that He who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus’ Christ.”

Thanks for stopping by! What advice do you have to help someone who feels like giving up on their novel dream? Would love for you to leave a comment and share this blog.

Thank you, Donna, for having me share today!
 
Blessings,
Elva Cobb Martin 

About Elva: 

Elva Cobb Martin is a retired school teacher, a mother, and grandmother who lives in South Carolina with her husband and high school sweetheart. She grew up on a farm and spends many vacations on the Carolina Coast. Her southern roots run deep.

Elva has five published Christian historical romance novels available on Amazon. Her latest novel in the Charleston Brides series, The Sugar Baron’s Governess, is set to release August 23, 2022. She is busy working on the next novel in the series, The Lieutenant’s Secret Love.

The founder and former president of an ACFW South Carolina Chapter, Elva loves writer and critique groups and believe they really help one become published.

A life-long student of history, her favorite city, Charleston, inspires her stories of romance and adventure. Her love of writing grew out of a desire to share exciting love stories of courageous characters and communicate truths of the Christian faith to bring hope and encouragement. She always pauses for historic houses, gardens, chocolate, and babies of any kind.

Links

Amazon Link to all her books: https://amzn.to/3jdvHFu

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