How to Write a Christian Book

Why should secular writers have all the fun? Why should they be the only ones to achieve a mainstream success? Up until now, Christian literature has been relegated to the Christian specialty shops or the tiny "religious" section of major book stores. Fortunately, the times are changing, and Christian writers and their books are seeing more and more time in the light of mainstream attention. Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins are the authors of the breakout "Left Behind" series, and there are more like them on the way. This article's goal is to show you how to write a Christian book and take your place among the new generation of successful Christian authors.

This article assumes you have an idea of what you want to write about, so we'll go to the first point: Write an outline. Fiction or non-fiction, you have to know where your book is going to end up. Make a chapter list, which is simply a list of major things you want to touch on. For each chapter, write 15-18 things to have happen or talk about. Arrange them in the proper order. Now you have your entire book in front of you.

Make sure you have your Bible in front of you at all times. Whenever you have a question, pop it open. Make sure it's a physical book, too. Online Bibles are fine, but the Internet isn't always reliable, and computers can slow down, so have something you can flip open. You'll need your Bible to reference, whether it's for inspiration, teaching, or something else (sometimes it can be fun to find a new plot twist by opening it up randomly and seeing where your finger lands).

Lastly, just write like you talk. For each point you make in your outline, write as fast as you can for five minutes, and write it like you'd say it to someone. Don't edit yourself, and don't take time to think. You'll just kill your momentum and get in your own way. God is in the details, so let Him worry about those details.

When you're writing book, avoid the temptation to preach. I've read too many fire-and-brimstone books and story books that force the moral down the reader's throat. It's not enjoyable, so don't do it. Remember the writer's axiom: "Show, don't tell." Throw the word "should" out the door. Make your point by how you tell it. Morals in fiction can be told through character action or plot events. In non-fiction, just teach what you have to.

I hope that this article will help you get started writing the book that God wants you to write. Just make sure that you have an outline to follow, write like you talk and keep your primary source of research by your side. In no time, you can have a book that will help or entertain people with the Spirit you hold within your heart.

Article "How to Write a Christian Book"

By Mike Conway

Source http://www.goarticles.com/