Thanks for having me back, Seekerville. I’m excited about my topic today.
When I discovered inspirational romance as a reader, I started with Love Inspired and Heartsong. I remember one of the first longer lengths I read. It was coated in Scripture. The heroine thought in Bible verses, quoted Bible verses, dreamed Bible verses. It got on my nerves and then I felt bad that it got on my nerves. Time passed before I picked up another longer length. Thankfully, I realized the book I’d read wasn’t the norm.
If I want to read scripture, I’ll read the Bible, which I do nightly. When I want to read fiction, I want to get lost in the story with a spiritual thread seamlessly woven into the character’s intriguing journey.
There are readers, who aren’t Christians, who read inspirational fiction because they know it’s clean. I’ve met them. Imagine if we beat non-believing readers over the head with our message. If they finish the book, they might not pick up another.
So how do you intertwine your spiritual message without shoving your Bible down the reader’s throat? Here are some tips:
- Don’t preach.
Don’t have one character preach to another. Instead, have one character impart spiritual wisdom gently a bit at a time. Like you would a dear friend who needs Jesus. Think of your reader as a dear friend.
- Don’t let your character preach.
Reader’s aren’t stupid. They’ll catch on that you’re preaching to them through your character. The only time you should let a character preach is if the character is a preacher and the scene is during a church service. Even then, don’t let the preacher monologue and cover the whole sermon. Let your character hear what they need to hear and then go into their thoughts as what they heard sinks into their heart.
Just like in real church. I get caught up on something the preacher said that applies to me or that I’ve never thought of before and I miss part of the sermon because I’m still thinking about it.
- Stay off the soap box.
Don’t have a character get on a soapbox and pretend your conviction is his or hers. This is a hard one. It’s so tempting to let your character spew your views. But even if your reader is a Christian, they may not share the same conviction or opinion you do. And the thing you never, ever want to do is offend your reader.
One exception, you can use an elderly character to state the truth. But keep it short and loving or maybe even crotchety. Elderly people are expected to have a strict view on things. If your reader doesn’t agree, they’ll roll their eyes or laugh at the old codger. But you still squeezed something you believe strongly in there. And you might plant the seed of conviction in a reader.
- Don’t dump your spiritual truth.
The spiritual thread is much like backstory. Sprinkle it lightly here and there. It should weave through the entire book until resolved. Not on two pages. Weave your spiritual truth in as if you were gently witnessing to a non-believing friend while trying not to overwhelm them or turn them away.
I once read a book where six characters were stranded in a perilous situation. It was a page turner. I couldn’t sleep, couldn’t wait to see what happened next. There wasn’t really a spiritual thread, but it was a clean, nail-biter read. One character prayed a few times, but not out loud. Once the characters survived their ordeal, the praying character invited them to church. They all went and got converted right then and there.
After what the characters had endured, I can see that happening with one character, maybe two. But not five. If the author had the praying character gently witness to the other characters a bit during their ordeal, it would have made more sense. Or even if some of them had converted one or two at a time during their ordeal. But to have all five become Christians at the end of the book disappointed me. And you guessed it, I haven’t tried that author again.
- Don’t write fifty pages and then suddenly send your character to church.
If your character is a believer or struggling believer, make their faith an integral part of their values and beliefs from chapter one on. You don’t have to have them preach or get on a soap box to do this. Show their values and beliefs in the way they live, behave, react, and think.
- Don’t make all of your Christian characters preachers, Sunday school teachers, song leaders, or church leaders.
Your characters should attend church if their Christians. If they’ve been a Christian for a while, they can be active in the church. Let them help with the fundraiser for needy children or Vacation Bible School. But your fiction should reflect real life. There are lots of pew warmers out there. If all of your fictional characters have important positions in the church, it’s not very realistic.
- Don’t make your Christian character perfect.
No one is perfect, except Jesus. Let your characters have flaws. Let them struggle with something. Let them make mistakes and suffer the consequences. Make them learn from those mistakes. If your publisher allows it, let them fall, and then lean on God to get back up.
- Don’t make them holier than thou.
Christians are just sinners saved by grace. No better than anyone else. The only difference—we have eternal life and convictions. The only time your character should be holier than thou is if they’re supposed to be unlikeable. Even then, consider knocking them off their high horse by the end of the book.
- Don’t allow your character to remain unchanged.
In Christian fiction, your character should grow spiritually as they grow as a person. If they’re a Christian at the beginning of the book, they should be closer to God by the end. If the character is a non-believer, let them at least be curious or seeking the truth by the end of the book if you don’t convert them. Show their growth through dialogue and thoughts. Even the bad guy can ponder on what makes the good guy so happy.
- Don't rescue your character with a miracle.
- Don’t coddle them
Christians live in this fallen world just like non-believers do. Evil touches our lives. When we become Christians, life doesn’t automatically become rosy. We still have problems and challenges. But we have peace. Let your characters deal with real-life problems. And show their faith by how they handle their problems by leaning on God.
- Don’t overdo it with the Bible verses.
I sort of covered this one in the intro. I use Bible verses sparingly – one or two per book. And usually as a thought—when my characters are wrestling with something. One time, I went through five scriptures of the Roman’s road as a preacher led a man to Jesus. But it fit that book and the characters.
Depending on the publisher, you could go a bit heavier. I’m reluctant because of that long ago read. I have my characters read the Bible. I’ve even had characters read the Bible together and discuss the meaning of the scriptures they read. But I’d caution on writing a Bible-quoting character who speaks only in scripture. Unless he’s a street preacher maybe.
- Don’t make every come to Jesus moment happen during a sermon or at the altar call.
Let your character accept Jesus as their savior silently in Sunday school class. In their car on the way home. Kneeling by the side of their bed. In life, people wrestle with Jesus, unwilling to give in, and often hit their knees wherever they happen to be when they finally surrender. To make an impact on readers, our fiction needs to reflect life.
- Don’t get doctrinal.
I like to call denominations – flavor. What flavor Christian are you? Every denomination has different beliefs. Readers are diverse. They don’t all believe like you do or attend the same kind of church that you do. Stick with universal truths. We all need Jesus.
As Christian writers, our first goal has to be entertaining readers. If readers aren’t entertained, you’ll never get your message across. Since we want to impact lives, we must strive to present the gospel without getting in the reader’s face. Without cluing the reader in on what we’re doing. Handled delicately and realistically, the spiritual thread in your book will reflect real life and maybe touch a reader’s heart and soul.
I hope these tips help you write that book. I’m giving away a copy of Winning Over the Cowboy (Winner announced in the Weekend Edition) and I’ll be here all day. Pop in and let’s talk.
Share with us when you discovered Christian fiction and why you love it.
The Rancher Stakes His Claim
When she inherits half a dude ranch after losing her best friend, Landry Malone is determined to see Eden's legacy flourish. That is if her friend's broad-shouldered cowboy brother will give her the chance. Chase Donovan isn't happy that his sister left their family business to an outsider—and he's determined to test Landry's mettle, hoping she'll give up her claim. Soon Chase is impressed by Landry's ability to rise to every challenge he puts in her way—and worried that his attraction to the perky spitfire seems to know no end. Finally working together to ensure the ranch's future, will their business partnership be the foundation for something more?
Shannon hopes to entertain Christian women and plant seeds in the non-believer’s heart as her characters struggle with real-life issues. Their journeys, from ordinary lives to extraordinary romance through Christ-centered relationships, demonstrate that love doesn’t conquer all—Jesus does. In her spare time, she loves hanging out with her family, flea marketing, and doing craft projects.
Website: http://shannontaylorvannatter.com
Blog: http://shannontaylorvannatter.com/blog
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/stvannatter/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/stvauthor
Amen, amen & amen!! This post excites me :-) As a Christian and as a reader, I crave inspirational reads because I know I'll find God in the pages. I've often found encouragement, uplifting messages and even hope when I see characters overcoming their struggles while relying on God or His word or whatnot.
ReplyDeleteI have to totally agree with you on the fact that let's make the stories realistic, the gospel message a natural part of the story & our characters like us, sinners saved by grace! We have earthly struggles, hurts, pains & sometimes our daily walk is hard. But our hope in God and our reliance on Him can shine into a world of darkness. As they see how we react to life's ups & downs, it can be a real witness of our walk with Christ. :-) Now I've read a LOT of books, some more "preachy" than others and some almost like God was an afterthought. I have my personal taste on just how much or little I enjoy. And I know other readers do too. I say as long as it's well written and again, the faith-factor a natural or "organic" part of the story, God can use it to speak to anyone :-) I love your analogy on characters witnessing to other characters who aren't Christians and to present it just as we would be talking to non-believers in our own lives. Some people need it more hard-core while others it only takes a gentle word or two to get the message across. I especially love when both characters are Christians and they spur each other one when they talk about scripture or what God has done for them or how He's helped them through some struggle or another. Like the scripture about "iron sharpening iron". And also like you said, a character who wasn't a Christian at the beginning of the book turns to Him by the end, doesn't always do it in a church setting. I've read books where they are maybe at the lowest point in their lives and they cry out to God to save them or even just maybe having lunch somewhere and they finally quietly surrender to His call. My experience with heeding God's call upon me wasn't some spectacular fireworks display, so I don't expect the characters to be either. Now that's not to say I've not read stories like that because I have! And it's just as reverent as the quiet surrender. Either way, my heart soars when a character gives his life to Christ! I sometimes even cry when that happens :-)
Wonderful post and it sums up my reasoning for loving inspirational reads. Not only to entertain, but more importantly to speak to me on a spiritual level. Feed my mind and soul! God has used fiction to speak right to where I am at and I love when an author let's Him shine through them in the pages of their book! :-)
Please add my name for a chance to win your newest book "Winning Over the Cowboy", thanks so much! Blessings!
Hey Trixi,
DeleteI love reading a book where the character is in a similar struggle to mine and I can use what they learn to apply to my life. I've sometimes been at church when we're going over the prayer list and think of adding a character from the book I'm reading. Thankfully, I've always caught myself before I actually did it.
Hi Shannon:
ReplyDeleteI agree with all your excellent 'thou shall nots' of inspirational writing and I'd like to add what I like to see in inspirational fiction.
I like a story in which the hero and heroine by living according to genuine Christian values demonstrate that such a life is both rewarding and practical in the modern world. I would also like the nobility of the characters to inspire the reader and make them at least think about emulating the Christian life style.
The bible says that by their fruits they shall be known. As such I don't require any preaching or even bible quotes. I just want a story which shows Christian values in action.
Please enter me in the drawing for your book. I love the cover art and would love to be there to enjoy that lake in person. I always like a cover that makes me want to step into the scene. BTW: where is your story set?
Vince
Vince! That was going to be my comment too. I like to simply see organic Christian values in a story. I don't care if the spine label says Christian fiction or not.
DeleteI love an organic or "seamless" strength of a Christian life woven throughout, but when thrown a challenge, a real, life-changing challenge, I like characters to struggle... because we struggle. We don't always act like the Christians we claim to be... and in that struggle, the growth comes naturally. But I don't know how a hero and heroine can start a book by living those Christian values and still have conflict, even though I wish we all played nice every single day... But maybe I'm misunderstanding you? Fill me in, my friend...
DeleteRuthy
Deleteyou do an awesome job with organic struggles and Faith in your books. In fact, ALL the Seeker ladies do an awesome job of this. Just sayin...
Vince, you echoed my sentiments, exactly! I don't need a label of "Christian Fiction" and I certainly don't need scripture passages or a conversion (though I've seen some done very well and very realistically.)
DeleteI think Charles Martin does an EXCELLENT job with this.
I'd like to add that it's refreshing to read about funny, normal people who are Christians. I'd love to see more of that in CF, or fiction, in general. People who go to church, read their Bible, apply Biblical principles to their lives, enjoy getting together with friends, enjoy a great glass of wine, a delicious meal, a night out and above all live with PASSION.
DeletePeople who mess up, but then own it, repent and grow.
Hi Ruth:
DeleteThe organic Christian values demonstrated in the story do not always have to be in effect at all times. Showing how things go wrong when the hero or heroine go off the reservation is also a way to advance the character arc, create conflict, and display the Moral Premise.
I think there is a Moral Premise for every Christian fiction work:
"If you live a life according to genuine Christian values, then you should enjoy a much more rewarding life but if you fail in this effort then life will become much more precarious."
I particularly like Sandra's Christian fiction because she has her characters face really hard to answer Christians challenges. I think it is good for the story to show that sometimes faith is hard and living to Christian values is painful at times.
In fact, I think conflict is easier to create among those trying to life up to Christian values.
Vince
Hey Vince,
DeleteI should have wrote them, thou shalt not. I keep trying to make the post not be negative by saying do this, do that, but it didn't work. Why didn't I think of thou shalt not. Probably because I was on deadline. The book is set in Bandera, TX and it's actually supposed to be the Medina River.
I love having my characters make a mess of things when they don't follow God's leading.
Hey Tina,
DeleteThanks for inviting me back.
Ruthy,
When my characters are Christians to start with, I always give them something to struggle with. Like trust issues or forgiveness, fear, anger. Something that's keeping them from the complete relationship they could have with God. And with other characters. Thus the conflict.
Josee, the thing I love about Christian Fiction is there's something for everybody. The books with lighter message, some with a heavier spiritual thread. And so many genres these days.
I hear you, Shannon... and the world is rife with all kinds of choices we can mess up with... plenty of temptation. You named a great bunch there.
DeleteI do love the occasional St. Paul story... a wretched person who is bound for hell and then sees the light... and that light sometimes shines brightest when the mistakes go deepest.
I imagine what others said when they heard Paul was preaching...
"Before or after he buried the bodies?"
:)
Like you, sometimes I have to pull back from the grit a smidge so that they keep hiring me, LOL!
I think I was reading Christian Fiction before it was called Christian Fiction. Stories to enjoy and enlighten.
ReplyDeleteCount me in thank you.
There you go, Mary Preston. You were cool before it was cool.
DeleteWhat were you reading, Mary? You got me curious. By the time I discovered it, it had a name.
DeleteI'm not really sure when I "found" Christian fiction. I believe it was through Love Inspired books. I found I enjoyed books that were 'clean and uplifting' reads that brought me into the story and comforted me in so many way.
ReplyDeleteI would love to have my name tossed into the giveaway for your new book. Thank you for the chance to win a copy.
Blessings,
Cindy W.
Hey Cindy,
DeleteI wrote a book before I found Christian Fiction. What I'd written was CF, I just didn't know there was a market for it until I took some chapters to a writers meeting. One of the other writers brought me some Heartsong Presents and Love Inspireds. I fell in love with both. It's still kind of a dream that I've written for both now.
"No one is perfect, except Jesus." Amen! Great post, Shannon. Many years ago, I discovered Christian fiction through Love Inspired. Now God has blessed with the gift of writing for that very line. God is good! Thanks for visiting today.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteI think when I read inspirational fiction a dozen years ago, it was very different... and while I'm not a fan of Amish fiction because I just want to shake people and remind them that Jesus asked us to be a light unto the world... Some folks love, love, love it... I'm not one of them.
But that's just me, because some of those authors are on bestsellers' lists! Go, them!!!!
I have to be careful that because something isn't my cup of tea, it doesn't appeal to others. With 13 Seekers, we all write differently, and read differently... so I see room for a wide range of fiction because we kind of live that here.
Great advice about allowing your/our characters to suffer and fall... gosh, we all fall. We all endure. Most of us have reached for the hem of that garment often... and risen again. I love that (even if I don't like the reality at the time!)
Wonderful post about the choices among us!
Congrats Jill. A dream come true. Sometimes it's still surreal for me.
DeleteRuth, I don't like Amish either. That strict of a lifestyle makes me tired to think about or read. But again that's what I love about Christian Fiction, there are so many genres. Something for everyone. I love letting characters fall, but sometimes my editors don't. I tend to get too gritty.
I'm crying because you girls don't like Amish fiction! Boo-hoo!!!
DeleteActually making the change to Amish took me a bit of time. I had to get "into" their world, so to speak. Then I realized the characters are very much like the non-Amish folks I used to write about...yet the trappings that surround them are different. They're struggling with similar issues even without electricity and technology. Does that make sense?
Debby, I actually like your suspense books... and it's not the books I don't like, it's the narrow-mindedness of the culture. When I look back historically the whole thing bothers me... but I think the element of suspense offers a more real story (to me... and I know this is an individual opinion on Amish fiction, and it's not meant to say the authors aren't grand... so many are! It's the strict sect-religion that I don't get... Although I always love looking for Amish buggies on research trips! :) I am my own conundrum.
DeleteWe still love you, Debby. That does make sense and readers love Amish. I should have said Amish is the exception to the don't get doctrinal rule.
DeleteI'm laughing, really! Amish isn't for everyone and that's okay. :)
DeleteOh Debby, don't feel bad! I, for one, thoroughly enjoy Amish fiction :-) Beverly Lewis first introduced me to that genre and I've since discovered many other writers. What I've found is that they struggle just like we do with attitudes or self-image or any number of human traits and need each other and God to overcome those. I admire their simpler lifestyles, sense of community, hard work and strong family connections. It doesn't bother me that they separate themselves from the rest of the world, there are lots of times I want to as well with all the garbage out there! But I have to live in the English world and strive to live in a way that's pleasing to the Lord and that shines my light in the darkness. I'm in no way perfect, I need my Savior everyday! And when I mess up, I gotta make it right :-)
DeleteI said all that to say, I'm a fan of Amish fiction....both like Beverly Lewis style and suspense style :-)
I agree wholeheartedly with this post. I've talked with some unbelievers about "Christian" fiction and they all mention the preachy-ness of some books. I think the best compliment I ever got when discussing spiritual things at work with unbelievers was when a girl looked at me and said "I'm surprised you aren't trying to convert me." I told her that wasn't my job, I was only to share Jesus and truth and let her decide for herself. She said, "Well then, I wish more Christians were like you - just a normal person. I might reconsider."
ReplyDeleteI think inspirational books should be like that. Make unbelievers reconsider based on real characters they can root for and see as normal people.
Thanks again for this post. I like the list and will print it out as a good reminder as I write. I would love to be in the draw for your book.
DebH, I love that. You are absolutely right. Books should be the same way!
DeleteI always figure if a Christian hands a nonbeliever a Bible, they probably won't read it. But if they loan them a book, they might. I try to keep that in mind and keep my message light enough to draw in a nonbeliever, but still satisfy a Christian reader. A delicate balance.
DeleteMy goal with my books is always to write the most entertaining book I can write. My characters live with Christian principals (except the bad guys) and that's mostly the extent of my preaching. I usually feel like I don't have a STRONG ENOUGH faith thread.
DeleteI've read your books, Mary. Your faith thread is fine. Different authors and publishers have lighter or heavier faith threads which equals more choices for readers. I'm good with that.
DeleteMary ... no, no, no ... if it ain't broke, don't fix it! Keep writing the way you write :-)
DeleteNancy C
SHANNON, thank you for the great post! I LOVE to read Christian fiction because I know it will be clean and encouraging. Christian fiction is another tool used by the Lord to share the Kingdom message.
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you as you write for His Glory!
Hey Caryl,
DeleteI've read a lot of reviews where the reader admits they're not a Christian, but they read the book because they knew it would be clean. CF is an awesome tool and I'm thankful to be a part of it.
Awesome post, Shannon. I read anything and everything. I read Christian fiction young, starting with Catherine Marshall as those were the books that graced my grandparents shelves when we visited during the summers of my youth.
ReplyDeleteI've read a lot of LIS and Heartwarming since finding this blog and love the stories.They reinforce my decision to follow Jesus at the age of twelve, and I feel reborn every time I read one.
While I don't write inspirational (yet), I feel my writing journey is blessed as I'm learning what it is I'm being lead to write. I'll get there.
I wholeheartedly agree with Trixi's first paragraph in her comment. Amen.
Please enter me in your drawing. My inspirational library can always use the growth.
Blessings,
Marcia
Hi Marcia,
DeleteI was in my 30's before I discovered Christian Fiction. I'd always gone to the Christian bookstore, but I never looked at books. I assumed they were all nonfiction and headed straight for the music. You're at the right place to hone your writing. My critique partner never took a writing class. She went to one writers meeting, then a conference and got a 3 book contract. She learned to write at Seekerville. She read daily, plus all the archives here.
You're absolutely right, Shannon, I've learned more reading Seekerville archives, getting in touch with a couple of the founding writers (who generously give of their time to beginning writers), and taking classes from said founders, than all the craft books I have in my vast library. Thank you Seekers!
DeleteThis is a great group. And a great blog. I teach writing classes and I always tell writers to check out seekerville to learn.
DeleteThanks for promoting Seekerville, Shannon! :)
DeleteThanks for creating it. There's a wealth of info here.
DeleteWelcome back, Shannon! What a great post. I especially love your advice to stick to a universal flavor. :) It can be difficult sometimes to figure out how to show characters' faith without getting too specific on beliefs, but we can do it if we think of overall Christian beliefs.
ReplyDeleteSome publishers won't let you get too doctrinal anyway, Missy. It is a delicate balance, but can be done.
DeleteWelcome Shannon! Thank you for your points on writing for Christians and non-Christians as well. I have a dear friend who's a Christian but refuses to read "Christian fiction" as she says she hates conversion stories and the lack of struggle "real" Christians face every day. I find that very sad but I'd say she represents more Christians perhaps then we realize. I especially appreciated your comment about how none of us know the denominations of our readers and so we need to allow the pure truth of Jesus to dominate, not the "flavour" of our particular denomination. I think that's SO important! Personally, I'd prefer to read about Christians struggling with real-life issues like a child dying of cancer, divorce as it impacts everyone in a family, addictions or mental health issues. I realize these aren't for everyone by any means! But I'd like to see publishers take some risks on these difficult issues so that if a non-believer picks one up in a hospital waiting room, at the cottage of a friend, etc. they can find something in the story that resonates with them. We live in a fallen world and there are more issues out there than just figuring out how to get along with people. Okay, off my soapbox and thank you for sharing today! Did anyone bring donuts? :)
ReplyDeleteHi Laurie,
DeleteEven if some Christian books don't go as deep as I'd like to, I'd rather read Christian than secular. Some publishers allow writers to go grittier and aren't as strict as they used to be.
Oh and no donuts here. I'm on a perpetual diet. I have a very plain spoken family member who told me since I'm always on a diet, I should be really skinny. I told her that if I didn't stay on a diet, I'd be even less skinny than I am.
DeleteNo donuts LAURIE but I had Hummingbird Cake this morning and it was fabulous!
DeleteHey Sharee,
DeleteI've never heard of Hummingbird Cake.It makes me sweet and gooey. Yum. I'll have to google it. There is that diet thing though.
Hi Shannon, welcome back to Seekerville. Great post today. You've got me wondering about my WIP. I don't think it's too preachy, but I'll keep you words in mind.
ReplyDeleteI also want to ask about, "She once climbed a mountain wearing gold wedge-heeled sandals which became known as her hiking boots." A mountain in wedges? How did you not get rocks in your shoes? Basically, how did you do it? Haha!
Thanks for sharing today!
Hey Jackie,
DeleteI was at a writers' retreat at a church camp. I never went to church camp when I was a kid, so I had no clue what it was like. I totally don't rough it, so I asked enough questions to learn that we were sleeping inside a building with plumbing. Otherwise I wouldn't have gone. I didn't prepare for the nature trail and only had my gold wedges. But I wanted to walk the nature trail, so I went along. The trail went up a mountain. So it's not like I was rockclimbing and the trail was smooth, just steep. There were a couple of places, I had to grab a tree, so my shoes didn't slip. All my writer friends called my shoes my hiking boots after that. They were pretty scuffed after that and I don't wear them anymore, but I keep them for memories.
I'm glad you kept them. What a fun memory.
DeleteMy husband was trying to throw them out just the other day. I said, "No, those are my hiking boots." Him, "I remember, but do you wear them anymore?" Me, "No. But they're nostalgic."
DeleteHi Shannon:
ReplyDeleteI have two 'do/don'ts' about writing Christian fiction:
1. You can have a 'miracle' but it must also have a physical/scientific explanation which is pointed out by one of the characters in the book.
2. You can have a character talking to God, but you must not have God talk back in quotes. If the author is trying to tell me that really is God talking, I stop reading then.
What do you think?
Vince
2. You can have a character talking to God, but you must not have God talk back in quotes. If the author is trying to tell me that really is God talking, I stop reading then.
DeleteI had to smile at this. Because I feel the same way. God answers, but if it's in an audible voice...Houston, we have a problem.
To me it's not a miracle if it can be explained scientifically. But that's just me.
DeleteI have God talk to my characters through a still small voice on occasion. Or a Bible verse they're reading.
Hi Shannon:
DeleteYou wrote:
"To me it's not a miracle if it can be explained scientifically. But that's just me."
I think many Christians hold this same view. I also think it is very limiting from a philosophical point of view...and unnecessarily so.
Dialogue:
"Our church prayed for her and within a month her 'incurable cancer' experienced a spontaneous remission."
"I've done the research and for that type of cancer there are spontaneous remissions in one out of every five thousand cases. Right now many researchers are trying to discover what triggers those remissions."
"What do you think we care, and our patient cares, if God chooses to use the natural laws of nature, which He created in the first place, to work His miracles? It even makes more sense that God would use His own laws to work His miracles. Why reinvent the wheel each time?"
I like the author to leave it up to the reader to decide if it was a magical/miracle or a scientifically explainable/miracle. That way the credibility of the story in not effected by the 'miracle' -- even if the reader is a non-beliver who just likes clean stories.
Vince
Good morning Shannon.
ReplyDeleteI'm in total agreement. I don't want to preach at people. And I liked the point you made about elderly characters getting by w/it. That is so true.
LOVE those secondary characters with the snappy dialogue. A donkey to Shrek. They can tell it like it is and get away with it.
DeleteI have fun with my elderly characters, Connie. It always bugs me in new movies when the parents and grandparents are all modern. Their daughter and her boyfriend come for a visit and they stay in the same room. In their parents' or grandparents' house!!!!!! My elderly characters aren't modern thinkers and they tell it like it is. Hopefully, they'll enlighten someone on a sin they've never considered a sin.
DeleteI love Shrek, Tina.
I'm so with you and the modern parents and grandparents! Maybe that's why half the shows/movies I watch are in black and white. I need to use elderly people more in my ms.
DeleteMy mom's uses a term I don't hear much these days. Tacky. "Don't be tacky," or "that's tacky." If I use that word my kids look at me like I'm so funny and old.
I pretty much stick with Hallmark movies these days. Some of them aren't as deep as I'd like, but they're clean. That's funny. I say trashy. I tell my son, that's what trashy people do.
DeleteWelcome, Shannon! Lovely to have you in Seekerville!
ReplyDeleteExcellent points here--thank you! The first Christian novel I distinctly remember reading was The Church Ladies, by Lisa Samson. This was a faith-based story I could really get into--true-to-life characters who struggled with flaws but relied on their Christian faith to see them through.
However, the first few Christian romances I read . . . I have to honestly say I didn't care for them. They embodied too many of the "don'ts" from your list, and I just couldn't relate.
I'm so glad Christian publishing has evolved to encompass much more realistic portrayals of characters dealing with real-life issues in not always perfect ways. Faith is a journey, not a destination, and our stories need to reflect this.
I haven't read that book, Myra. I'll have to find it. Great line - Faith is a journey, not a destination. You should put that in a book. I'm really glad CF has evolved and expanded too. I can't imagine a Christian vampire novel, but I'm glad they're out there. I'd rather readers read those than the secular ones.
DeleteMy first Christian books were Grace Livingston Hill and I don't even know if those are really Christian books. I read them for the gentle romance and the time period.
ReplyDeleteTina I've read ALL of Grace Livingston Hill. I still crave them sometimes. I've got a few around here. I need to dig out some old favorites.
DeleteOne of my very favorites, the title escapes me, was a young woman who inherited a boarding house and somehow brings big chunks of the world to Christ through deep cleaning.
DeleteFor some reason I loved it.
I remember the big old conflict between her and one of her boarders (the hero) was a picture he had on his dresser. She assumed it was a dead wife or lost love. It was his sister.
How'd Hill drag that out to a book length conflict???????
Still, clean house, good simple food. Everyone of her boarders either converts or moves out.
DeleteSome of the boarders had like...dirty fingernails. And chewed gum. But the end they'd all straightened up. I loved it!!!
Her grandma is there too.
I loved that book.
One of the first letters I got from a reader, Tina compared my writing to Grace Livingston Hill. I was so honored.
DeleteI didn't read that one, Mary. I may have to try to find it.
What a great list, Shannon. Excellent advice.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mary. You could have compiled this blog with your eyes closed.
DeleteFun to see you here, Shannon! And love all your Shall Nots. :) Well said!
ReplyDeleteI discovered Christian fiction thanks to my pastor when I was in confirmation. He gave each of us a book - mine was Behold a Pale Horse by Joe Musser. From there, I discovered Danny Orlis, a Christian Hardy Boy-type series, and then YA books by John Benton that dealt with life's grittiness. Turns out, those gritty stories are still the type I gravitate toward today because I love reading books that shows how God's light pierces through the darkness.
(Don't enter me, I already have all of Shannon's books - I just had to stop in and say "Hi!")
Hey Brenda,
DeleteThat's so cool that your pastor passes out Christian Fiction. Most give church members nonfiction if anything. Hmmm, maybe I'll get my husband to give our new members one of my books :) I love your gritty books and I'm so glad you came to see me here. Brenda is one of my awesome critique partners.
You're right about most gifting non-fiction. How sad is that?! I think it's a great idea for your husband to gift your stories to new members!
Deleteoooo... I remember the Danny Orlis series. I LOVED those books. I think some were sort of preachy, but not a whole lot. I just remember that they were fun to read. My mom bought them because she knew I'd read anything and figured to direct my reading that way. :)
DeleteIt might seem biased though, Brenda. Maybe with other authors' books.
DeleteI haven't read Danny Orlis. I may have to give it a try.
Brenda Anderson! Welcome to Seekerville. I have this urge to yell, "COME ON DOWN!"
DeleteI love that show, Tina. But I miss the Bob Barker era. Showing my age.
DeleteWhile I like to think all my stories are Christian-based, I was hesitant to write an inspirational book because I'd read too many inspirational books that had a very high bible-verses-to-plot ratio. But then I started reading the LI books and was relieved and delighted to find books that conveyed an inspirational message without hitting the reader over the head.
ReplyDeleteA friend gave me a very well-written Dystopian book to read, and I came out of it so depressed I didn't want to read another page. Then I read an inspirational book and it was like opening the windows and letting fresh air into the room. I LIKE reading a book that has some hope in it!
Please, all of you Seekerville ladies, write faster! I need more books with faith, hope, and love in them.
Evelyn, you are great. :) Big smile here.
DeleteGood point Evelyn. I think the LI books resonate with readers so well because the message is there, but it doesn't beat you over the head. I like feeling uplifted when I finish a book. And these days, there is Christian Dystopian to give readers of that genre hope. I assume anyway, since I haven't read any.
DeleteI discovered Christian fiction when I spent a summer at my grandmother's house. She had a shelf full of Grace Livingston Hill books. I got out of the habit as a young mother and then my mom started me out with a yearly Christmas gift subscription to Heartsong. I was hooked after that. She had been a Serenade reader before that and shared those with me too.
ReplyDeletePlease put my name in for your book. It looks like a good story.
Hi Shannon,
ReplyDeleteI always feel so fortunate to be able to write for Love Inspired and include a faith element that, as you mentioned, is lightly woven into the story. Thanks for being with us today!!!
No soapboxes. No preaching except from the minister at the pulpit! Great advice for those hoping to break into the Christian market.
Easter Thursday blessings, Shannon!
I've brought chocolate candies and jelly beans to celebrate this joyous time of year!
Me too Debby. I made it to LI through the back door when they bought Heartsong Presents, but I'm thankful to be with LI.
DeleteShannon, welcome back to Seekerville. Your tips for writing Christian fiction are excellent! When faith is integral to the characters journey/growth, it won't feel preachy or tacked on.
ReplyDeleteI love old codgers that act as mentors and spout truth to the hero and/or heroine, nudging them to examine their hearts, etc.
Do you ever struggle with which way you want to go with characters' faith when they've had and overcome a sinful past? I'm facilitating on whether the heroine would feel forgiven or judged. Normally I just know. Perhaps the problem is the hero is angry at God and I think it would be cool if she could help him when she's gone through something far worse than he has. I'm sure the SOTP writers would just see what happens.
Janet
I did a heroine once who'd overcome a promiscuous past. She knew she was forgiven, but she still felt guilty and unworthy for the practically born a Christian hero. It made for nice conflict. I'm SOTP, so I like to just see what happens, but writing the proposal first kills some of my SOTP.
DeleteShannon, sorry! I'm vacillating, not facilitating. LOL
DeleteI'm leaning toward having her feel guilty and unworthy as your heroine did as it's more realistic. Who hasn't felt guilty about something, even small stuff?
I'm a plotter so all the planning that goes with proposals is fun for me.
Janet
It's much easier to accept Jesus' forgiveness than to forgive ourselves some times. And even if we forgive ourselves, we don't forget like He does.
DeleteHi Bettie,
ReplyDeleteI read clean romance books from the library when I was a teen. They were mostly Harlequins, but I don't remember what the clean line was called back then. Once I got married and went to work, I didn't read for years because I didn't have time. Until my husband went to work nights. Suddenly, my evenings were long and empty. I went to the library, but couldn't find any clean romance. That's what prompted me to start writing. To write a book like I'd like to read. I intended it to be clean, but my characters kept talking to God, so I let them. Once I joined a writers' group, I learned about Christian Fiction and that there was a market for what I'd written. 200 rejection letters and 9 1/2 years later, the rest became history.
Great post, Shannon. I will refer to it when I write.
ReplyDeleteI believe the first Christian fiction I read was Janette Oke's Love Comes Softly series. I then went on to read all of her series.
Please enter me in the drawing for your book.
By the way, I also wanted to say I agree with you about characters spouting Bible verses all the time. I read a book once in which some of the characters were constantly quoting the Bible or talking about God. It just didn't seem realistic.
ReplyDeleteHi Sandy, I've met a person who constantly quoted the Bible in real life. I didn't want to be around that person much. I think of characters the same way. I try to make them someone readers would enjoy knowing.
DeleteHi Shannon:
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my favorite topics.
What attracted me to Inspirational fiction was the fact that the books were clean and wholesome. Not that I necessarily wanted 'clean' and 'wholesome' in themselves for themselves. What I wanted were better stories. And when a writer cannot use explicit sex to turn pages, the stories must be much better.
This is why I think it is so important to work on creating the most rewarding story and total reading experience. One of the best things I learned in a recent James Patterson writing class, on how to write mega-selling books, was that Patterson will write a scene, which has nothing wrong with it, six to eight times to make it the best reading experience possible!
If a writer sees her work as doing God's work then maybe the Patterson effort is the way to go. Give God the best work you can do and not just the best work you can do in one or two drafts! : )
"If this be heresy, so be it!"
Vince
I agree Vince. I wanted clean reads, but as a Christian, I couldn't seem to write a book without God in it. So I ended up writing Christian Fiction. I'm an avid revisionist. I initially write my scenes with the bare essentials, then go back over them 6 or 7 times and layer in the good stuff. I definitely see writing Christian Fiction as a calling. Janette Oake called her books paper missionaries. That's how I see mine.
Delete"I'm an avid revisionist."
DeleteThis quote is going on my wall! And on Twitter.
Yay, I'm quotable :)
DeleteI always loved the first draft best and dreaded revising. But I'm learning to become an avid revisionist! :)
DeleteYesterday, I was weaving the inspy thread in my wip. I realized (and my critique partner did, too) that my hero suddenly had a change of heart and I never showed any bits leading up to it.
I'm bad to add a whole new scene in after I'm done with the book, then I have to go back and change things to make it fit.
DeleteSadly I'm an addicted revisionist.
DeleteJanet
I have a friend like that, Janet. You're not alone.
DeleteHi Shannon,
ReplyDeletethis is a great reminder of good writing. I discovered Christian fiction in the early 2000s with Francine Rivers, Brock Bodie Thoene and Neta Jackson. It was a whole new world for me. I loved Neta Jackson's books because the characters were so life-like and not goody two shoes.
How do you recommend writing when a character prays? I've seen it done "so and so prayed" and nothing specifically done and others where the character's prayer is a dialogue.
I have my characters' saying lots of thought prayers in italics. And sometimes out loud in quotes - usually when they're alone. But I usually keep it short and unflowery. Like they're talking to their best friend, which is how I pray - because He's my best friend.
DeleteSeveral of my characters have experienced tragedy and fallen away from God because they feel He is punishing them or they can't trust Him any longer. This is real life, and I want to show how God is always waiting for a person to return to His path. Sometimes I think I've gotten too real for my readers. I recall a Sunday morning when I heard a lady call me. I turned around and she said, "How could you do that right at the beginning? How heartbreaking." At first I was lost, but I remembered she was reading Love Again. I shrugged but secretly I was giggling with pleasure. I had plunged her to feel what my hero felt. Cha-ching!
ReplyDeleteWe authors can be a devious lot, can't we? I mean, is it wrong for me to be happy that a reader was brought to tears reading my book? Oh, the conflicted emotions! LOL Great post, Shannon!
Hi Paula, when tragedy happens in real life, people draw closer to God or get further away. Using that in fiction makes it real. Tears from a reader make my heart sing. I love making my characters do what I want them to. Love driving them to their knees, forcing them to get a clue. It's fun. I wish we could do that real people.
DeletePaula! Great to see you here in Seekerville.
DeletePaula, that's such a wonderful moment.... hooray for the tears! :)
DeleteI love characters that have suffered but overcome... or are in the midst of overcoming.
Life hands us some strange turns. Bending with the road ain't always the easy way... but it's a way.
WELCOME BACK TO SEEKERVILLE, SHANNON!!
ReplyDeleteReally excellent post, too, and one that will come in extremely handy when I write a secular book next year, which is what I plan on doing. IN fact, since my books are pretty blatantly spiritual (but not preachy, I hope), I have a long way to go before I can reduce the spirituality in my books to a thin thread because right now they're more like a quilt ... ;) BUT ... I welcome the challenge and look forward to it, and this post will definitely help!
I came to Christian fiction through Catherine Marshall's most famous novel, Christy, way back at the age of 23 when I went from agnosticism to Christianity. But I stayed away from most fiction for a long, long time until my 50s when I started reading secular romance. I was so frustrated by the base animalism and lack of God in those books, that I turned to the Christian market once again. Unfortunately, as a former secular reader who thrives on passion--both romantic and spiritual--I didn't find a whole lot of what I was looking for in the CBA way back when, so I decided to write my own.
Today, Christian fiction has come remarkably far in its depth, but I still think we have a ways to go before we can really broaden those tent pegs.
Hugs,
Julie
Kudos to you on dipping your toe in the secular market, Julie. I think that's an excellent way to get nonbelievers to try your other books. I think a lot of authors started out writing what they couldn't find on the shelf.
DeleteHi Julie:
DeleteI fully agree with you about the lack of passion but I also lament the lack of romance in romance novels. Where's the romance? It seems everyone is so busy creating conflict to turn pages and extend the story to novel length that romance is banished! I have to look to Lucy Gordon whose husband was an extremely romantic Italian to find real romance.
Vince
Shannon, such great suggestions! It is tricky to weave in the spiritual element into our stories. I appreciate your suggestions. They challenge me to know my characters well so I can make them struggle to learn the spiritual truths they need. And, if my books ever get into readers' hands, hopefully they will encourage readers as well. Hopefully, I can weave in spiritual truths as an organic part of the story, not in a seemingly contrived manner.
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
Never say if, Jeanne. I never said if I ever get published. I always said when. When your books get into reader's hands. I'm not a power of positive thinking type. But writing for publication is SO HARD. You have to keep yourself pumped up while you wait. Saying when helped me stay positive.
DeleteSince I know y'all like to talk food, what did everyone have for lunch? I had a cracked pepper turkey sandwich on 15 grain wheat bread with avocado. I love avocado and it's a good fat on weight watchers. I also fixed a suddenly salad with olive oil mayo and added shrimp. It's for supper, but I had to try it. Yum.
ReplyDeleteShannon, I had leftover pizza for lunch. Tell me that's WW acceptable. You write fiction after all. ;-)
DeleteJanet
If you only had one or two and you have a salad with lowfat dressing? But I don't think you have to worry about WW.
DeleteI want your lunch. I had ham from Easter and grapes and fresh pineapple. I am on WW actually. hahahaha. Only 6 points for that meal.
DeleteShannon, I started WW about a month ago. I love how yummy your lunch sounds! I actually had brunch--a scrambled egg, veggie and black bean burrito. :)
DeleteOh, Tina reminded me that my burrito/omelet also had leftover Easter ham! :) And I, too, ate grapes while cooking. Who else eats while they cook???
DeleteI had a green smoothie containing ice; water; plain, Greek yogurt; banana; apple; strawberries; milled flaxseed; and kale.
DeleteSylvia! How lovely to see your healthy self!
DeleteYum, I love pineapple, Tina. My sandwich was only 6 points. I have to figure out what the shrimp salad is pointswise.
DeleteI always eat while I cook, Missy. Sometimes I'm too full for a meal once I finish it.
Not sure about the flaxseed and kale, but the banana, apple, and strawberries sound good. I love yogurt, but haven't developed a taste for Greek yogurt.
I was busy at lunch, but we did pizza for supper. And by then, I was so happy to see food!!!
DeleteThere are no cute kids in my house right now... that's after 36 hours of cuteness.
It's so QUIET!!!!! Loving the quiet.
I don't know how you get any books written at your house with all the cuteness going on, Ruthie.
DeleteHi, Shannon! Love this post. I chuckled out loud when I read Don't Preach and Don't Let Your Character Preach. So true! Show, don't tell. That's what I want to see. Each of your points I caught myself shaking my head. Me, too. That's what I think. Now to go through my stories and make sure I didn't do that! Sometimes it's easier to catch things when you're reading someone else's work than your own. I hope to have a strong inspirational thread run through my stories without beating it over the readers' heads. Show them struggling, making mistakes. We all do.
ReplyDeleteI discovered Christian Fiction in high school. I read Grace Livingston Hill. I read Louis L'Amour too. I wanted inspirational westerns even back then lol. I can't remember the first inspirational western I read. I might have to research that! It wasn't until about 10 years ago?? (that seems like a low number, but I'm not really sure. ) that I discovered there are Christian books that I love to read, that make me grow as a Christian as I read them. I love the stories I can associate with one of the characters, either I've struggled with what they're struggling with, or what they're going through.
Mary Connealy is a HUUUUGE Louis L'Amour fan too, Sally.
DeleteWe were given the option to name our road (dirt driveway lol). We called it Lamour Ln for Louis; our neighbor agreed, using Lamour for love. I love saying I live on Lamour Ln lol.
DeleteI knew you lived on that street, but had no idea the origin. THAT IS SO COOL!!!
DeleteSally, do you think all the men who read Louis L'Amour realize his books are all ROMANCE NOVELS???
DeleteSo true about catching mistakes in other writers' work rather than our own, Sally. We're too close to our own work. We love the characters, no matter what they do or say. Critique partners are worth gold as far as I'm concerned.
DeleteThat makes perfect sense for Mary to be a Louis L'Amour fan.
My husband reads Louis L'Amour. That's how I knew we were going to be good lol.I was working on collecting his books and my husband had all his books. Tim has never classified Louis as a romance writer. Ever. I'll have to ask him what he thinks about that.
DeleteTina, when 911 addresses were invented for our county, instead of RR2 etc, our neighbor worked for the office that was taking care of this. I thought it was awesome! Now I can't ever move lol.
DeleteShannon, thank you thank you thank you for encouraging inspirational writers to let their characters be flawed and make mistakes (not just in the past). I relate so much better to characters who aren't perfect.
ReplyDeleteI like the t-shirt and jeans-wearing folks on your book cover. That I can definitely relate to!
Nancy C
Love that water and the sky in that cover. Just stunning.
DeleteNancy, I think giving characters flaws and allowing them to make mistakes makes them real. I was really happy with this cover. I sent pictures from my pinterest page that I used for inspiration and the LI cover artists worked their magic.
DeleteGreat post, Shannon! Thanks for sharing these important reminders with us. It is indeed a delicate balance - - and I have to remind myself of that as I write. A story I wrote a couple years ago had the heroine "reminding herself" of Bible verses a little too often, LOL. Had to change that, because as wonderful as that would be, it just wasn't realistic.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your writing success, and please enjoy the Georgia peach cobbler I've baked this afternoon - - still warm from the oven. :)
Blessings, Patti Jo
Patti Jo! Since it's virtual, I'll take a piece. Thank you.
DeleteI lived in GA for five years, from age seven to twelve. You have no idea how good cobbler sounds.
DeleteInteresting post, while I am not an inspirational writer, I do read it sometimes. However often when I do read that genre I find the content too preachy. I feel like sometimes the authors give up the sake of the story just to get their point across.
ReplyDeleteAnother huge pet peeve I have with this genre is when the authors have characters that are perfect goody-too-shoes. They are so false, and as I read this I can't help thinking "oh, please, no one is that perfect in real life", and often times rather than liking them as the author probably intends they end up being my least favorite characters. I was reading a series and was halfway through the second book when the author reintroduced a character from the first book who was so perfect (and not to mention preachy) that I disliked him right off and was quite pleased when the main characters left him behind as they continued on their journey, until they rejoined him in the second book. I've not been able to find the mettle to finish the book since then (though I haven't wanted to fully give up on it, it's been on my shelf collecting dust) and that was probably around six months ago.
Nicki, you are aware that every author here writes inspirational. May I send you one of my books. They are not preachy.
DeleteTina, I know that you all write inspirational and don't get me wrong, I do enjoy the inspirational genre and have found some very enjoyable books while reading it. It just seems that for every inspirational book I enjoy there's an inspirational book that I don't enjoy. I would love to read one of your books, they all sound so interesting. I think my mom has at least Safe in the Fireman's Arms, that I will read someday... when I've whittled down my too be read pile some.
DeleteBut if you want to send me one of your books I would be totally cool with that. My bookshelf can never be too full ;)
I'm certainly not a goody two shoes and none of the Christians I know are either, Nicki. I try to keep my characters real--flawed and struggling, just like in the real world. I'm glad Tina's sending you a book.
DeleteNicki, I think you made a good point. Writers are just as different as readers, and we all go at this from different lives/angles/mindsets... and some folks probably love those books you didn't like, LOL!
DeleteI remember my sister handing me a copy of Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes and she gushed over it, and how I would love it like she did...
I made it maybe through chapter one and gave the book back. Shoot, I'd LIVED that life... why would I want to revisit alcoholism and self-centeredness and all the fun that goes along with it? Yet she loved it, she felt vindicated.
I rolled my eyes and moved on to some romance. Give me a happy ending, LOL! I love 'em.
Whatever you're reading, it's a stepping stone to the person you are and you're going to be.
And that's the best and craziest stepping stone bridge ever created.
So true, Ruthie. My mom absolutely loved a book years ago. She went on and on about it, said I had to read it. I slogged through that thing, it was like pulling teeth to get through it. I hated it from beginning to end. She couldn't believe I hated it.
DeleteWell there you go, Nicki, you have been vindicated, lol. AND you have one of my books already. Good way to end a Thursday. HA!
DeleteHi Shannon, Thank you so much for joining us here in Seekerville. Great post with great advice on writing inspirational. some of the readers need to read this too. LOL I so agree with keeping the inspirational thread subtle and the story real.
ReplyDeleteI'll admit my first several books were a bit preachy. And I thought every character had to have a position in the church for it to be considered Christian. Those attempts got lots of rejections.
DeleteI remember in my one and only R&R letter, the LIH editor said that my heroine was too preachy. I did my best to tone it down.
ReplyDeleteAlso, because I have a lot of non-Christians in my Japanese historicals, I sometimes have a non-Christian (like a Buddhist num, for example) delivering the wisdom. I wonder how that's going to go over.
Hey Walt, I was told one of my heroine's was boring and a doormat. I learned from that. My heroine's have been pretty fiesty since. I appreciate those editors that take time to give advice. It's all learning and it's great when you can learn from someone who really knows their stuff. Christian Fiction keeps expanding. And I'm glad. I love giving readers lots of choices and genres.
DeleteShannon, I loved reading your thoughts and I so agree! If a reader is s Christian they are probably reading their Bibles and they don't want to read a lot of scripture in a story. Non-believers don't want to feel that they are being beat over the head with religious theories. In my personal life I have always tried to live so that my daily witness would show others what I believe. A character's actions can speak volumes!
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Connie
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
Yes Connie, preaching interupts the story. The spiritual message needs to enhance the character's journey, not detract from it.
DeleteShannon, thank you. I hope this is okay to write, but I loved your honesty at the end when you wrote it took you nine years to get published in the traditional market. That helps provide encouragement to me, and that's one reason I do read inspirational romance. There seems to be a message that I need to hear (or in this case see) at the time I read the book. I do like it when the characters are fleshed out whether the author does that through humor or everyday situations or gut wrenching realism, and my pet peeve is probably heroines that are too perfect. Thank you for the great post.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you feel encouraged Tanya. That's what I try to do in my books and in sharing what I've learned about writing. When I was trying to get published, I met published authors who said they didn't have time to help others. I decided I'd always try to help and encourage. Now that I have deadlines, I understand. I don't have time to help one on one. But I can be on blogs like Seekerville and teach at writers groups and conferences.
DeleteShannon, Thanks so much for sharing your time and wisdom with us today. We so appreciate it and pray for continued success and no preachiness in the future.
ReplyDeleteThanks for having me, Tina and the rest of the Seekers. I always love being on this awesome blog.
DeleteGood points.
ReplyDeleteThanks June. It took a lot of trial and error on my part to get it right.
DeleteWell done, Shannon!
ReplyDeleteI discovered Christian fiction very long ago. Maybe as a teen? I love it for many reasons, especially when done well.
Please enter me in your drawing.
May God bless you and all of Seekerville!
Thanks for stopping in, Phyllis. You're in.
DeleteMy sister tells me that I'm too preachy in my writing, and I admit, every now in then my characters realize realize something about their faith because of the story. But my characters definitely struggle.
ReplyDeleteAn honest opinion from a family member is priceless. My mom is always good to tell it to me like it is. Some moms or sisters love everything their relatives write. Maybe try toning it down and bit and see what she says. But also get some other readers. I like to get more opinions that one. Contest feedback from editors and published authors helped me immensely.
Delete