When you add in religion, writing a book or even a short story is even more difficult.If done well, Christian fiction can be moving and powerful.A clear outline is what you need to start writing a faith-based story.After weaving Christian messages and values throughout the piece, you can get feedback from readers and fellow writers.
Step 1: Pick the format you want to use.
Think about who your story is for, what you want it to accomplish, and what types of fiction you enjoy to help you decide the genre for your tale.If you love guiding young Christians, you might want to write a children's book, whereas if you like the hero and villain, there is a Christian crime novel that you could write.Get as specific as possible.The more focused your writing is, the more impact it will have.Write for women in their 30s who are going through a divorce.When choosing a theme or message, take into account your faith or personal experiences.The most successful way to write a book is what you know.A script, short story, graphic novel can be included in other formats.
Step 2: It's a good idea to be subtle with your Christian influences.
It should not be abrupt or obvious.Give your characters names from Christian figures.I.E.Grace, etc.
Step 3: You can get inspiration from the Bible for different parts of your story.
You can get ideas from the Bible if you don't know what you want your book to be about.Some of the characters in your story should be based on the disciples or one of their themes.You could adapt the coming-of-age theme in the prodigal son parable for your book.The story of a primary Bible character can be told in a modern-day setting.Imagine the traitor Judas as an investment banker in New York City during the financial crisis.You should keep a running list of your ideas.You can place them on a piece of paper or on the notes app on your phone.
Step 4: To come up with the main ideas for your story, create a mind map.
Think of a mind map as a diagram of your piece.A summary of the entire story will be written in the center.Key concepts, themes, plot lines, and other things can be added to branches coming off of the center.You can create more branches off of the second level.You can draw a mind map on a large sheet of paper or use online software to create a digital version.A free flow of thoughts should follow this step.You don't need to censor yourself by writing down what you think."Jane, who's a Christian, falls in love with an unbeliever" is the center bubble for a romance novel.The next branches could be characters, themes, and main events.You can make as many maps as you want.You can make separate mini diagrams for each character.
Step 5: Make your mind map a fully developed outline by organizing and expanding it.
It is possible to make the process more manageable with the help of this outline.Your mind map should be organized into a rough table of contents.Lay out all of the details for each subtopic in its section, fleshing out any that need more information or planning.If one of your branches was the main event, arrange it into the order that it happened in.Group the characters, themes, or other plot details under the corresponding section.The easier it will be to write, the more detailed your outline is.
Step 6: Start with the first chapter.
It slows you down and confuses you when you jump around.To create a good flow for the reader and to stay on track, write your book in order, no matter what type of book it is, like a novel or a children's book.Go through Chapter 1 before moving on to Chapter 2.The introduction is the exception to this.When you write the book, leave that until the end so you can reflect on it.If you want to hold yourself accountable, create deadlines for each chapter.You'll have Chapter 1 finished in 2 weeks, then Chapter 2 in two weeks.
Step 7: Schedule some time to write.
Your book can be finished in a timely manner if you consistently write.Even if it is just 30 minutes, block off a chunk of time every single day to sit and write.You can put it in the calendar app on your phone.Don't distract yourself during your writing time.If you want to be alone and not use your phone, look for a quiet place.Even if you don't feel like it, you can still write.
Step 8: Adding religious elements to your writing is easy.
Don't force your Christian message into every sentence or chapter.If your faith is important to you as a writer, it will come through in your writing, story, and characters without having to overload your book with religious references or cliches.The Christian theme should be sprinkled throughout the book.One chapter might have a prayer in it while the next might mention a conversation the main character had with God.Don't beat your readers with your message.It will make for a frustrating read because it will diminish the value of what you have to say.
Step 9: Your story is realistic if you don't make your characters perfect.
In black-and-white thinking, the religious characters are good and the non religious ones are evil.Readers can relate to honest characters.They should have a mix of good and bad qualities.Every character needs to have a flaw in order to be taken seriously.Mary, your main character, is a born-again virgin, yet she has a habit of ghosting the men she dates when she loses interest.
Step 10: The writers used the "show, don't tell" technique.
Rather than telling the reader what is going on, show them by describing events and relationships in a way that brings them to life.John told the story of Jesus in the Bible.One way to narrate the book in an active voice is to recount what happened in a passive voice.It's a good idea to say, "Snuggled up with a cozy blanket, I reached for my cup of coffee, only to knock it over suddenly when I heard the noise."Instead of saying "Sara felt sad," you can say, "I can't do this anymore."Sara cried that her world is falling apart.
Step 11: The underlying Christian message should be simple and straightforward.
Readers will get frustrated if you use a lot of lofty language.Explain an important idea by making it easy to understand.Readers of all levels of faith can understand what you're trying to say.In a section about a sermon the fictional preacher is delivering, instead of writing out the entire sermon complete with Bible verse, focus on what the main character is thinking or feeling.Think about how you can subtly connect the reader to your theme.For instance, instead of lecturing the reader on the importance of forgiveness, show the positive benefits of it through your character's actions, like if someone forgives their sister for saying something mean and their relationship becomes stronger.
Step 12: Make sure your story maintains the Christian theme.
You won't be able to tell if you achieved your original goal, whether it was to teach a lesson from the Bible or to show the power of prayer.If you are successful in conveying your Christian message or values, read through the entire thing from start to finish.You might want to wait a few days between finishing the story and self-editing.You have a new set of eyes to look at.If you want to make changes to your piece, do that in a separate read-through.It is best to focus on one thing at a time.
Step 13: Discuss your work with both your Christian and non-Christian friends.
This will give you balanced feedback on your piece, and you will learn how two very different audiences react to your story.When listening to constructive criticism and trying to incorporate edits from both sides to ensure your story appeals to a broader audience, keep an open mind.There is no need to agree with or use every piece of feedback.Pick and choose what you think is helpful, irrelevant or against your values.A non-Christian friend might complain that there are too many Bible verse quotes in your book.You might ignore that comment if the quotes were intentional.
Step 14: Receive feedback from other Christian writers.
Christian fiction writers tend to stick together.There are a few websites devoted to the genre and the people who write it, and they offer discussion forums where you can talk with other authors and ask for tips or advice.There are two popular websites to use.You can join a Christian writer's club in your area.Ask your local bookstore or library if they have any.Say something like, "Hey fellow writers!" to ask for feedback on a part of your story.I don't know if the passage about praying for a sick parent is cliche.What do you think?
Step 15: A publisher specializing in Christian books will accept your manuscript.
Many publishing houses have Christian divisions.They have a website where you can find out if they accept unwanted submissions and how to turn them in.A literary agent can help you get your book published.They may have connections in the industry to speed up the process of submitting a book proposal.You can self-publish your book.Some publishers provide self-publishing help for authors who are less experienced or you can hire a professional editing service to help polish your book before you publish it.You can self-publish by uploading your book to a site like Amazon, or you can use a printing-on-demand service.Send your file to a printer who will make copies for you.