How to Write Christian Fiction that Captivates Your Readers
Ever wondered how to write Christian fiction that captivates your readers? Then this post is for you.
I love reading. It’s the reason why I cannot fathom the reason why people exclaim they’re bored. Reading was my way of immersing myself in a different world. It was also my way of connecting with the writer’s mind.
A good writer has the ability to take you on an adventure and a good book has the ability to linger in your memories for a long time. I know the huge impact books have made in my life, so I’m not surprised I love writing. Many of the writers I’ve come across love reading because we love to recreate the experience. And some of us write stories we’d love to read.
So perhaps you’ve been called to write Christian fiction and you’re excited about the idea. You have the story in your head and you’re just waiting to execute. Perhaps you’ve already started writing your story but you’re wondering if it has the right ingredients that will get your readers turning the page.
God may have given you the idea, but if you’re clueless about what it takes, your book might end up being on the Did Not Finish (DNF) shelf. Obviously, not everyone will like your story. For example, I think Redeeming Love is one of the best books ever written, but do you know some people have criticized it? So the same way everyone did not fall in love with Jesus, not everyone will fall in love with your story.
But I’m here to share the basics every story should follow.
A Good Hook
A good hook grabs the attention of your readers from the get-go. Think of it as an elevator pitch. You’re competing with thousands of other stories online and you have sixty seconds to prove why readers should choose your story above others. A great hook does that for you. As an author, you’re competing with Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Social Media, and a thousand other authors. You’re also trying to catch the short attention span of your reader, so your beginning has to be catchy. If you’re not a bestselling author or you haven’t won a writing award, then you need to get to work as soon as possible.
You can watch and bookmark this video by Abbie Emmons who expands on this.
Good Pacing
Your writing should be evenly paced. Have you ever read a story that felt rushed towards the end? You felt cheated and unsatisfied. Imagine your readers feeling the same way about your writing. I’ve read stories where the love relationship felt like instalove. If you check out Goodreads, you’ll see similar complaints from readers about how some books were not well-paced. To avoid your story being all over the place, edit your draft often, and check with your beta readers or a writing mentor or coach to review your pacing. To understand pacing better, read more classical books. Read badly reviewed books too. This will help you to understand what to look out for and what mistakes you should avoid.
Good and Realistic Dialogue
I once read a book that the dialogue felt cringey. Another felt unrealistic and jarring within the contemporary setting it was supposed to be. For example, I don’t understand how the F word can be used in a fantasy adventure novel/story. If you’ve read Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien, perhaps you’ll understand my plight. If you’re into fantasy, Tolkien’s books is a classic you can read to help you in your writing journey.
Give Your Readers What You Promised
I hate clickbait articles. I don’t think anyone likes them either. Because they promise you one thing and underdeliver. The same applies to writing a good story. The last thing you want to do with your stories is deceive your readers. For example, if you promised your readers humor, don’t give them horror. If you promised your readers a Christian story, then don’t give them something less than a story that exalts God. Avoid lingua that promotes ungodliness and seek God’s wisdom on delivery. Also, do your homework by reading other great Christian stories. The only way you can become a good writer is by reading other great writers that have gone ahead of you.
Read for pleasure, and also read like a writer who’s eager to learn from others.
Immerse yourself in God’s love
The first time I wrote Beautiful Wings, I wanted the world to know about God’s love. I wanted souls to see God in a whole new light—as a good and loving father. This desire drove me to write and the Holy Spirit has been using it to minister to people to date. You can have all the best ingredients but if you don’t have the major sauce and source-God, then you’ll miss it.
We must always remember that first and foremost, our goal is to give God glory and express his burden through the written word. This is the best way to write Christian fiction that captivates the hearts of your readers.
You can check out my books here
Just because you’re writing Christian Fiction doesn’t mean it has to be boring. God is the author of creativity and he’s looking for those who are eager to express him through their stories.