Writing a First Christian Novel, a funny thing happened on my journey, I wrote and published 5 nonfiction books instead.
Like many writers, I had a couple of unfinished fiction manuscripts residing on my hard drive long before I made the decision to actively pursue getting published. I wrote because I wanted to be a writer, but deep within me, I believed it would never happen.
When I came face-to-face with the perfect opportunity to get serious about this dream, I had to make a decision. Would I pursue it or not? Co-workers from Focus on the Family had encouraged me to write about an experience I’d had, and thus my first nonfiction, Help! My Husband has Sexually Abused My Daughter, was born.
While my heart for writing has always been with fiction, the Lord knew I needed that nonfiction book under my belt first. It meant I didn’t have to struggle to devise a plot and characters. I was writing about what I knew, which is the advice most seasoned writers give beginners.
During that time, I learned a lot of the craft of writing as well as the business of being an author.
The Journey of Writing a First Christian Novel
The Foundational Elements of Writing a First Christian Novel
While the journey of writing a first Christian novel is unique to each individual, I can say with certainty that each will include 4 foundational elements. And they’re not what you might typically think.
Passion
The cornerstone of accomplishing any goal you set for yourself is passion. Because without it you’ll wake up dreading each day.
That passion resides within you, driving you, motivating you, and exciting you. When you’re doing something you love, it’s fun and easy to do. You lose track of time while doing it. Without that passion, you’ll find every excuse you can to avoid writing.
My first novel, Claiming Her Inheritance, all started from a scene I wrote in 2009 for a writing course I was taking. It took 2 years from the time I started writing to when it hit the bookshelves, but I had so much fun writing that book!
Commitment
Many say they want to write a book but never actually do. Writing takes commitment (anything you desire to do takes commitment). A novel is at least 50,000 words in length, and it doesn’t happen overnight. There might be days when cleaning the house seems more appealing than putting your butt in the chair, and that’s when you draw on commitment.
Consistency
Consistency partners with commitment and together they equal perseverance.
Consistent writing time is essential. That might be 1 or 2 hours once a week, or 15 minutes 7 days a week, or anything in between. That consistency develops a writing habit that gets your book written. Devote the time needed to your day job and family, but find a writing time that works best for you, put it on your schedule, and keep that appointment with yourself.
Courage
Writing a book means putting yourself out there for all to see (even if you publish under a pen name). That takes courage. Readers will let you know what they think of your work, good or bad, and they don’t mince words.
Whether you’re a plotter or a pantser, without these 4 pieces, you’ll want to quit the moment things get a little bit difficult.
The Physical Elements of Writing
There are 3 important elements to the actual work of writing a first Christian novel.
Craft
Learning the craft of writing fiction is a must. Writers can find a plethora of books on the Internet as well as online courses. My bookshelves are filled. I’ve also taken many writing courses over the years and continue to do so. I always seek to improve my craft.
Critique
One of the best things I ever did toward my writing journey was to join a critique group. I learn so much about writing through participation in these groups. I participate in both an online group and one I hold in my own home. Additionally, I have an author friend who critiques my writing (and I critique hers) via email.
Self-editing
When my draft is done, I set it aside for at least a week or two, then I start self-editing. I print out my entire manuscript because it looks so much different on the printed page. I look for plot and character development, flow, story conflict, point of view, and more. At this point, I don’t look for typos or incorrect punctuation. If I find them, I fix them, but that’s not the primary emphasis of my first run at self-editing. I self-edit as many times as needed to polish the story before I send it to a professional editor and beta readers.
In conclusion, if you’re stuck or struggling, I can all but guarantee that one or more of those first 4 elements is missing. Take an honest assessment of where you are with passion, commitment, consistency, and courage. Don’t berate yourself for falling short. We all do. Make the decision to change and move forward.
The other three—craft, critique, self-editing—will happen as you write. Persevere, and you will get there.
Author bio:
Debra L. Butterfield is the author of ten books that include Self-editing & Publishing Tips for the Indie Authors. She is a freelance editor, editorial director of CrossRiver Media Group, and a former copywriter for Focus on the Family. She blogs about writing at TheMotivationalEditor.com
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