Storytelling as a Christian can be a tricky thing sometimes.

Besides having to learn the technical things about how to write well, there are other elements that we have to consider. Like how to make our stories God-honoring, how to tell a message we have, and ultimately pointing to Christ with our books.

Here are a few tips I wish I knew when I had just started writing…

01. Don’t Just Copy Lewis and Tolkien

So many times I’ve seen Christian fantasy writers copying either C.S. Lewis’ Narnia or Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. There’s nothing saying you can’t be inspired by these masterful stories and worlds, but make your story your own. Don’t just play off of the work other authors have already done. Work hard to create your own unique stories and worlds.

02. Read the Bible

Pretty basic, right? But just like how we need God’s word in any other area of life, we need it for writing too. Delving deep into the Bible gives us a better idea of how we can glorify God in our stories.

03. Use the ‘Show, Don’t Tell’ technique

This is so important. Just for fiction writing in general, but I think especially for Christian writers who are trying to deliver a message through their stories. Too many times I’ve seen Christian writers just flat-out tell the reader their message and what’s right and wrong, and maybe even beat them over the head with it. You need to show them. Show them with the character arcs, plot, and happenings in your story.

To learn more about the ‘show, don’t tell’ technique and how you can use it, check out this post by Hope Ann on Kingdom Pen.

04. Don’t Make Your Christian Character Perfect

Please…just don’t. This is my pet peeve when it comes to Christian fiction. Yes, we are supposed to strive to be like Christ, who is perfect. But in reality, we fall short. We’re imperfect. It’s unrealistic to portray Christian characters in any other way. The difference between characters who are believers and ones who are not, is that Christian characters should realize their faults and try to fix them. Just make your characters realistic. And that makes them relatable.

05. You Don’t Have to Be Explicitly Christian in Your Stories

Some Christian writers believe that they have to explicitly show their faith in their stories. Of course, this is not a bad thing. The decision to be explicit or implicit about Christianity and your faith depends on each story and what message you want to tell. Sometimes I think that being implicit reaches a wider audience outside of the Christian market, if you’re wanting your message to reach more non-believers.

To help you decide whether or not to be explicit or implicit depending on your story, visit this post by Josiah DeGraaf on Story Embers, How Explicit Should My Faith Be in My Stories?

Also, be sure to check out Mariposa Aristeo’s spot-on post (also on Story Embers), Three Ways the Book of Esther Inspires Writers to Glorify God Between the Lines.

06. Don’t Be Afraid to Tackle Deep Themes and Hard Issues

We need more Christian writers taking on topics that are deep and really hit home. Don’t be afraid to tackle issues that you think are hard or controversial, and don’t let feelings of inadequacy stop you either. Just trust God’s guidance.

Check out Josiah DeGraaf’s post on Story Embers, How to Subtly Deliver a Powerful Message in Your Story.

07. Find Like-Minded Writers

SO IMPORTANT! Already, writing can feel like a lonely hobby, especially being a Christian writer. Don’t be afraid to reach out to other like-minded people to connect with. It’s super encouraging, and great to have someone to ask questions, discuss things, and share ideas.

08. Find Christian organizations/resources

This is super important too. Finding these websites that specifically deal with Christian storytelling is a life-saver. You’ve already seen me give you several blog post links from the site Story Embers; they’re a great one to check out. You can also check out the site Kingdom Pen. The site’s not active anymore, but there’s still a wealth of awesome posts that you can dig into.

It’s great to find courses by Christian writers and authors too, like Ink Slinger Academy, Excelsior Writing School, the One Year Adventure Novel course(s), and The Christian Writers Institute.

Another awesome thing that Story Embers has done, is create a Christian Storytellers Manifesto. I think it’s super important for Christian writers, so check out my post on that here.

I hope these tips (and the links too), will help you with your writing. I definitely don’t claim to be an expert at all, but if you want to reach out to me to ask any questions, feel free to visit my ‘Contact’ page and shoot me a message. 😉

Write on,

What other tips do you have for Christian writers? What are your favorite Christian resources?

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