Tips for Writing Dynamic Christian Short Stories and Novels

Maybe a nonreligious person would never enter a church to find God, but through powerful spiritual fiction, many an agnostic has come to faith by reading a well craffted spiritual short story or novel.

A few good examples of authors who've succeeded in creating outstanding spiritual fiction include Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, authors of the popular "Left Behind" series, which focuses on the last days on earth. Also, popular Christian author Jan Karon, creator of the Mitford series, writes about a beloved pastor and his flock in a small mountain village of North Carolina. Besides novels, short story authors also construct their fiction in such a dynamic way to bring their readers closer to God. Here are a few ways they make their fiction powerful.

Use personal anecdotes

When you open your fiction with real people struggling in real situations, you touch the humanness of your readers as they quickly relate to the main character as soon as your story begins. When your readers see themselves in the opening paragraphs, they've already connected and want to read more. What's more, when you choose first person, you've even touched your readers even more powerfully.

Begin Your Story in the Middle of a Conflict

If you think about many plays or TV dramas, don't they often open the middle of a problem or conflict? When you begin with a scene depicting conflict, you immediately draw your reader into your story.

Write Out of the Box

Writing "out of the box" is simply surprising your readers by not being predictable. In other words, create your story in a way that your readers won't expect what should logically happen next. Top-notch writers competing in writing flash fiction (about 750 words) of the FaithWriters' Weekly Writing Challenge often receive "Editor's Choice" rankings by writing out of the box. Author Jan Ackerman, a widely read FaithWriter who frequently wins in writing contests, is a master at writing out of the box. Check out her short story, "Sticky Note" where she won 2^nd place in FaithWriter's Weekly Writing Challenge.

Don't Preach

Remember that people usually read fiction because they want to relax and be entertained---not be sermonized. If you want your readers to put down your book after the first page, then preach to them. Instead of quoting scripture on the virtues of honesty, create your main character in a way that shows him (or her) being honest. Remember that you can get across just about any sermon without a preachy voice. With practice and a little creativity, you can easily work your Biblical principles into your plot without sounding religious or preachy.

Don't Always End with a Happy Ending

When you constantly end your stories with all the loose ends tied up neatly in a pretty bow, you may be leaving out room for real life stories that don't always end happily ever after. Unfortunately, in real life, more often than not, there's not a happy ending. However, even though a story doesn't end on a happy note, it often serves a higher purpose. Also, remember that the real purpose of good spiritual fiction is to show how someone's faith shines through and grows through obstacles, rather than always getting what he (or she) wants in the end.

Also, keep in mind that writing good fiction takes practice. Even though you apply these principles, as well as others, if you don't regularly write, you won't grow into a powerful writer. To horn your writing skills, get involved in writing contests, as well as other opportunities where you can grow as a writer. And, if you're focusing on writing Christian fiction, don't forget that it's a ministry where God receives all the glory.