How to identify your target audience

target audience

Becoming a Christian fiction author is a goal to which many authors aspire. Many issues factor in regarding what makes some writers more successful than others. Those who aren’t getting the sales they’d hoped for often have not identified their target audience.  You could be the world’s greatest writer; if no one knows about your … Read more

Deciding which fictional characters make the cut

characters

Stories begin in an author’s mind in many ways. You might meet someone or go somewhere that sparks ideas in your head. Before you know it, you are spinning a tale, complete with fictional characters who will help you turn your idea into (hopefully) best-selling novel. There’s always a risk of over-writing, however, meaning you … Read more

Why does a publisher reject a fiction manuscript?

reject

You’d be hard-pressed to find an author (even a prolific, best-selling one) who hasn’t experienced disappointment at some point. Every submission is a new and unique event. Acceptance is not guaranteed. It’s helpful to understand why publishers sometimes reject a fiction manuscript. Keep in mind that rejection doesn’t automatically signify the end of the road … Read more

Overview of 5 literary conflicts

conflicts

As an author who writes Christian novels, you no doubt review each of your stories to ensure they have clearly developed elements, such as theme, plot, characters and settings. Readers’ satisfaction might be low if you have failed to develop one or more of these elements in a story. They will be left with feelings … Read more

Weaving underlying Christian themes into a story

Christian themes

Writing a novel based on the ideologies of Christianity doesn’t mean the characters or events in the story must be overt in the faith. Think C.S. Lewis or J.R.R. Tolkien. Their novels are filled with wizards and monstrous beings, other worlds and epic battles. Reading the inside cover synopses of their stories wouldn’t necessarily clue … Read more

4 tips for writing a reverse chronology story

reverse chronology

Have you ever read a book or watched a movie that begins at the end or, at least, at the climax of the story? From the opening scene or page, you are then transported back in time so that by the end, you understand why the things that occurred at the beginning (of the novel … Read more

Curiosity and creative writing go together

curiosity

Some people are naturally curious, especially in childhood. Do you ask a lot of questions? If someone walks into a room that you’ve never met, do you immediately introduce yourself and try to find out more about them? Do you often wonder things, such as what life is like in another country or how big … Read more

What causes writer’s block?

writer's block

It’s easy to find articles on ways to spark creativity and overcome the greatly feared “author’s slump.” It happens to most writers at some point. However, just like taking pain relief medication treats a symptom but does nothing to resolve an underlying cause, it’s important to understand what causes writer’s block, not just how to … Read more

Reading books is still a popular pastime

reading

If you’re an author, it behooves you to know and connect with your target audience. There are many apps and types of software available to track the habits of consumers, such as where they shop or what they do for fun. Here’s some good news: Statistics show that people ages 16 and beyond still list … Read more

Christian romance novels are topping the charts

Christian romance novels

If you’re hoping to become a fiction novelist and are wondering which genre is popular among readers today, there’s one that stands out. In fact, many analysts say it’s more than a genre; it’s a movement. We’re talking about the Christian romance niche.  It’s booming.  Writing Christian romance novels is (or, at least, should be) different … Read more