What is your favorite reading genre? Perhaps you have several. C.S. Lewis, Karen Kingsbury, Janette Oke and Jan Karon are some big hitters when it comes to writing best-selling Christian fiction stories. If titles, such as “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” “Redemption,” “Love Comes Softly,” or “The Mitford Years” ring a bell, you might be a fan of these authors.
There are numerous reasons why many readers enjoy Christian fiction. Then again, some people say they avoid it. In this post, we’ll share the pros and cons of a reading-for-pleasure category that has been rising in popularity in recent years.
Christian fiction makes people feel good about life
There has been no shortage of economic, political and social unrest throughout the United States and across the globe over the past decade. At the end of the day, people want to relax and alleviate stress. Avid readers often turn to Christian fiction because the stories make them feel good. Book sales in this genre have steadily increased in the past several years for this reason, as well as those included in the following list:
- As a religion, Christianity is on the rise; readers often say that stories in this genre are spiritually uplifting, leaving them with a sense of hope in a world that seems dark at times.
- Christian fiction often features the basic elements of faith in action, such as attending church services, community service, people praying and more, which provides readers with a sense of belonging and normalcy.
- In addition to positive things readers can typically find in a novel based on Christian beliefs, readers are drawn to this genre because of what such stories do not have as well, like profanity, gore, graphic sexual scenes and more.
- Readers are inspired to learn more and to grow in faith through the situations and experiences of the characters in their books.
If you’re considering becoming a Christian fiction author, keeping this list in mind may help you understand your target audience. While a story might include hardship or a crisis of faith, the overall tone should align with the convictions and morals that the average believer holds true.
Why do some readers avoid this genre?
As with every fiction category, you’ll find that some readers love Christian fiction while others avoid it. Here are several reasons why:
- Some readers say overkill exists in this genre regarding the “feel good” elements of books in this category; authors will want to make sure their stories are believable, not “cheesy.”
- Artistic license can be a downfall for Christian authors, especially if their personal interpretation of a Scripture verse or ideology strays from the mainstream belief of a specific denomination.
- When a story feels like a lecture, readers shy away.
If you’re planning to write a Christian fiction book, remember to avoid these issues. Instead, focus on creating characters and storylines that are realistic, uplifting, and relatable for your readers.
