| The "Please Do Nots" of Writing Christian Fiction As compiled by Donna Fleisher. Please do not take anything she says as truth. Unless you want to. Says who? Says she. |
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| The "Please Do Nots" of Writing Christian Fiction © 2005 Donna A. Fleisher |
Please, please, please do not …
… let the chance slip away to write the story God is putting on your heart. You’ll
miss something wonderful if you do!
… start to write your story until you have a basic understanding of at least the basic
elements of writing fiction. It’s harder than it looks.
… act like you know what you’re doing if you don’t. Zeal can sometimes overtake
our good sense to listen and learn.
… write a boring story. Write something readers will savor.
… write a story that someone else has written. Unless you can write it a hundred
times better in your own unique voice.
… attempt to steal or imitate another writer’s voice or style. Your style and unique
voice is what will make your story truly your own.
… whine. Please.
… go through the motions. See Colossians 3:17.
… submit a manuscript to an editor or agent that isn’t your best work. You’re doing
yourself in if you do.
… seek critique and feedback on your story before you should. Please write your
story first, so nothing contaminates your unique voice and style.
… think more highly of yourself than you ought to. Sometimes we do!
… think of your work more highly than you ought to. It can always be worked into
something better, and when someone tries to help you make it better, you should
always at least listen.
… let the editing process wear you down. Editing is totally subjective. Always.
But always listen to what’s being said and try to learn from it, even if you later
discard the advice given.
… have exorbitant expectations. Pray a lot. Keep your eyes on Christ and let Him
control what you cannot control. In this industry, that’s a lot.
… look at what God is doing in another writer’s work and make judgments on that.
God is big and amazing and working in all of us in totally different and uniquely
exciting ways! Don’t hinder that!
… forget to look at what God is wanting to do through you.
… be afraid to submit. Sometimes we need to stop working on that 29th WIP.
Sometimes we need to prioritize. To focus on the one WIP we want to see most in
print. And pray. And then submit it.
… confuse or overwhelm editors and agents by submitting proposals for all 29 of
your WIPs at one time—WIPs that include novels in 12 different genres, a collection
of devotions, a terrific gift book idea, and a Christian cookbook. And we wonder why
editors and agents pull their hair out!
… have an us-against-them mentality when it comes to editors, agents, and the
industry. Just don’t do it. Please.
… expect a free ride. Anything good in this world costs. Remember that line from
Fame? “Fame costs. And right here’s where you start payin’. In sweat.” Something
like that.
… ask a professional freelance editor to edit your work for free, or minimize their
work to get a cheaper rate, or even think of saying to him or her, “I can’t afford to pay
you, but I would really appreciate it if you would still work on my manuscript.”
Maybe you can get away with this if the editor is your sister-in-law …
… let money be the only reason why you don’t get your finished manuscript
professionally edited by a freelance editor. If you can’t afford her rates, ask her nicely
to negotiate with you. You may be pleasantly surprised at what she has to say.
… let money be the only reason why you don’t go to a major Christian writers
conference. If you’re passionate about seeing your novel published, can you afford not
to go?
… expect others to do your work for you. You need to research the Christian
Writer’s Market Guide before submitting your proposal anywhere. You need to check
the websites for guidelines before submitting. You need to verify names before typing
one on your cover letter. You need to be prepared to market and promote your book
when it does hit the shelves.
… over-analyze your work or other people’s work. Hey. A novel is just a story. It’
s not rocket science or brain surgery. If you don’t “get” a story, then just admit, “I didn’
t get it.” Enough said. Don’t try to tell other people who haven’t read the story, “This
is why you won’t get it either.”
… lose sight of Truth in your quest to become a published author. If you care about
Truth, show it. Live it. Express it in everything you write, say, do, and are. Truth is a
Man. Follow Jesus. Let Him do and be through you. You won’t be sorry. Ever.
… let the chance slip away to write the story God is putting on your heart. You’ll
miss something wonderful if you do!
… start to write your story until you have a basic understanding of at least the basic
elements of writing fiction. It’s harder than it looks.
… act like you know what you’re doing if you don’t. Zeal can sometimes overtake
our good sense to listen and learn.
… write a boring story. Write something readers will savor.
… write a story that someone else has written. Unless you can write it a hundred
times better in your own unique voice.
… attempt to steal or imitate another writer’s voice or style. Your style and unique
voice is what will make your story truly your own.
… whine. Please.
… go through the motions. See Colossians 3:17.
… submit a manuscript to an editor or agent that isn’t your best work. You’re doing
yourself in if you do.
… seek critique and feedback on your story before you should. Please write your
story first, so nothing contaminates your unique voice and style.
… think more highly of yourself than you ought to. Sometimes we do!
… think of your work more highly than you ought to. It can always be worked into
something better, and when someone tries to help you make it better, you should
always at least listen.
… let the editing process wear you down. Editing is totally subjective. Always.
But always listen to what’s being said and try to learn from it, even if you later
discard the advice given.
… have exorbitant expectations. Pray a lot. Keep your eyes on Christ and let Him
control what you cannot control. In this industry, that’s a lot.
… look at what God is doing in another writer’s work and make judgments on that.
God is big and amazing and working in all of us in totally different and uniquely
exciting ways! Don’t hinder that!
… forget to look at what God is wanting to do through you.
… be afraid to submit. Sometimes we need to stop working on that 29th WIP.
Sometimes we need to prioritize. To focus on the one WIP we want to see most in
print. And pray. And then submit it.
… confuse or overwhelm editors and agents by submitting proposals for all 29 of
your WIPs at one time—WIPs that include novels in 12 different genres, a collection
of devotions, a terrific gift book idea, and a Christian cookbook. And we wonder why
editors and agents pull their hair out!
… have an us-against-them mentality when it comes to editors, agents, and the
industry. Just don’t do it. Please.
… expect a free ride. Anything good in this world costs. Remember that line from
Fame? “Fame costs. And right here’s where you start payin’. In sweat.” Something
like that.
… ask a professional freelance editor to edit your work for free, or minimize their
work to get a cheaper rate, or even think of saying to him or her, “I can’t afford to pay
you, but I would really appreciate it if you would still work on my manuscript.”
Maybe you can get away with this if the editor is your sister-in-law …
… let money be the only reason why you don’t get your finished manuscript
professionally edited by a freelance editor. If you can’t afford her rates, ask her nicely
to negotiate with you. You may be pleasantly surprised at what she has to say.
… let money be the only reason why you don’t go to a major Christian writers
conference. If you’re passionate about seeing your novel published, can you afford not
to go?
… expect others to do your work for you. You need to research the Christian
Writer’s Market Guide before submitting your proposal anywhere. You need to check
the websites for guidelines before submitting. You need to verify names before typing
one on your cover letter. You need to be prepared to market and promote your book
when it does hit the shelves.
… over-analyze your work or other people’s work. Hey. A novel is just a story. It’
s not rocket science or brain surgery. If you don’t “get” a story, then just admit, “I didn’
t get it.” Enough said. Don’t try to tell other people who haven’t read the story, “This
is why you won’t get it either.”
… lose sight of Truth in your quest to become a published author. If you care about
Truth, show it. Live it. Express it in everything you write, say, do, and are. Truth is a
Man. Follow Jesus. Let Him do and be through you. You won’t be sorry. Ever.