Writing a book or even a short story is no small feat, especially when you add in religion. Christian nonfiction can be incredibly moving and powerful if done well. If you want to try your hand at writing a faith-based story, start by creating a clear outline. Then, weave Christian messages and values throughout the piece, and get feedback from readers and fellow writers before you go to publish it.

Here are more points  to ponder when developing a good Christian non – fiction.

  1. Good message is not enough to make a good book

It’s worrying how upcoming authors hype over their upcoming books that are founded on a powerful sermon series they taught sometime. While it’s alright to keep enthusiastic over unfolding mileage, it’s necessary to note that poor writing can muddle and dismantle a message, rendering it ineffective. Books do not write themselves just because you’re doing it for Jesus. You don’t learn how to run a food store just by praying over it neither do you write a book that way. Nonfiction writing is still writing, and writing is an art.

  • Good tools do not make a good carpenter

Just because you know all the writing tricks there are: metaphors, alliteration, rhyming, juxtaposition, puns, anagrams, life examples, etc. does not mean you are a good writer. Unfortunately, good tools do not make a good carpenter; they can only enhance one. Tools in the hands of a bad writer are nothing more than gimmicks. Let’s just say, Tools aren’t enough. You must know how to use them properly.

  • Kill your babies.

This is a writing phrase that means to cut out anything that doesn’t push the book forward. Even if you love a certain part, even if you did hours of research for something, if it doesn’t help the book, cut it.

  • Watch for distractions.

Imagine a man mending a fabric with some thread full of knots. The thread is likely to jam at every instance making it impossible to fix the garment. Technical terms simply mess a good piece however few. They may seem small, but a tiny rock in your shoe can ruin your walk. Little distractions take you out of the moment like a foul note takes you out of a good worship song. Smooth writing keeps readers where they need to be to accept whatever it is you’re trying to say.

  • Consider your audience.

A good writer must, must, must step into his reader’s shoes. To do this, you need readers from your target audience. I’m writing Christian fiction, so I want Christians to preview my book. In my fantasy works, I want fantasy and non-fantasy fans alike to read my drafts to give me perspectives on both sides. Truth is, “Just because you know what you’re talking about doesn’t mean the reader does.”

  • Bring it down to Earth.

There’s nothing more frustrating than inspiration without application. It’s like being taken to a restaurant, show the food, told how delicious everything is, and then being taken home without a bite. It’s not just frustrating, it’s downright cruel. This isn’t a scholarly thesis; it’s a book. If you can’t tell your audience how to achieve what you’re telling them to do, then you’re not helping anybody.