Customer Reviews

The Art & Craft of Writing Christian Fiction

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"Toss aside your s'mores and put on your director's chapeau. It's time to stop telling stories and start making movies--on paper."

This is the theme of Jeff Gerke's lessons on writing fiction. It's absolutely brilliant. As Jeff gives the example of a story told around a flickering campfire, you will see the difference between showing and telling. You can't miss it. Sure, it will still take a lot of work to get your own writing to that point, but I wish I would have had this book back when I first started. Thankfully, I am always learning and this book is filled with so much good information, I will refer to it again and again. I highly recommend it for all writers. It's the king of book you read and learn so much from. But it's also the kind of book that you will want to pick up for reference when you need help.

As Jeff says, "You are not a Jedi yet." So if you want to learn how to write great fiction, if you need a bit of extra help with your writing, or if you need to know what you are doing wrong, you must have this book. You must. It's worth it for Jeff's Star Wars references alone.

I just read the most wonderful book, The Art & Craft of Writing Christian Fiction, by Jeff Gerke. It had been on my shelf for a while, because I'd been busy with deadlines and such, but while recovering from surgery this past week I finally read it. And now, I'm kicking myself for not reading it months ago, because it is absolutely packed with excellent advice. Reading it was like sitting down with the author and receiving an in-depth workshop in my own home.

I'd recommend it whether you're an aspiring author, or have dozens of books under your belt. I've sold twenty-eight books or so now, and in addition to the great nuts-and bolts information (which I loved) he gave me so many new insights on the art of writing Christian fiction. I would recommend this book to any Christian writer, at whatever place they might be along the spectrum from beginner to advanced.

I'm going to order another copy to give to a critique friend, who is hoping to break into the Christian market. What a perfect Christmas present!

Roxanne Rustand

I don't know if Jeff's book was the most helpful book I've ever read on writing. I do know it was the most entertaining. It was also the most well-organized. Each area is broken down into manageable chunks that make it easy to go back to a section you want to look up later. I will remember sections and look them up again too--if just for the fun of it. I loved the way he explained things with creative language, references to popular movies and excerpts from his own writing... I felt as if I were talking to someone who was coaching me through the process in a fun, approachable way.

Make no mistake, there is plenty of good information wedged between those softcovers. Each time he added a mistake new writers make, or some horrible manuscript that had crossed his desk, I shuddered to think how he would respond to my manuscript.

Perhaps that and keeping his book placed prominently on my desk will be enough for me to avoid making some of those errors. Maybe I should read it again--just to make sure I've crafted my lightsaber properly.

This is a very complete and concise book on the craft of writing. Though it is targeted at Christian fiction, it contains great tips and advice for writers of any type of fiction. One of my favorites, and highly recommended.

Jeff Gerke has written an excellent book for Christian Writers. It is full of wonderful help with examples as he explains step by step how to write a good hook novel. I enjoyed every page as I learned how to apply tips that change fictional writing into a piece of art.

Thanks Jeff, you did a great job!

Paulette L. Harris

I teach workshops on writing and am glad to add Jeff's book to my list of recommendations. I liked it so much that I bought several to give as gifts to my writing friends. Now what better praise is there than that!

This book is an excellent resource for anyone wishing to become a writer in general or a writer of Christian speculative fiction in particular. I was pleasantly surprised to find so much that edified me in regard to my faith in a "how to..." book. Jeff did a wonderful job of firmly establishing that God is our intended audience when we endeavor to write Christian fiction. He then built on that foundation to help the aspiring writer make sure that what is in their head is what eventually reaches the page. He helps us to be aware of some of the pitfalls we'll encounter along the way and he does so in a way that is believable, like he's speaking from his own considerable experience. Thank you, Jeff!

This is an excellent book. Not all of the recommendations worked for me, but almost all of them did. I'm grateful to have read it. It was as helpful to me as Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Browne and King--a book that is recommended by Gerke in his book.

I bought this book based on other reviews, and I am so glad I did. My writers' guide library now has 25+ books, but this is in my top three.

Jeff Gerke begins with an examination of the purpose of Christian fiction - to glorify God. Although I've seen this topic covered by other writers, Jeff did it best, refreshing my understanding of God as our accepting, loving Creator and the audience of One for whom we write. The book is worth buying for the first three chapters (or, as he calls them, masteries) alone. But there's so much more!

A skilled author and editor, Gerke is also a marvelous teacher. His chapters on character and plot creation, voice, dialogue, and description were illuminating. He combines text with examples, exercises, and mini-quizzes to broaden the reader's understanding. His POV (point of view) mini-quiz showed me how little I really knew about a topic I thought I knew well!

Gerke also sprinkles in enough cultural references - to movies, songs, TV shows, etc. - to keep the book lively and entertaining.

If you're thinking of buying this book, wait no longer. Highly recommended!

I've read this book on paper and found it to be extremely valuable, also fun and interesting to read. I would recommend it to everyone.