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A Novel Idea: Best Advice on Writing Inspirational Fiction

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Tyndale has recently published a great reference book for those inclined to write Christian fiction. If you've perused the sections in a Christian bookstore you will find many shelves devoted to this writing. If you venture into a mainstream bookstore you even will find many of the same books in stock. Unfortunately, if you've picked them up you may have been disappointed with the story telling. Just because someone has added God content to their pages doesn't mean that the book is worth reading. Honestly, some of the worst books I've ever read fit into this genre. It seems too easy to give an author an easy pass on their writing just because their characters go to church, make good decisions, and don't have premarital relations or affairs. Maybe Tyndale published this book hoping to get a better quality of writing into the field. If so, good for them!

A Novel Idea is a collection of advice from "Top Selling, Inspirational Authors" including Francine Rivers, Karen Kingsbury, Randy Alcorn, Terri Blackstock, Robin Jones Gunn, Jerry Jenkins, and Angela Hunt. There are other Christian fiction writers that I wish had been included in this book based on their quality of writing, but I digress.

Part one of the book covers the "Fundamentals of Fiction" with chapters on plot, characters, dialogue, point of view, pacing, setting, and descriptions.

Part two covers, "Developing Your Craft" with chapters on preparation, the discipline of writing, finding your voice, writing with expression, and handling rejection.

The third section specifically covers the areas of discerning your calling and the distinctives of Christian fiction.

The last section covers networking and marketing with chapters on breaking into publishing and specific areas of marketing like blogging and promotion through social networks.

This book was extremely valuable to read through and instead of going to my "have read" book shelves, this resource will stay within arms reach for its insight into these areas of writing. If you are interested in writing, or you are a mediocre Christian-fiction author, please read this book.

I've read scores of books on the craft of writing, and I've learned from them all. But even though Christian fiction is one of the fastest growing segments in the market today, there have been few exhaustive manuals on writing in this genre. A Novel Idea, written by dozens of best-selling authors, is a timely and much-needed handbook.

The techniques of writing dialogue, creating suspense, and plotting stories are the same across genres, but some don't realize Christian fiction is not just fiction minus swear words and sex scenes. In her essay "Writing to Change Lives" Karen Kingsbury says, "For me, Christ is the story. He is not a patch to add into my plot, or a marketing ploy. The world can write about the physical, intellectual, and emotional aspects of people. So can we. Ah, but we also can tell about the spiritual--and the story is nothing without that piece. We are the most blessed of all writers because we are called to tell the whole story."

Subjects like how writing can be a ministry and a profession as well as what makes Christian fiction Christian aren't found in A Novel Idea's secular counterparts. And sometimes when reading general market writing books, it can feel like searching for a diamond in a dung hill as you wade through dirty examples and four letter words. It's refreshing to read articles that unashamedly share Scripture alongside the poignant advice, as well as tried and true techniques.

From the fundamentals of description, characters, setting, and point of view to more in depth subjects like writing proposals and synopses, A Novel Idea guides us through the winding streets of the writing journey. Noteworthy stops include Angela Hunt's "Plot Skeleton" which shares in detail her technique for building a book from the bones up. In "Doing a Fast First Draft" Linda Ford casts aside the myth that writing a novel has to take months or even years. James Scott Bell effectively teaches on "Dialogue in Action" with examples from films like On the Waterfront and Casablanca.

But some of the best nuggets can be found in the impressive sidebars. These pearls of wisdom from the likes of Randy Alcorn, Jerry B. Jenkins, Karen Kingsbury (her poem "To Write" is worthy of framing), Terri Blackstock, and many others grab your attention and are easily digested. Worthy of its own mention is the interview with Francine Rivers printed in several parts throughout. She answers questions about calling, the gritty subjects she's covered in her books (a number of publishers actually turned down her book A Voice in the Wind because they didn't believe she was a Christian), and how reading affects what she writes. In talking about "voice" she says, "That's been a struggle for me, to remember that I have my own voice and not to try to be another voice. Each of us has a unique way of expressing ourselves. I think it damages us when we do too much comparing, too much admiring of others' work."

A Novel Idea is an inspiring book to be picked up over and over again at each stage of your writing development. Whether you're just setting pen to paper or writing your tenth novel, you'll find encouragement and a deeper knowledge in these 300 pages.

--Reviewed by C.J. Darlington for TitleTrakk

I love, love, love this book! I have had this for months now and have read and re-read it, highlighting and underlining as I go. This will be a book I reference frequently and keep close to hand. I've been so busy dissecting this book, that somehow I never got around to reviewing it until now! Crazy, I know.

Opinions are often different, methods often vary, and even the answer to what makes a Christian book Christian differs. And this is exactly what I love about this book. There is so much to learn from different authors. One method may not fit your personal style, another may. One tip may leave you scratching your head but the next has you nodding your head and frantically underlining and taking notes.

Topics include pre-writing, outlining, character development, writing plot twists, great settings, dialogue, etc.- pretty much every topic you can think of that pertains to fiction writing. One of my favorite chapters was written by an author whose book I had read previously and found to be just so-so. After reading her excellent advice, I am wanting to try another book of hers and see if the last was just a fluke.

After sharing general writing tips, the sections move into writing disciplines, finding your "voice", handling rejection, etc. and then various perspectives on fiction and Christianity. It winds up by discussing publishing, networking, and marketing.

A Novel Idea is a gold mine of information and perspectives and I highly recommend it to Christian authors or wanna-be Christian authors like myself.

I am extremely excited about this book. If you are at all interested in the creative process and business of novel writing, then this book is a wonderful resource tool. It is jam-packed with an abundance of information, ideas, and advice. It's a must-have for aspiring authors. For those who are veteran authors, it's for you too because we all could use reminders of the process and find inspiration from other authors' ideas about writing.

I grabbed this book as soon as it came in the mail from Vicky Lynch and Tyndale Publishers, scooped up a couple of highlighters and dug in. It went beyond my expectations addressing special issues with Christian writing as opposed to secular writing.

For example

*What Makes Christian Fiction Christian?

*Avoiding Preachy Fiction

*Writing the Nuances of Christian Content in Fiction and

*Evil in Fiction

There are also great suggestions on establishing a writing routine, marketing, and breaking into the publishing world. With so much to consider beyond the creative side of novel writing, it's nice to have a helping hand from authors who want you to succeed.

This book was provided free of charge by the publisher. No payment was provided in return for this review. The publisher had no editorial rights or claims over the content or the conclusions made in this review.

Have you ever been positive that deep with in you is the next great novel, the one that will sell millions of copies, that will wow the literary world, that will launch you into the greatest writing career ever? Have you sat down to write, said novel only to find the only thing you have typed is "once upon a time" or "It all began one stormy night."


Tyndale House Publishing has collaberated with many authors to bring us the book A Novel Idea, authors such as Robin Jones Gunn, Karen Kingsbury, Angela Hunt, Randy Alcorn, Sandra Byrd, and many many more. Authors who have sat at that blank screen just as you have, trying to get their ideas out of their head, and onto paper.


This book will take you through writing a novel, beginning with the plot, how to keep the story moving, how to add a twist, then help you develop your characters, your ability to write dialog, to keep the point on view on track, everything you ever wanted to ask about writing a book is included in this book, or so it seemed to me. A great tool for the budding novelist, this book will not disappoint. With contributions from over fifty well known Christian authors, the advice in this book is time and book sales proven. 300 pages $14.99 US 4 stars


This book was provided for review purposes only, no cash or payment of any type was received for this book.

What would it be like to have a conversation with the best Christian fiction authors in the business? What if they could give the aspiring writer information, encouragement and motivation that made a life-long impact on the writers career? What if the same writer needed help developing the tone of their writing, or had questions regarding pace, point of view, dialogue? Help is here and it arrives through the mentoring voices of Jerry B. Jenkins, Karen Kingsbury, Randy Alcorn, Francine Rivers and more. But before I get ahead of myself, let me be quick in saying A Novel Idea is for the reader, writer, reviewer and editor of Christian books.

I can say that because I wear all of the above hats. A Novel Idea is broad in it's audience, which is almost impossible to accomplish, yet brilliant if you can pull it off.

As a reader, I want to see more Christian fiction that actually has a Christian plot. The characters shouldn't compromise to gain a cross-over audience and sad to say, I've read quite a few lately that did just this.

As a writer, I found the advice hit the nail on the head and approached the exact needs I encounter in my own writing. A Novel Idea is a writers education in itself!

As a reviewer, I can attest to the substance and clarity of the information presented. It was not only informative, but entertaining and interesting at the same time.

As a content editor of Christian fiction, I won't allow a Christian manuscript to bear my approval unless it can be held to the highest of Christian standards. Do the characters wrestle with an element present in every Christians daily walk and by the end of the book, do they come to terms with their dilema? Are gratuitous writing aspects of secular novels missing in the so-called Christian manuscript-is profanity, sexual situations and other unnecessary elements absent? A Novel Idea echoes the passion I've held manuscripts to for as long as I have edited. It's comforting to know other authors have the same idea and strive to make the word Christian mean something.

Whether you are a reader or writer, this book is for you. When the subtitle claims "Best advice on writing Inspirational Fiction" it does just that. In a big way, and through some big names! Make sure your Christian manuscript is up to the challenge and read A Novel Idea first before submitting it!

This book was exactly what I needed right when I most needed to be reading it. Coincidence - no! I know I was led to this book and it has given me answers I didn't even know I was asking - yet.
If you aspire to becoming a published Christian Fiction Writer - GET THIS BOOK and GET IT FIRST. Reading this book before you write your first chapter can save you mistakes galore - I have to say, I'd written much more than one chapter but under this book, I've cleaned up some goofs that would have made me out as a hack writer. Thank you, dear authors who sought to serve both upcoming writers in America as well as donationg the proceeds from the sales of this book go to help others. What a gift this has been here and abroad! From the bottom of my heart I can not say enough about the help this book can be to any inspirational writer - even the experienced.

I found this book to be a good resource for new or aspiring writers, with very practical sections on how to come up with a story, outlining, plot, point of view, voice, etc., all the way through an author's development to revision and critique, marketing, and dealing with post-publication authorial challenges. Each section is composed of sub-sections and sidebars by well-known Christian authors, with a helpful bibliography of other books to consult.

This would be a good book for a new or aspiring writer, for a brief and helpful primer to get into the craft. For experienced writers, the later sections are more useful, but the earlier sections are also interesting and inspiring, to see how published authors approach their challenges.

Overall, this book is worth investing in for the writer's reference shelf.

I'm still in the process of browsing through this book and know it'll be used for some time to come. A great reference on every facet of the writing game, this will surely stand the test of time & publishers demands. The opinions of its multi-published contributors gives the reader a host of well-researched insights! Wonderful. Kudos to these authors for sharing from their rich experiences!

"A Novel Idea: Best Advice On Writing Inspirational Fiction" is a wonderful compilation of sage guidance from several powerhouses in the Christian fiction writing world. When I first cracked the cover on this book, I was both excited and apprehensive - excited at the possibility of learning how to take my writing to a new level where it would be marketable, and apprehensive about possibly learning that I don't have the drive or talent to really make any headway writing a book!

What I found in the table of contents alone BLEW ME AWAY! Men and women whose work I've come to adore since I began reading Christian fiction have contributed treasured nuggets of proven techniques to help the reader become a better fiction writer. Jerry Jenkins, Sandra Byrd, Camy Tang, Brandilyn Collins, and many more offer advice on writing and getting published. I am still amazed that I have access to the advice of masterful novelists that I can revisit at any time.

Filled with tips from best-selling Christian authors on creating plot, writing dialogue, point of view, and characterization, as well as the behind-the-scenes business aspects of making a living as a novelist, this book is a must read for anyone who really wants to break into this career field.