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Writing for the Soul: Instruction and Advice from an Extraordinary Writing Life

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To be perfectly up front about where I'm coming from, I haven't read the "Left Behind" novels and I'm not religious, nor do I tend to read much in the way of inspirational writing. Perhaps this will make it clear that when I say "Writing for the Soul" is a lovely and enjoyable read that could teach any up-and-coming writer a thing or two, I'm not speaking as a fan or simply agreeing with Jenkins' religious ideals--I'm speaking as a reader and writer who has had the privilege to review dozens of books on writing.

Jenkins' religious convictions certainly permeate his manuscript; he is unashamed of his beliefs, and his desire to share them with others is the result of a moving personal journey that he also shares within these pages. However, Jenkins also possesses a wry, thoughtful tone and a realistic outlook on life that prevents this outreach from pushing or preaching. I never felt excluded in any way as a non-believer, nor did I feel that Jenkins' advice and words had no relevance to me and my experience.

"Writing for the Soul" is part memoir and part instruction to would-be writers. Much of the instruction is relevant to writers aiming for any market, while some pertains specifically to inspirational or religious writing. Jerry Jenkins has authored many books (fiction and non-), and has extensive experience as an editor and publisher. It is this latter experience that makes his advice particularly insightful and useful to would-be authors. He understands the common mistakes that would-be authors of inspirational material tend to make (such as being overtly preachy!) and offers pointed advice to help them avoid such pitfalls. As a non-religious reader I particularly found myself nodding at his advice; the kinds of things he advises against are exactly the sorts of writing that put me off when I read inspirational material. The fact that I found his book so enjoyable, and frankly uplifting, merely proves his point.

In "Writing for the Soul" Jerry Jenkins gives writers instruction and advice about the craft. The book has a conversational tone, making you feel as though you're sitting right beside Jenkins in his cozy cabin in Colorado. Through a devotional, autobiographical style, Jenkins covers a number of writing issues, including:

* What to write about
* How to equip your writing space
* The importance of reading
* Research
* Pace, Conflict, and Plot
* Character development
* Publication issues

There's a lot to like here. I appreciate Jenkins' writings and consider him an excellent author. If you're looking for the story of how Jenkins found success as a writer, this is a good book for you. However, I think this book is mistitled. "Writing for the Soul" seems to indicate that the book addresses the issue of writing as a Christian calling, which is not the purpose of this book. If you are, like me, searching for a book that does address writing as a Christian calling, you might be more satisfied with the classic work, "An Introduction to Christian Writing" by Ethel Herr.

I was not a "Left Behind" fan. I thought Jerry Jenkins a great storyteller, but not a great writer. And I never would have bought his new book on writing if an accomplished and well published author friend hadn't recommended it.

And now I'd like to recommend it to everyone here.

Whatever you think of the "Left Behind" series, Jenkins is a very successful author. (He'd published 150 books before he ever wrote Left Behind.) Too, "Writing for the Soul" is thoughtful and well written.

Jenkins discusses how he worked his way up from newspaper stringer to author, talks about priorities and the Christian writer, gives lots of tips on writing better, gives some pretty good insight into the business of writing, and offers some great stories about a few of the famous folks he's written about (from Billy Graham to Nolan Ryan).

The only thing I wish he'd discussed--but didn't--is how more and more publishers are seeking writers (especially those who write nonfiction) to have "platforms," or "ready made" readers.

Nonetheless, I think EVERY writer, whether novice and well published, Christian or atheist, can learn something from this book.

Although I couldn't get into the "Left Behind" series, I respect Jerry Jenkins' work. After all, you can't argue with success. I was curious about him and his approach to writing, so when I saw this book I immediately bought it. After finishing "Writing For The Soul," my curiosity was satisfied. The author appears to be a down-to-earth person, and his advice is straightforward and worthwhile. Plus, the book is written and formatted in an easy-to-read fashion. Mr. Jenkins strives to communicate complex ideas simply, and here he delivers.

"Writing For The Soul" is one part autobiography and two parts writing and publishing advice. Each chapter focuses on aspects of the craft such as "What to Write," "Writers are Readers," and "Pace, Conflict and Plot." Mr. Jenkins is a big sports fan, so there are short profiles of various athletes he spent time with while crafting their biographies. In addition to being interesting, they are used as examples of how a good interviewer works with his subjects (celebrity or otherwise). Also, there are "Q & A with Jerry" sections throughout the book where he goes over the nuts and bolts of being an author.

Of course, all the how-to books in the world are useless without personal action. Along with his practical counsel, Mr. Jenkins makes it clear that writing involves specific character qualities. He stresses the need for desire and discipline, for without those attributes one is only a wannabe. Indeed, the two best pieces of advice (admonitions?) Mr. Jenkins gives are: 1) most people don't want to write - they already want to have written something, and 2) get your seat in the chair, start writing, and make it habitual.

If you really want to write and are curious/nervous about trying for publication, then the advice and encouragement you need is in "Writing For The Soul." All you have to do is act upon it. Additional books I've found helpful are Stephen King's "On Writing," and Pat Walsh's "78 Reasons Why Your Book May Never Be Published...And 14 Reasons Why It Just Might." As an aside, Mr. Jenkins also runs the Christian Writers Guild, and there's some information about it in "Writing For The Soul." At the Guild's website, you can take writing courses and even get your work looked at (for a fee, of course). It looks like a good way to ramp one's writing up to the next level - I'm thinking of giving it a shot.

Whether you're a fan of Jerry Jenkins' Left Behind series or not, this author knows the Christian publishing industry. With over 63 million copies sold, his best-selling fiction series (along with co-author Tim LaHaye) forever changed the world of Biblical fiction.

In this book, Jenkins shares his journey as a writer, and it's a must-read for every Christian writer with dreams of changing the world through story.

Jenkins began his career modestly, as a sports stringer for his high school newspaper. With nothing more than a love of words, he experienced a divine calling of the Holy Spirit while at youth camp in his teens. He devoted his life to always write for God's glory, never knowing where this would lead him.

With a foreword by Francine Rivers, this is the perfect book to start out the year by renewing your passion to write always for the Kingdom.

-- Christian Women Online Book Buzz

The real question is not whether--if you live to write or write to live--you should read Writing For The Soul. The real question is whether or not you should read it more than once.

For this writer, the answer is "yes!" Jerry's easy-going style will carry you from beginning to end without realizing you are learning, actually learning, about the gift and call of writing. There are both practical applications (that it is best to spend your good money on a good office chair) and that which seems obvious to most of us, but often is not ("Good writers are good readers. Great writers are great readers. So much of our art is learned from osmosis.").

Jerry has truly had an extraordinary writing life. He has graciously shared with us. We would be foolish not to accept the gift. (Man, I hope he doesn't have his thick-skinned editor's pen out right now, she thought. I hope I wrote all this correctly. Or, is it correct? Geez...now I'm puzzled... LOL)

Jerry Jenkin's expertise is written all through these pages. It is a summary of why he has been so successful in the writing field. If the reader takes his advise, he/she is certainly going to see a dramatic change in their writing career. I would recommend this book to anyone, especially if they are struggling, have writer's block, or just need some good down to earth advise on how to better their writing product.

In this fast-paced information age, it takes a lot for a writer to stand out. In Writing for the Soul, best-selling author Jerry B. Jenkins instructs his fellow writers how to do just that through personal anecdotes and helpful advice. Beginning writers are often blind to the obvious mistakes and cliches in their own work, but Jenkins' book helps to reveal when and where these problems occur and how writers can avoid them. He also demonstrates how to get into the writing industry more easily and how, in the process, to remain a faithful Christian and witness.

Aside from being an author, Jenkins worked as a magazine editor, as well as a book publisher for many years. These invaluable experiences give him a unique insight into the publishing world. Not only does he aide his readers in becoming better writers, but he also tells his readers what editors are thinking and discussing behind closed doors--what they are searching for as publishing material (and what they don't want).

Throughout the book, Jenkins shares pieces of his personal interviews with sports stars and celebrities such as Billy Graham, Paul Anderson, Nolan Ryan, and Madeline Manning, among many others. These stories are not only entertaining and comical, but also allow his readers to get a more accurate picture of what it was like for Jenkins as he worked his way up through the publishing industry channels. Jenkins also includes answers to countless interview questions that he has been asked throughout the years, giving insight into the reasons he writes the way he does. There are also several excerpts from his books and the works of other authors, that illustrate his different points and ideas.

One of the most important aspects of Writing for the Soul are his thoughts on faith and family life. Through fame, success, wealth, and whatever else has been thrown his way, Jenkins made the decision to keep his faith and family as his two top priorities, even when the world was telling him otherwise. He shares valuable insights about the decisions he made early on in his career (and about the sacrifices that went along with them) so that his family and Christ could be first in his life, and how God blessed him because of it.

Although blunt, Jenkins' tone remains consistently and refreshingly humble, straightforward, and gracious throughout the entire piece. He is not embarrassed to point out the past mistakes in his own writing career so that other writers may learn from them. Jenkins does not simply present his ideas, rather he records what has worked, and what hasn't worked, for him in the past. He doesn't just point out where the problems are, he also gives the solutions.

Writing for the Soul is a must-read for both teenage and adult writers who wish to drastically improve the style and depth of their work. Even non-writer fans of Jenkins will enjoy this to learn more about Jenkins himself and his journey to success. - Jennifer Opperman, Christian Book Previews.com

I am in the small club of people who have not read a single book in the Left Behind series. I do, however, recognize the success Jerry Jenkins has had as a result of writing those books. I also recognize that his journey as a writer didn't start with that series.

This book is a combination memoir and writing guide. Excerpts from a number of his works are sprinkled throughout the text. The tone is conversational, making this a quick read. It's great for writers and readers.

For fans of Jerry Jenkins, this is a sort of autobiography offering insights into his writing process and his path to success as an author. He starts in his teen years and goes through to the present.

For writers, this is a valuable resource. He details keys to balancing family with a writing career, maintaining authenticity in your spiritual walk and basics of getting published and polishing your craft. As a writer, I must say parts of his story were annoying. The man had a paying writing career before he was old enough to drive. Because I've started this journey much later in life, I am facing many struggles he seems to have skimmed over. He's got the most picturesque office. I know he's worked hard for it, but still ... my sinful nature (a.k.a. "jealousy") kept my eyes rolling as I read portions of his story.

The title is misleading. There was not much in this book on addressing soul issues through writing. It offered little help toward reaching others with the Gospel or even encouraging them in their spiritual walks. As noted above, it is for both readers and writers, more of an autobiographical work than a guidebook for "writing for the soul". If you're looking for something like that, I recommend James Watkin's book: Communicate to Change Lives in Person and in Print.

Final Thoughts: Overall this was a great read. I recommend it both for fans of Jerry Jenkins and for those who hope to mimic his success.

Pop quiz. How many books did Jerry Jenkins write before penning the smash hit Left Behind? 0, 4, 17, 58, or 124? Believe it or not, the correct answer is the last one. Says Jerry in Chapter 1: "It shouldn't surprise me, but it amuses me when people ask if I've written anything besides the Left Behind series. I'm tempted to say, `No, I hit pay dirt on the first try.'"

Writing for the Soul is more than a writing how-to book (though it does dish up some helpful morsels for writer wannabes). It's also an autobiography of sorts in which Jerry shares how he got started as a writer and what's motivated him for the 40+ years he's been at it. With an easy-to-read and often humorous style, Writing for the Soul's thirteen chapters cover everything from "What to Write" to "Pursuing Publication". The nuts and bolts elements are cleverly interspersed throughout the stories documenting Jerry's trials, errors, and successes.

Also included are nine stories featuring some of the famous people Jerry's had the privilege of spending time with over the years. Included are Walter Payton, Billy Graham, B.J. Thomas, Meadowlark Lemon, Brett Butler, Mike Singletary and Joe Gibbs, Orel Hershiser and Nolan Ryan, Madeline Manning, and Paul Anderson. These intriguing anecdotes alone make Writing for the Soul a worthwhile bookshelf addition for the glimpse into these lives. I'm coming away with a new appreciation for the evangelist Billy Graham's humility, for example.

Maybe not as detailed as some writing instructional books (you won't find query letter how-tos or entire sections devoted to specific techniques), Writing for the Soul is still an inspirational beginning primer for anyone with writerly inclinations. At the end of several chapters is a Q&A section where Jerry answers questions like, "How do you know when a scene or chapter should end?", "How important is comic relief?", "How can a young writer succeed?" and more.

Positive and encouraging, Writing for the Soul is an honest discussion about what it takes to be a writer. Jerry's words say it all: "I'm living my dream as a full-time freelance novelist, writing about things I believe in and care about. And you can too. The path is crowded and the passage long, but the reward is worth it. You can write for the benefit of your soul. And you can write to reach the soul of another."

Reviewed by C.J. Darlington for Infuze