The Complete Guide to Writing and Selling the Christian Novel

Rating:
Summary: Wisdom
Review: "The Complete Guide to Writing & Selling the Christian Novel" is an excellent piece of expression. Dr. Penelope Stokes reveals the essence of spiritual and practical wisdom. I thoroughly enjoyed this book because she vividly painted a beautiful portrait of how "real" life is and how our characters should portray "real" people with "real" issues. Fiction is story-telling, not sermonizing. Dr. Stokes does an exceptional job in helping the aspiring author to disclose the loving nature and character of God without promoting "religious" prejudice. This instructional guide supports the idea that the attributes of God can be communicated through the lives of these true to life characters displayed in our novels. The wisdom displayed in Writing & Selling the Christian Novel is closely related to the wisdom of God revealed in the book of Esther. The texture of God's presence is imparted through this Bible book without any mention of His name. Dr. Stokes' writing teaches us that this precept can also be fundamentally accomplished through wonderful fiction. I highly recommend this piece to all aspiring Christian novelists who would focus on relationship instead of religion. Kudos!

Rating:
Summary: A LIFE CHANGER AS MUCH AS A SKILL DEVELOPER!
Review: 'The Complete Guide to Writing and Selling The Christian Novel' will change not only how you write, but how you live! Penelope speaks directly to the heart of the writer, emphasizing the ultimate importance of everything (including writing) he/she does flowing out from his/her intimate & integral relationship with Christ. Many books and articles I have read on writing have given much thought into plot development, but Penelope takes great pains to teach her readers how to develop living, breathing characters with dialogue that sparkles. She also gives some bare-bones advice about approaching markets, making suggestions such as using business cards and fine-quality paper for query letters, and how to put together a winning book proposal. I am only halfway through this book and already I am a better writer with a stronger sense of my calling as a 'Christian writer'. IMO, if all serious Christian writers would read and take to heart 'The Complete Guide to Writing and Selling The Christian Novel', we would see a great rise in the quality and integrity of Christian literature today. A must-have for every Christian fiction writer!

Rating:
Summary: Not Enough Spiritual Elements
Review: Before I even purchased this book I expected it to be mostly a book of spiritual elements pertaining to the art of writing fiction. But this book is much more about how to write a novel of any genre than it is spiritual. Instead of their being references to spiritual elements on just about every page you will only find such references here and there throughout the entire book. Still, I do believe this book does give some good advice on how to write any novel, so I must give the author, Penelope J. Stokes, some credit for trying.

If you are a Christian that wants to write a novel of any genre with just a little bit of spiritual advice on the side, then this book is for you! If not, then don't waste your money on this one.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent for Christian or any kind of writing!
Review: Dr. Stokes' practical guide to writing takes you from start to finish. As a novice novel writer, this book clarified many, many practical things, and it helped me focus on reestablishing my relationship with God. It changed me from waffling about what market to aim for to realizing where I belong as a starting Christian novelist. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants some inspiration and clarification on writing. She also has a great list for further reading. I really don't agree with the other review at all. If you're too preachy, you won't reach anyone!

Rating:
Summary: Weak Christian vs. Strong Christian
Review: I am an aspiring AA Christian fiction writer. However, I believe some of the things in this book, but for the most part, many Christian fiction that contains sexual explicit language and profanity are popular moreso than literary and have proven to be successful, such as, "Casting The First Stone" and the sequel, "Too Much of a Good Thing," and "Promises Beyond Jordan." I recognize that this type of Christian fiction is geared towards getting the weaker Christians to see themselves and turn from their wicked ways before it's too late. I've recently been turned on to a novel called, "Lust of the Flesh," another Christian fiction with has a very strong and critical message to the weak Christians. I highly recommend this read. These types of Christian books are written for a different type of Christian group. It is to get them to look in a mirror at their lives and to show them the error of their ways. Once they reach this level, they will graduate to a higher degree of Christianity.

This higher degree of Christianity is directed to a diffent Christian group which are the stronger Christians to encourage their walk. These types of books are: "Temptation," "No Regrets," and "That Faith, That Love, That Trust."

We must keep in mind which Christian group we are writing for. Are we writing to encourage the strong Christian to remain stedfast and unmovable? Or are we writing to mirror the weak Christian to turn from his/her wicked ways and seek the face of God so that he/she can move on to perfection as a strong Christian?

Christian fiction that contacts sex and profanity will turn off a strong Christian because he/she has moved on to perfection from that lifestyle. However, sexual language and profanity will appeal to a weak Christian because he/she has not graduated yet. We must use wisdom.

I think this about sums it up between which Christian audience an author is attempting to reach.