Tips to Write Christian Fiction

by Adrienne Carlson

It’s a wonderful feeling when you’re a writer and you’re able to give vent to your creativity and let the words fly as faster than your fingers can move over the keyboard. And when you’re writing Christian fiction, you feel a greater sense of achievement because you know you’re doing your readers a world of good. It’s a little different from writing regular fiction, so if you’re looking for tips on how to attract a larger target audience, read on:
Know Christian values: The very purpose of writing Christian fiction is to imbue in your readers a sense of Christian values. And only when you know and practice these values yourself will you be able to include them in your writing and pass them on to your target audience. Read the Bible and learn all you can about Christian values before you begin to write.

Offer advice subtly instead of preaching: Most people are put off by attempts to preach, even if they are meant to instill good values in them. It’s best to offer advice subtly, through the story rather than directly. It takes all your skill as a writer to be able to do this, to make readers realize the importance of values even as they are engrossed in your story.
Mix values into the story: Your story may be great, but when you’re trying to attract Christian readers, you must be able to mix values seamlessly into the story. This allows them to connect to both your story and you on different levels and provides you with a regular readership.

Provide a great story: Most important of all, your story must be able to captive readers, even those who are not interested in Christian values. When you’re able to weave a compelling yarn, you can use it as a foundation to spread Christian values and rope in more people into the fold. Your books and stories serve as a platform to spread Christianity and Christian values.

Christian fiction must be engrossing and filled with values that both the young and the old can enjoy. Only then are you doing your job as a good Christian writer.

This guest article was written by Adrienne Carlson, who regularly writes on the topic of online bible colleges . Adrienne welcomes your comments and questions at her email address: adrienne.carlson1 at gmail.com

When your Virtual Publicist is Shut Down: Twitter

Yesterday the publishing world--mainly authors--silently screamed in unison when they woke up to a Twitter - less world. When they learned of the Twitter Hack their minds raced-- no, their Facebook messages stated:

• "WTF(rankenbeans)! "


• "I can't tweet."


• "Why is Facebook moving so slow?"


• and some other things I can't state on this blog...

But what they really wanted an answer for was "how will i promote my books if social media fails?"

In this economy publishing houses aren't expensing marketing dollars to many of their authors. In fact, some authors are only receiving online marketing support. But what if we have another day like tomorrow? What if Twitter fails for good?

As I've said many times, authors and publishing houses and publicists must create a strategic social media design that has an objective of moving it's followers off-line and to their on-line hub. Having a blog or a Facebook Fan Page, Amazon Page, or an embedded Forum inside a Ning or a very well put together site(I recommend Ty Moody and Linda Leigh Hargrove and Rochelle Mann web design services.) will ensure that when your people chatter they have a place to go. Imagine how many of your readers could have been chopping it up one on one with you on your own place yesterday? You would have a richer conversation, because they aren't distracted by tweeting to every tom, dick and Jane Austen on the World Wide Web.

If you need assistance on creating a strategic social media design, contact me. And yeah, you have a few more days to receive my Book Marketing Dee-Mystified Planning Workbook for $3. Authors have received it and are using it to their satisfaction. I hope you take this opportunity. Also next Monday I will be giving a Twitter for Authors Crash Course Teleseminar. It's my six week training condensed. $5 for Christian Fiction Blog Readers. Visit my paypal account at vidae dot writing dot com to pay for your registration.

Now a weekend chatterbox question for you: What did you do when the Tweets went out in America?

Related Posts:

• 5 Ways to Support your Favorite Author for Free
• Experiment with New Media to Brand your Niche
• The Twitter Book Experiment

If you haven't already, you can receive Christian Fiction Blog, as a newsletter format in your email inbox, just click here and it's set you up.

Help: Skype for BookClubs

Skype for Bookclubs

This summer I've decided to begin cataloging all that I've learned about Web 2.0 technology and hot it can help publishing houses, authors, bookstores, and book clubs. Before I put all these juicy bits into a book(hint, hint) I'm sharing some of the content.

One thing I think authors and readers need to have a basic grasp of is Skype. Not only can you talk to your family through your online service, but you can host your favorite author for a spot of e-tea. lol. So here's my Skype for BookClubs Guide... You can also read it above. Let me know if it's helpful.

Dee

Sneak Peek: Tia McCollors' The Last Woman Standing

Meet the Author

After leaving a 10-year career in the corporate arena as a public relations professional, Bestselling author Tia McCollors has emerged as a steadfast author of faith-based books. In addition to being a novelist, Tia is an inspirational speaker and instructor for writing workshops. In 2006, Tia was voted as the Breakout Author of the Year by the Open Book Awards of the African American Literary Awards Show and was honored to be featured in the 2006 edition of Who’s Who In Black Atlanta. She is also a member of Anointed Authors On Tour, (AAOT) AmericanChristian Fiction Writers (ACFW). She resides in the Atlanta, Georgia suburbs with her husband and children. Visit Tia www.TiaWrites.com.



About The Last Woman Standing:
After being married to their careers instead of each other for ten years, “Ace” and Lynette Bowers ended their marriage. Four years later however, it seems as though their love never ended – to both of their surprise and denial. Sheila Rushmore is Ace’s current girlfriend and a woman who is used to getting what she wants – except Ace’s commitment to marriage. When Sheila realizes Lynette may be the cause, she launches a plan to play the hand of God, instead of allowing God to bring the love they all desire in His way.

Read the excerpt

The Last Woman Standing by Tia McCollors (excerpt) -


OR

Listen to Tia Read an excerpt from The Last Woman Standing

THE LAST WOMAN STANDING BLOG TOUR GIVEAWAY

Tia McCollors is the author of four Women's Fiction books. Read the question below to see if you can answer it and provide the name of the book in which it was featured.

In A Heart of Devotion, one of the main characters, Sherri Dawson, started her own line of clothing for petite women. What was the name of it?
Leave your answer in the comment section. All post with correct answers posted to the blog comment sections will be entered in a random drawing for prizes. The more you post (with correct answers) the better your chances. Winners will be contacted via email and also posted on Tia’s Blog, “From Tia’s Pen”.

Contest prizes include:

1. $5 gift card to Smoothie King or Panera Bread (Winner’s Choice)
2. $5 gift card to Chick-Fil-A
3. $10 gift card for Border’s
4. Autographed copy of The Last Woman Standing
5. Autographed copy of The Last Woman Standing

Follow the rest of The Last Woman Standing Blog Tour at: http://bitly.com/TheLastWomanStanding

Virtual Tour Schedule

Online Radio Schedule

Aug 3 - AAMBC Online Radio (9 pm EST / 8 pm CST)

Aug 6 – Chocolate Pages Show (6 pm EST)

Aug 6 - WordThirst Literary Online Radio Show (8 pm EST)

August 13 – Inspiration Station (6:30 pm EST)

Blog Tour Schedule

DAY 1 | Monday, Aug 3

• All The Buzz Reviews
• Urban Christian Fiction Today
• Angela Benson

DAY 2 | Tuesday, Aug 4

• APOOO Books
• Brooks Young
• LaTara Ham-Ying

DAY 3 | Wednesday, Aug 5

• Black Pearls Magazine
• SORMAG
• Joey Reviews
• Angie Arndt

DAY 4 | Thursday, Aug 6

• RAWSistaz Literary Group
• Carrol McDonnell
• Vera A. Pereskokova
• Christian Fiction Blog, Here!
  

DAY 5 | Friday, Aug 7

• CeeCee McNeil
• Patricia Woodside
• Britni Vigil

Why Church Bookclubs Are Flocking to Town Center Mall after the Birthing Place Conference?

Charleston, West Virginia August 5/ -- Although many churches will be arriving in South Charleston to attend Bishop T. Jakes Birthing Place Conference this weekend, local church bookclubs have also begun flocking to Borders Express Stores for a Christian Bestsellers Book Event that has been buzzing all summer. Five Bestselling Christian Authors will travel to South Charleston West Virginia for a special Borders Bookstores
Booksigning at Town Center Mall. Bestselling authors, Tiffany L.Warren, Stacy Hawkins Adams, Dwan Abrams, Bonnie Hopkins and Reshonda Tate Billingsley will be signing their new released titles Friday and Saturday at Town Center Mall.

Dwan Abrams is a BlackExpressions Bestseller for both her novels Divorcing the Devil and Married Strangers. Bonnie Hopkins, Tiffany Warren and Stacy Hawkins Adams are Essence Magazine Bestselling authors. Reshonda Tate Billingsley is a Dallas Morning, Ebony, The Washington Post and Essence[20 times] Magazines.

Buzz began building about the book event last month. "We have put several of the authors books out to promote the signing and I am happy to announce that we have had to order more!!! People are so excited about the event," states Ashley Bentley, Borders Town Center Mall's manager assistant.

The event that first slated just for Friday will now extend into a two day event on both Friday and Saturday, August 14-15, 2009 from 2-5pm or as long as fans want to meet these authors. To learn more aboutthis event contact Borders Express, Town Center Mall at 304-342-3840

SOURCE
Dee Stewart
DeeGospel PR
PO Box 392833
Snelville, GA 30039
770.298.7539
www.deestewart. com

Tribute: Naomi Sims

As I child my mom and aunts bought me Christie Barbie Dolls, because she wanted me to love my chocolate colored skin. She kept Diana Ross LPS hanging around, we watched Dionne Warick on Solid Gold, and she bought any magazines where African American women were on the cover. I remembered seeing old copies of Supermodel Naomi Sims in Ladies Home Journal and Life Magazine on my Aunt Hattie's coffee table. Being Black, pretty and proud was paramount. As a mother in this New Age it is still paramount. Unlike myself Selah lives in the world of Hannah Montana, That's So Raven and High School Musical, where it appears that all live together in harmony. I love that world; I fight for the coming of that world. So I was a little saddened today to learn that Naomi Sims have moved onto Glory. My fascination with magazine journalism came from my adoration of watching Ms. Sims and all those who've followed where us so well. She will be missed.

Update: I forgot to add that if it weren't for African American wig business launch, I don't know where we be today. Well...at least me. ;)

What's Your Favorite Author Newsletter? #Tip

Around the first of the month my email inboxes fill with author newsletters. When I first signed up for these online jewels I waited on baited breath to read them; now I wince. Why? Because although I know they mean well, they missed the mark.
Instead of writing a love letter to their readers, they are direct mailing/poorly begging their fans(redundant) to preorder, buy in the first two weeks, don't forget to buy, buy again because I don't want to return to my day job and need to continue adopting children from all over the world ilk. I get it-- really, but has these tactics really been effective?
.
Nope, well...not for me either..

What has worked are newsletters like Nicholas Sparks, who taught me how to write a great query letter, or Sue Monk Kidd's poetic anecdotes about her family life and her passion for the characters in her novels or to chuckle at Eric Wilson's endearing excitement when his books get featured in a national paper..

When I sign up for a newsletter, I'm signing up to learn about the author and to get a sneak peak into their world and their mind. I'm already buying your book, but don't make me change my mind.

Today in session 2 of my Media Candy summer marketing mastermind series we'll get real nitty gritty about newsletters. Hope you join us. Contact me at dEegospelpr at gmail dot com to for details..

Dee