For Writers

From a workshop I've given:

The Golden Strand of Faith

The Faith element in Christian fiction has been compared to a tapestry, to a woven braid, or woven cloth. I like to think of it as a golden strand that holds our story together.

These definitions are from Microsoft® Encarta® Reference Library 2003:

(My thoughts on these definitions are in blue)

Tapestry:

something varied and intricate: something that is considered to be rich, varied, or intricately interwoven

(It’s only with faith that a Christian can have a rich life.)

Varied: changed: having undergone change or alteration

(Your characters must change because of their faith walk.)

Intricate: with many parts: containing many details or small parts that are skillfully made or assembled

complex and difficult: with many interrelated elements, parts, or factors so as to be complex and difficult to understand or resolve

(Without Faith in God, your characters problems are impossible to be solved.)

Weave:

make cloth: to make cloth by interlacing threads vertically and horizontally, especially on a loom

make something by interlacing strands: to make something by interlacing strands or strips of any material

spin a web: to spin something such as a spider’s web

construct a story: to construct something such as a story by combining separate elements

introduce elements into something larger: to introduce separate elements into something larger

 weaving new elements into the plot

Braid:

decorative silky cord: decorative and often silky cord or interwoven thread, used especially to trim and bind, in decorating uniforms, and as edging for soft furnishings

something interwoven: something that is made of three or more interwoven strands

make something by braiding: to make something by interweaving strands, strips, or other pieces

combine separate things: to combine or intermingle several separate things into something complex

In a Christian romance, the faith element is the spiritual strand that binds everything together. It must be there. It should be woven in strong, and be subtly beautiful adding a richness to the story. It should never be preachy, but kind of whisper to the readers…not shout from the roof top. (When someone whispers, don’t you lean in a little closer, to listen?)

In Christian romance fiction there is always a message of faith coming from the characters personal faith walk. As with our own faith walk, our characters struggle with the same kinds of things we, or those we love, deal with in our own faith walks. These are the things they struggle with and strive to grow through--with the Lord’s help.

How to do that?

Some writers think that all they need to do is take a manuscript and add in a prayer or two and have their characters attend church. Yes, those factors are needed, but if that’s all you put in there, it’s not going to work. A CBA publisher isn’t going to want it.

Have you ever felt selfish? Or jealous of another? Judgmental? Tempted? Found it hard to forgive another person? Have you ever felt shame or too much pride? Has anyone you loved had to deal with these things? Your characters are no different, and it is that struggle that is woven into your story.

Both the heroine’s and the hero’s faith walk should

be woven in to the romance plot and the action plot

They can each struggle with different things but by the end of the story, their faith walk will have lead them to each other and brought them closer to the Lord. Sometimes, one character may help bring another to the Lord. In some books both hero and heroine are Christians, although one might be weaker than the other. The stronger character may help the other to have a deeper understanding of a problem. Or, they may each have a struggle to deal with through the course of the story, but it’s for sure that the Lord will be working with them to help them grow in their personal faith walk through the story.

My novel, Family Circle, deals with forgiveness…giving it and receiving it. Before two former high school sweethearts can find a life together, the hero, Jake, must admit that he’s blamed the Lord for his failures…when it was his own rebelliousness that caused the heartaches in his life. When the story starts, Sara, the heroine, is just getting over blaming herself …because she had a craving for ice cream the night of the wreck that took her husband and then her unborn child. Her faith is strong once more. But before they can have a future together, Jake first has to seek the Lord’s forgiveness for his actions in the past, Sara’s for not trusting her in the past, and then he must learn to forgive himself.

Family Ties, the second book in the Family series deals with selfishness and loneliness…and judging others. The heroine is struggling from the rejection of having her fiancée dump her for her best friend. Her mother died when she was in high school and now she comes to Sweet Springs to try to talk her dad into moving back to Albuquerque. But when she gets there, she finds her dad has been seeing a woman, and is on the verge of proposing to her. She’s lost her mother, her fiancée and now is afraid she’s losing her dad. She’s drifted away from the Lord, blaming him for taking away everyone she loves…but her soul is lonely and she really wants to have her relationship with the Lord mended. The Lord has some work to do with Rae. The hero is a strong Christian, but he’s lonely and wants a love of his own. He’s praying for the Lord to send him a stranger to love. And when Rae comes to town, he thinks it may be her. But as attracted as he is to Rae, she needs to grow up before he can give his heart to her. Not knowing the facts or why Rae acts the way she does, he judges her a little too quickly and had to learn not to be judgmental.

A Promise Made, deals with learning to let the Lord have control of our lives. The heroine, Emma, promises a dying friend to raise her child as her own. But the town council says she needs to be married. And Matt, the deputy sheriff and the man she’s loved for several years agrees with them at first. What’s she to do? She puts an ad in the paper for a mail order husband, and then realizes what she’s done. She’s once more been head strong instead of looking to the Lord and finding out what His plan is. Both of these characters must realize that God is in control and quit trying to take it from Him.

A Place Called Home- deals with judging others before you get to know them.

Making Amends-deals with learning to forgive

Family Reunion- Deals with learning how to leave things in the Lord’s hands.

Unforgettable- deals with forgiving and going forward

To Love Again- deals with learning to trust after being betrayed

With Open Arms- deals with trusting the Lord to keep loved ones safe.

It helps to have a verse to give you guidance with your writing. For instance, the verse for Family Circle was: “The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him.” (Daniel 9:9)

For A Promise Made it was: “And again, I will put my trust in Him, And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.” (Hebrews 2:13)

Living Life

How has the Lord and faith in Him helped you or others you know in life? It can happen that way for your characters, too. While what we write is fiction, it’s all based on truth. In a CBA Romance, the romance is still the main focus…but most of your characters are Christians and through the book they do the same things we do for real. They pray, go to church, have bible studies, and fellowship. They are involved in other Christian’s lives. There are pot lucks, Women’s classes, Men’s fellowships, and Ladies Night Out.

In my Family books for Heartsong presents there is a group of women who call themselves the ‘Teddy Bear Brigade.’ This group was inspired by the real one at my church…only they didn’t have a name for themselves. Now they do. And the characters in my books make those little bears for hospital emergency rooms just like we do for real.

Sometimes someone has a birthday and their family brings in cake and ice-cream for everyone after Sunday night or Wednesday night services. The same thing happened for one of my characters in Family Circle.

And…sometimes real life is influenced by fiction. The Sunday night suppers in my books sounded like so much fun, we started having a few at my house. They’ve gone over really well.

Know your publisher & Read

You need to know what the publisher you want to write for wants to see in a manuscript. They are not all looking for exactly the same thing. Emphasis on romance may vary, word count varies, some publishers may want more of a conversion story, and others want both characters to be Christians. Publishing houses do have guidelines to go by…be sure to ask for them and take them to heart. It may save you a rejection that could have been easily avoided just by reading the guidelines.