By Terry Overton
A google search for quotes about writing by famous authors will yield quotes from the likes of Winston Churchill, Earnest Hemmingway, Mary Higgins Clark, Stephen King, Maya Angelou, Agatha Christie, and J.K. Rowling, to name just a few. Some of the tidbits of wisdom these authors offer make us laugh while others are inspirational. Several of the quotes find us nodding our heads in agreement and muttering, “Yes, I have felt like that, too.”
But of all the quotes I have read about writing, there is one by David Morrell that means the most to me:
“You have to follow your own voice. You have to be yourself when you write. In effect, you have to announce, ‘This is me, this is what I stand for, this is what you get when you read me. I am doing the best I can-buy me or not-but this is who I am as a writer.”
Perhaps the reason this quote holds meaning for me is because we Christian writers must be the bravest of all writers about taking a stand. We must be firm in our belief to stand up for what is right and promote our Christian beliefs. Being openly Christian is not as easy as it once was in our own country. But I pray our Christian books will find their way into the hands of the readers who need our Christian message. I pray that not only will readers find the book, but as they read the passages within, the Spirit will find a way to speak and tug their heart and mind.
A Christian writer may opt to write clean romance novels which serve to reinforce the beliefs and values of Christian love. Others may opt to write Christian novels based on current events that provide the reader with a Christian worldview interpretation of our world today. Others write Christian novels of a particular time in history which provide a window into an specific era through the Christian lens. Whatever the genre within the category of Christian books, Christian fiction writers must be bold and at the same time keep the reader interested in the developing plot while instilling love, sorrow, or contempt, for the main characters. We write of characters brought to the bottom who find their way back through redemption. We write of heroic Christians who made their way through horrific world events like wars or famines. We write of well-known Biblical figures who are brought to life by fictionalized dialogues or fictional characters who “knew” the Biblical figure of Scripture.
In my own recent work, I attempt to entertain and engage middle grade readers and teens through such events as near-death experience of a teenager who at last recovers to a better life and stronger faith, or through the humorous actions of three teens who mistakenly set off a time travel device. In writing middle grade and teen Christian fiction books, I pray children and teens will learn Christian values and turn to Christ or increase their existing faith. In my writing, I follow the wise words of David Morrell and stand up for my own Christian beliefs. And if a reviewer takes exception to my Christian foundation and beliefs, it tells me more about the reviewer than the book they are reviewing, and I offer a prayer for them. Perhaps someday even the nonbelieving reviewer will have a seed planted and kindle curiosity about Christianity.
Terry Overton obtained her Ph.D. in Psychology and her Ed. D. in special education. As a retired professor, she began her second “career” writing Christian books in 2016. She hopes to touch the lives of her readers and kindle their faith with her novels, middle grade readers, and picture books.