I love story!
Tweet this: Why Write Fiction?
By DiAnn Mills
I’m often posed the questions:
“Why fiction when you could be writing nonfiction?”
“If you feel writing is a ministry, then why are you putting your time and effort into a story?”
“A real Christian would be writing something with real sustenance, not fiction.”
I used to swallow my anger with those questions and quickly compose a gracious response that sounded like I was playing defense for a losing team.
Not any more. I’m proud of what I do. After years of following my passion for communicating the written word through story, I simply term the individual questioning my life’s work as uninformed. These people mean well. Some of them think entertainment is a waste. After all, isn’t nonfiction the means by which people learn how to live life to its fullest and better themselves?
Not necessarily.
How many abused women purchase books about how to stop a man from beating them? Do those women reach for information on a retailer’s shelf about abused victim’s legal rights, or counseling, or finding courage in the midst of abuse?
How many victims of human trafficking find freedom by asking their captor to buy them a book about overcoming trust issues or how to escape an inappropriate relationship?
How many addictions were resolved by forcing the sufferer to read a book on the statistics of US drug use? Or the book of Job in the Bible?
How many marriages were saved because a woman shoved a book into her husband’s face about how to win back an unfaithful husband?
I think you get the picture. It’s unlikely any of the above examples found solace, peace, answers, escape, or courage in a nonfiction book because they were either too frightened to be found reading it, or they simply weren’t interested. But that victim could read a novel about abuse, human trafficking, an addiction, or a failing marriage and learn how someone changed and grew into a better person. First and foremost, a novel entertains. But story also provides hope and inspires the reader to make needed changes. The writer plants the seeds of change and subtlety challengers the reader to grow beyond her own world.
Have you read a novel and found yourself a better person?
Tweet this: Why Write Fiction?
Comments 32
Great question and answers and I feel it in my bones that you are right and that is why I appreciate fiction so very much! Thank you DiAnn!
One of my critique members shared your post. I loved your answer, DiAnn.
I’ve never had someone ask me that question, but I’m sure, since I’m a minister’s wife, they wondered. However, I write first and foremost because God gave me the ability and the stories to write.
My local ACFW chapter planned a monthly meeting around dissecting a Christy- what made it a winning book? what kept us turning pages? how can we incorporate those elements in our own stories? With that idea, I started devouring Christy Award winners. I planned on being entertained and learning how to create a good story. What I didn’t plan on was being changed. Each book has become like a devotional, an unintentional lesson. God has used these books to teach, to heal, to challenge, and to comfort. I’m thankful for the many Christian authors (you included! ) who take time to listen to the Holy Spirit and write something that not only entertains, but has the power to change lives for the sake of His glory.
Hi Beth, Thank you for taking the time to comment. I’d never thought of Christian fiction as a devotional, but it does challenge me to work harder at the craft God has given me.
Well stated, DiAnn!
I have two answers. For the general inquirer, I respond, “I write fiction so I can tell the whole truth.” This sometimes leads to a longer conversation, but sometimes is enough to make them think.
For the Christian questioner, I simply say, “I tell stories because Jesus did. In Matthew 13, he explained that a story would reach the people who weren’t already “in the know” (like the disciples) much better than a straight sermon.
Hi Debbonnaire
I love your answers. Even the Bible is the Greatest Story Ever Told.
Thanks!
Why write fiction? God gives various talents. Yours is to reach people,encouraging them and sometimes bringing them to Christ through your fiction. Others are given a talent for writing commentaries or other non fiction. All talents given by God are wonderful and no one talent is better than another. Personally, I think you are using your talent right where and as God wants you to. And we who read you are fortunate indeed to be able to have you for a fiction writer.
God bless you.
Hi Jeane,
Thanks so much for the reminder – and encouragement!
I read constantly! Your article is so encouraging. There are few Christian fiction novels that I don’t glean something from them. God encourages, guides and teaches me through the Christian fiction genre. They are not just stories but a way to spread the gospel and to encourage others in life. I’m amazed of how God works. I can be dealing with a tough issue and God will speak to me from the pages of the book. I’ve been struggling with a decision and God spoke to me through this article. Often, Christian non-fiction is hard to read and follow because it just doesn’t hold my attention and so I’m not as aware of what I read or what was speaking to me.
Hi Karen,
I appreciate your taking the the time to comment. We novelists do our best to create real characters who struggle with real life issues. That means tackling the unpredictable twists and turns of life. My goal is to show you an entertaining story from a Christian worldview. Sometimes that’s difficult when I refuse to preach but to show.
DiAnn, you’ve expressed my sentiments exactly! I too have had friends ask me the same question. I’ve even LOST friends because they think I should write only nonfiction. My reply is always, Jesus got his point across in parables.
Thanks for posting. Hope you and your family are doing well.
Hi Eldon,
We are doing well – thanks. I haven’t lost friends (so sorry) but I’ve raised a few brows. Too many well-intending people simply don’t understand the concept of Jesus did it first. 🙂
Thanks,DiAnn, for the reminder that writing is a ministry. Thanks, too, for the help and encouragement you provided at Autumn in the Mountains. Have a great day.
Hi Marjorie, thanks for your sweet comments! Be blessed.
THANK YOU So Much for writing this!! I can’t believe how timely it is. I have wrestled with the idea of writing the fiction I feel directed to for years. I have another friend that writes the same type of genre and we often encourage each other. This morning we both have felt like giving up. I feel compelled to use my gift to spread the gospel and wondered how on earth I could ever do that with what I am writing. You gave me so much hope. What’s funny is I am usually at work and don’t get to read most of my newsletters that come in on Tuesday. I just happened to have a free day. I’ve sent this to my friend as well. I still have all your notes from the class I took from you at the Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference in 2009 that I found not long along. I believe I will get them out and put them to use. By the way, I really like your site. Can you tell me what platform you are using? I’ve used Go Daddy/Blogger & WordPress and still not really satisfied. Thank you again.
Hi Cindy, I’m humbled that God used me today to confirm your fiction writing. Wow. That’s amazing.
Glad you like my website! I use WordPress, a custom template that my web designer developed.
I think you do a great job writing the books you write!
Thank you, Sheila!
How many people have read and understand Revelation? Only a few. But because Tim Lahaye and Jerry Jenkins put it into fiction form (Left Behind series), my daughter read it and asked Jesus to be her savior.
I believe christian fiction writers have a great purpose. I believe you are doing the right thing.
Thank you, Barbara! I appreciate your comments. Jerry Jenkins and Tim LaHaye helped people understand end times through a series of though provoking novels. How grand is that?
I think fiction is more challenging to write. It’s hard to represent Jesus without sounding preachy. Difficult to picture bravery, honesty, integrity and morality in fiction and stay compelling, especially in our culture today. I’ve read Dianne’s books and she does this. I write fiction and I understand the challenge. Many seeds are planted for the Lord through books. Kitty
Hi Kitty, I believe every fiction writer is a farmer, planting seeds of hope to the reader. Thanks so much for commenting!
Why write fiction?
Because of people like me. For some reason, I have always found it difficult to read nonfiction. I admit to feeling a bit guilty about this considering how many of my Christian friends read nonfiction. However, I feel like I learn more because of reading fiction. I tend to come across the name of a town and wonder if it’s a real place and then check to see if it is. I take that same stance with regards to the Scriptures included in the story. I check to see if that’s REALLY what the Bible says.
I am often able to get free ebooks, but I’m rather particular about this. Usually the summary of the story is all I need to decide, but sometimes I need to read the reviews. It’s interesting how often I’ll come across a review that says something along the lines of “this really had a huge impact on my life”. DiAnn, perhaps you could mention this to those who tell you to write nonfiction. Point them to what’s being said about your stories, but go a step further and show them what people are saying about other Christian writers.
My apologies for getting a bit carried away here. It happens when I get started on a subject I’m passionate about. Also, I’m an idea person so that generally shows up too. If you ever need ideas for a story, feel free to ask.
Thanks, Victoria, for the encouraging words. We can’t please every reader, and we writers shouldn’t gauge our success on every review. But we can do our best to provide an entertaining story.
I so agree. When my son was diagnosed at birth with a rare genetic disorder and we were given such a hopeless prognosis, it was not nonfiction that gave me hope and grew my faith. There was only one non fiction(outside of the Bible) that gave me helpful information. The rest were filled with accepting what has happened, and filled with sadness and desperation. It was fiction, different things from different stories that reminded me of Gods truth over the situation. I believe God will use whatever He chooses.
Thank you, Stephanie. We never know what God uses. Thank you for giving us all hope.
I agree with your viewpoint. For a big part of my life, the options for Christian reading were somewhat limited. In more recent years, the market has changed considerably. I have learned a lot from fiction reading and been convicted of my some of my own shortcomings more times than I can count. I think it has helped me in my Christian walk. The growing number of good Christian movies has also helped.
Edward, Don’t you think its the non threatening environment that frees us to learn and grow with fiction?
I never felt the pressure – except from my family and their’s is to get out there and publish…LOL I only write fiction. They know that and are trying to get me to forget my inhibitions and try. I’m only afraid that I’m not good enough…
Nancy, we can’t let the boo birds rain on what we feel is right for us. Write what your heart is telling you.
Thank you for the above discussion of fiction. I read and want to write romance novels. Romance in the sense of heroic actions by women, men and children and the challenges of life. I am struggling with taking real life (the most “real” in fiction) stories and making them into fiction without hurting the “real life” people. I do believe I have a good “voice” for story telling, but I lack confidence to go public!
I have met you. I have been in writing workshops. I attended your seminar. I would like to be strong, as you are, about pushing back against the critics that I know will be there (as you described above). The critic in my mind is my biggest obstacle.
Sandra, thank you for your comments. We have passion for story and the power it carries. If you’d like to discuss this further, feel free to email me at diann@diannmills.com
When God is in a ministry, He’ll make a way for you to move forward.