Ever wonder why Mary Higgins Clark continues to write such fascinating suspense? Ask Stephen King why he dreams up so many tales of horror. Question Danielle Steele as to her reason for book after book of unapologetic romantic drama. Why is J.K. Rowling so at home in the world of witches, warlocks and other strange and mystical creatures?

Ask any author in any genre why he or she writes what they write. Chances are you’ll get pretty much the same answer. They write what they think about, what they’re familiar with, what they’re passionate about.

They write from their hearts.

In a world where most forms of entertainment including the print industry have become increasingly more risqué, some writers still choose to pen novels for the less popular Christian market. Writers such as Janette Okes, Lori Wick, Robin Jones Gunn and so many others write words of hope and encouragement. They create characters who either trust God through every obstacle, or learn to do so before the last page.Their sweetly romantic tales keep sex behind closed doors and within the confines of holy matrimony.

Why? Because this is the essence of who those writers are.

A scripture in the book of Matthew reads, ” the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.” (New American Standard Bible)

Taking that statement a step furtherwhat is in our hearts will be reflected not only in the words we speak aloud, but what we think andif we’re writerswhat we write about.

I love sweet romance hence my chosen genre of inspirational fiction.

Call me old-fashioned, but I truly believe romance is more romantic when some things are left to the imagination, and when consummation of a couple’s feelings takes place behind closed doors. Sex should be something beyond special, and just between those two peopleit’s not meant for public display.

Many writers of Christian fiction fail to realize their own ministry. Within the pages of their books, readers find encouragement and hope. They find a reason to keep believing that prayer changes thingsa glimmer of light in a world that grows darker with every passing day. Without preaching, and steering clear of denominational tenets and didactics, seeds are planted. With a little tending on the part of the reader, those seeds can flourish and become a renewed trust in God, bringing about prayer-filled actions and reactions and a fresh, positive outlook on life.

Another scripture states that God’s word will not return to Him “void”meaning empty or unfulfilled.

Every person who reads the pages of an inspirational novel is absorbing words penned under inspiration given by the Creator of the Universe. Hidden within those pages is something that reader needs. Perhaps a reminder to pray about every situation in his life. Or maybe a mental nudge to become more familiar with the Word of God. Who knows what readers might take away with them from the words of an inspirational novel?

Am I willing to make the effort of writing an entire book on the chance that somewhere, some young woman might find a new determination to remain sexually untainted until her marriage vows are spoken? Yes. Is it worth all the hours of writing to point someone in the direction of Christ and Calvary? Without a moment’s hesitation, unequivocally, yes.

My heart says it’s worth it.

© 2008 Delia Latham Delia Latham’s novel, Goldeneyes, was released March 30, 2008 by Vintage Romance Publishing. The author lives in Bakersfield, California with her husband, Johnny. Contact her through her website (www.delialatham.com/) or her blog (themelodywithin.blogspot.com).

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com

God said by and large
You will have what you order
Do you get the point

I’ve been doing a lot of praying of late, asking God to help me with this new project, yet when I think about those prayers, I don’t recall specifics.

Odd isn’t it?

I’ve never been timid about asking God for help before, yet when it comes to writing, I somehow lose my audacity.

But thanks to Karen, I get the point.

Lord, introduce me to characters who will touch others. And put them in situations which will show others the wonder of You. Keep me in my chair, Lord, even when the ironing is piling up and all I really want is a hot bubble bath. Inspire me with Your words so I can pass them along to others.

Help me to be like Mother Teresa who said:

“I don’t claim anything of the work. It is his work. I am like a little pencil in his hand. That is all. He does the thinking. He does the writing. The pencil has nothing to do with it.”

Let me be your pencil, Lord.

I get the point.

In it, Lukeman, himself a literary agent of long standing, starts out by making a clear distinction between writing and publishing:

“Writing is not a business,” he says, “but publishing is.”

Good point, and one I make during my creative and memoir writing classes. I can teach people to write, but I can’t teach them to be writers. Writing is a craft, not a science, and being a writer isn’t about money – altho it’s a nice benefit! – it’s about telling the story. Once the story has been told, then the business of sharing it with others begins.

And that’s where an agent comes into the picture.

It all begins with research, something most writers love anyway and are generally good at. Lukeman suggests culling through sources – things like trade pubs, search engines and even book acknowledgements – until the names, contact information and client lists of 50 agents have been gathered.

“As a rule of thumb, beginning writers stand a much better chance of landing an agent
if they target an agent who is just starting out,” he says, “someone who has been an agent for three years or less, someone who has proven himself by securing at least a few deals with major
houses but is actively looking for more clients.”

Once the list has been compiled, a query letter needs to be written. (Lukeman offers an informative lesson on writing great query letters as well. You can download it here.

And then the stamp-licking begins.

“I recommend your sending a query letter to five or ten agents at a time, for instance,
in five rounds of ten agents. I would wait no longer than 2 to 4 weeks to hear back from
that round; if you haven’t landed an agent by that time, send off the next round.”

If – and when – an agent requests sample pages, Lukeman suggests sending them exactly what they’ve requested – while you continue to send query letters to more and more agents.

The entire process should take six months. If, at the end of six months an agent hasn’t been landed, either start making a new list or spend more time writing.

Sounds like good advice to me.

I’ll keep you posted!

It was, it turns out, God’s gift to me.

Writing for God was writing for the ultimate editor. It was writing for my life, and for the lives of the readers who would eventually sift through the pages seeking something.

The sense that what I was writing was more than entertainment or instruction never left me. And carrying it with me, changed the way I write and the way I think about writing.

For example, my current project is romantic fiction, yet hidden within each sentence, each action-reaction scene, is the realization that I am writing for God. He gifted me with the words, the ideas, the creative imagination and the opportunity to write.

It’s something I’ve always known, of course, but after writing an inspirational book, I’m much more aware of using the gift for the Glory of God.

I’d be curious to hear from others who may have had – or are having – the same experience.