Part of a series of interviews with experienced Christian writers—of academic and popular theology, fiction, and those writing for a non-Christian audience.
How did you decide to take writing more seriously? Did someone encourage you to do so?
I have to answer differently for fiction and non-fiction.
First, growing up I always wanted to write stories. Sometimes, when I was quite young, if I was reading a good novel I would have to force myself to keep going because I wanted to be writing the story rather than reading it.
As I got older, however, I decided that fiction writing was impractical and a bit frivolous—especially for someone who might be able to do paid gospel ministry. That made me prioritise theological study and theological writing—which I also valued—but I still wanted to try writing fiction as well. In later years, when circumstances made it possible, I went back to it.
Did someone encourage me? Yes, to write non-fiction—from an early age. With regard to fiction, not until after I published The Blood Miles. Quite a few people have very kindly urged me to write more since then.
How do you think about your explicitly Christian writing? As a ministry? A hobby? A vocation? A side hustle?
I have thought a lot about Christian writing as an abstract topic (see link below). But this question is more difficult. I write because I want to, and because I am able to, and because I hope that my writing is something that God might use for his glory. But beyond that, I don’t know, and it messes up my equanimity when I think about it too much. I have written about some of the ways I try to respond this in my daily prayers.
When my mind is in a healthy spot, I am just incredibly happy that some people have found my fiction and non-fiction writing helpful, and I don’t go much beyond that. I am also very grateful to have opportunities to write—grateful both to God, and my very generous wife, Jen (who didn’t know she was marrying a closeted novelist).
What is some advice you can offer for those starting to seeking publication? What insights can you give into the mysterious publication process?
It will be hard. You will mostly write rubbish to start with. Find a writers’ group if you can. Submit smaller works first—lots of small failure is a better way to find something that works than working on a single manuscript for years.
You should also know up-front that the publishing industry is tough. It was a shambles before Amazon/AI/BookTube/[insert current disruptor here] came along, and now it’s worse. The upside is that there are many alternative pathways to publication these days.
You are unlikely to make a living from writing. But you are unlikely to make a living from singing either—that’s no reason not to sing. One of the strange avenues by which I went back to fiction-writing was by introducing my (then young) children to Dungeons & Dragons. That was a wonderful shared experience for us all; one of the most rewarding experiences for me as a storyteller. It’s hard not to have narrow, elitist ideas about what makes writing worthwhile.
How do you think about your less-explicitly Christian writing, whether fiction or non-fiction? A hobby? Part of the cultural mandate? Cultural engagement? Pre-evangelism?
See my non-fiction essay about writing fiction!
How do you think and feel about getting feedback and editorial input? Has that changed over time?
It’s never easy getting negative feedback, but I am a lot more comfortable with it after years of sharing my works-in-progress with friends and editors. Being editor for TGCA gave me a thicker skin for my own and other people’s writing (sorry if I butchered yours, fellow writer).
How do you cope with rejection, or not hearing back from people you share your work with—whether editors or friends and family?
Everyone is busy. People are always going through things. You just have to remember that… ha ha, just kidding. It’s terrible. You want everyone to love your stuff and respond immediately. You want people to love it without even reading it!
The best thing for me is to be already working on something else so my mind isn’t stuck on imagining what people are thinking about my last project.
How can friends support Christian writers?
Read their stuff. Pray for them. Read things in general and talk about them. Show by your words and actions that you believe in writing; that will help you, and it will help your writer friend too.
How can ministry leaders support Christian writers?
Cultivating an appreciation for good writing is important for leaders.
You should also explicitly affirm a diversity of word gifts and value culture-making. Don’t deny the urgency of gospel ministry but do make clear that all kinds of work are can be done “as to the Lord” (Col 3:23). Peter Orr (who used to be in my writing group!) gets the balance right.
Finally, if it’s appropriate, ask the writers in your group/church to write things.
What do you recommend to those who want to work on their writing?
First, a controversial suggestion: AIs can help. They tend to give flattering feedback, as do friends, and writers need a bit of that. But you can also ask them to “be brutally honest” and they may well make you notice things that you have been trying to ignore. AIs vary greatly in quality, but they can give you fast feedback. Just never let them write for you.
Less controversially—and more importantly—read a lot of good stuff. Join groups where books are discussed. Form a writers’ group or find one online. There are various platforms that facilitate such groups for Christian writers these days.
Keep writing. Send things to TGCA.
Learn about the craft. There are so many helpful podcasts and YouTube channels that will give you useful information and save you from making the sort of mistakes I did. There are great books on writing out there too. I think my favourite is still George Saunders’ A Swim in a Pond in the Rain.
