249 ratings | 172 reviews | avg rating:4.33

Christy Bower’s Followers (31)

Christy’s Bookshelves

to-read (16)
currently-reading (8)
read (251)
did-not-finish (0)
biography (5)
christian-nonfiction (79)
creativity (1)
fantasy-fiction (1)
generosity (5)
grace (10)
See all bookshelves »

Christy’s Friends (161)

Renee

3,381 books | 1,137 friends

Kendra Ardnek

2,836 books | 300 friends

Cori

1,388 books | 437 friends

Gail Baugniet

910 books | 2,440 friends

Tammy Perlmutter

1,459 books | 787 friends

Joan

4,738 books | 219 friends

Melina

3,016 books | 1,540 friends

Bob Hayton

1,395 books | 378 friends

More friends…

Christy Bower

Goodreads Author

Member Since

February 2014

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/christy_bower

edit data

Learn more
Ask the Author

To ask Christy Bower questions, please sign up.

Popular Answered Questions

What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Christy Bower I can’t count the number of times aspiring or “tinkering” writers have sought my advice. (By the way, an aspiring writer will say, “I have always want…moreI can’t count the number of times aspiring or “tinkering” writers have sought my advice. (By the way, an aspiring writer will say, “I have always wanted to write a book” and a tinkering writer has an unfinished manuscript in a drawer.)

To the aspiring writer, I would say the only thing standing in your way is YOU. Stop wanting to write a book and do it. Of course, this doesn’t apply if the aspiring writer is still in school. I always encourage the dreams of young writers by telling them to write as much as they can.

To the tinkering writer, I would say I have a couple unfinished manuscripts, too. It’s part of the learning curve. Don’t be afraid to try something new. As your skills increase, you may be able to return to the unfinished manuscript with new insight and skills. Sometimes, getting that first completed manuscript published will increase one’s confidence to tackle other problematic projects. And sometimes a project doesn’t need to be finished. Sometimes its value is in the experience of writing it as we practiced and improved our skills.

I also want to address the five things I recommend not-yet-published authors do to prepare for being an author. By attempting these five bits of writing advice, you’ll be miles ahead of other struggling writers.

Read a grammar book every year, forevermore.

Being a writer means continuing education. Being an author means a commitment to improving your skills as you would in any other profession. Never stop learning.

Grammar? Yes, grammar! If you want to be a writer and an effective communicator, you need to know how words, sentences, punctuation, paragraphs, and even essays work.

I’m not talking about college textbooks (although that’s fine, too). Plenty of fun grammar books will have you laughing so hard you’ll forget you’re learning something. Here are a few of my favorites:
Woe Is I
Eats, Shoots & Leaves
Lapsing into a Comma
When You Catch an Adjective, Kill It
The Curious Case of the Misplaced Modifier

Attend a writers’ conference.

Just as reading a grammar book every year will help you learn the skills of being a writer, attending a writer’s conference will help you learn the publishing industry. A writer’s conference consists of seminars on different topics so you can create a custom package of quick education in areas you want to learn more. You can learn how to write a book proposal, how to put together a media kit, how to structure your nonfiction book, how to write better dialogue in your fiction, and so much more.

When you attend a writer’s conference, you have the opportunity to meet with editors of different publishing houses. As terrifying as it seems, these meetings give you the opportunity to present your book proposal and sample chapters. It gives you the chance to ask questions and get a better idea of what they’re looking for and how you can adapt to meet their needs.

The Christian Writers Market Guide lists more than 70 Christian writers’ conferences. Undoubtedly there are some in your area.

If you honestly can’t afford to attend a writer’s conference yet, put together a list of the topics you need to learn more about and purchase books on the topic, look for podcasts, or online courses, but these will cost you money, too, and the experience isn’t the same.

Although you can learn the skills through other means, nothing replaces the connections you’ll make when you attend sessions, eat meals, and hang out with editors, professional writers, and newbies who are struggling to get started.

Consider the source of criticism.

Everyone is a critic these days. That’s one of the greatest challenges for writers. In order to improve your writing, you will need to accept criticism. But not all criticism is created equal. In order to weigh the value of criticism, you must consider the source.

Constructive criticism helps make your work better. Respect and cherish constructive criticism, especially if you asked for the feedback. Invite criticism from editors, teachers, and other authors or experienced writers.

Not all critics are qualified. If the person has no experience as a writer, whether it’s a friend or a total stranger leaving a review or comment, shrug it off. Recognize that each person is entitled to their OPINION, but don’t take their criticism to heart or it will eat away at your confidence. Unfortunately, those closest to you (family and friends) are often the most clueless about writing. And their criticism can have the greatest emotional impact.

Get it out there.

You write because you have something you want to say to people. If you keep your writing in a drawer or drive, you are withholding your wisdom or whimsy from others.

Even if your work isn’t perfect, get it out there. After all my advice to sharpen your skills, this might seem contradictory. Strive for excellence, not perfection. Strive to make your writing better each year. Each book should be better than the one before. So don’t wait for it to be perfect. Do the best you can produce right now and get it out there for the benefit of others who need to read it.

Mind the gap.

The gap is the distance between where you are now and where you want to be. Take a moment to write a description of where you are right now as a writer. Then write a detailed description of where you want to be—number of books, sales numbers, income, or whatever is important to you.

What will it take to get from here to there? Write down the three next steps you need to take to close the gap. Keep your writing career focused by making each thing you do get you closer to where you want to be.

Contrary to our natural dreams of being a writer, we’re not likely to become an overnight success. Instead, a writing career is unglamorous work. It’s a series of deliberate actions and discipline to keep moving forward with little or no affirmation from others. You may not get many Atta-boys as a writer because we live in a culture of critics. But when you do get an Atta-boy, it makes it even more special.

Throughout your entire writing career, always mind the gap and ask yourself how you can narrow the gap between where you are now and where you want to be. One step at a time, you’ll get there. Fight the enemy of discouragement with continual actions to move toward your desired goal.

The best advice is the advice you put into use. I’ve tried to give you some specific direction so you can put this advice to use right now. I hope this helps you overcome your obstacles and discouragement so you can keep moving forward because the world needs to hear what you have to say. Now get busy to make that happen. We’re waiting!
(less)

flag

2 likes · like
Comment

I received Sweeter Than Chocolate in the mail yesterday! ...?

Christy Bower Yay! Thanks for letting me know.

flag

1 like · like
Comment

See all 8 answers from Christy Bower…

Combine Editions
Christy Bower’s books

Average rating: 4.27 · 188 ratings · 49 reviews · 53 distinct works

	Best Friends With God: Falling in Love with the God Who Loves You really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 37 ratings — published 2010 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Sweeter Than Chocolate: Developing a Healthy Addiction to God's Word 4.20 avg rating — 20 ratings — published 2014 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Devotion Explosion: Getting Real with God by Christy Bower (Goodreads Author), Cristy Bower 4.33 avg rating — 12 ratings — published 2007 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Bible Surveyor Handbook: A 15-Lesson Overview of the Entire Bible 3.92 avg rating — 13 ratings — published 2014 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Barefoot Devotions: Step Into Your Spiritual Blessings 4.64 avg rating — 11 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Legend of Dragon Hollow (Dragon Hollow, #1) 3.67 avg rating — 12 ratings — published 2013 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Unstuck: Escape Spiritual Stagnation, Experience Abundant Life 4.13 avg rating — 8 ratings — published 2002 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Crossword Bible Studies - Books of the Old Testament: King James Version (Crossword Bible Studies 4.43 avg rating — 7 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Crossword Bible Studies - The Gospel of Luke: King James Version it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 6 ratings — published 2012 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Crossword Bible Studies - Genesis: King James Version (Crossword Bible Studies #6) 4.50 avg rating — 6 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Christy Bower…

681 posts
Christy Bower's Blog

What Is the Good News?

I’ve been thinking about the Good News. What is the Good News?
How would you explain it?

When I hear people talk about the Good News, it often comes across more like bad news. I think there are some vast misunderstandings about the Good News of Christ, otherwise we would be shouting it from rooftops.

The Good News Is Not

The Good News is not essentially, “get your life together
(repent) and God will lo

Christy is Currently Reading

Christy Bower is currently reading

Overcoming Shame: Let Go of Others’ Expectations and Embrace God’s Acceptance

by Mark W. Baker

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Apr 23, 2023 09:52AM

Christy Bower is currently reading

Hope Again: A 30-Day Plan for Conquering Depression

by Mark Sutton

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Oct 04, 2019 10:25PM

Christy Bower is currently reading

Troubled Minds: Mental Illness and the Church's Mission

by Amy Simpson

bookshelves: mental-health, currently-reading

read in March 2016

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Christy Bower said: "
During Amy Simpson’s youth, her mother developed schizophrenia. She knows firsthand the traumas and difficulties of families with mental illness. That’s why she writes with such passion and compassion for others who struggle with mental health proble ...more "

Sep 30, 2019 11:41PM · see review

rss
Christy’s Recent Updates

Christy Bower has read Writing a Book a Week: How to Write Quick Books Under the Self-Publishing Model. Write Free Book Series by Alex Foster	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 28, 2024 03:16PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Writing a Book a Week by Alex Foster. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Writing a Book a Week by Alex Foster <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Christy Bower has read The Book In A Box Method: The Groundbreaking New Way to Write and Publish Your Book by Tucker Max (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 27, 2024 03:37PM · like

More of Christy's books…

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
2026 Reading Chal...: Agnieszka's 300 books	11	95	Dec 31, 2017 05:14AM
Stress Free Readi...: Agnieszka's Stamp Collecting Spot - FINISHED	102	64	May 20, 2018 07:03PM
Stress Free Readi...: Pawnography	104	285	Apr 20, 2019 09:14AM
2026 Reading Chal...: Agnieszka's archives 2016-2019	30	249	Jun 26, 2021 10:07AM
Nothing But Readi...: NBRC 26 Alphabet 2: Animals: A to Z (Spell-it-Out)	127	625	Sep 30, 2025 04:36PM