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The Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing Christian Fiction
The Christian fiction genre has been around since the late sixties, but the Left Behind series made it explode. This book walks you through the genre—what it is and isn’t, how plot integrates with a Christian message, how to approach edgy subjects, how to navigate Christian and mainstream publishers, and more. Coverage includes discussion of everything from mystery and romance, to historical and young adult.
- GenresWritingNonfiction
352 pages, Paperback
First published December 4, 2007
4 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Ron Benrey
19 books13 followersRon Benrey, the author of "Know Your Rights, a Survival Guide for Non Lawyers" (for Sterling), and "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing Christian Fiction" (for Penguin), is also a prolific novelist who has coauthored nine romantic suspense novels with his wife Janet: The Pippa Hunnechurch Mysteries, The Royal Tunbridge Wells Mysteries for Barbour, and the Glory, North Carolina, Mysteries. All three series are available at Amazon and as Kindle eBooks.
Ron "wrote his way" through college as a freelancer. After graduating, he became Electronics Editor at Popular Science Magazine. He went on to become a corporate communicator and speechwriter for several of America's largest companies. Ron is also an experienced oral presentation coach who has trained hundreds of managers and engineers to give winning proposal presentations - including several multi-billion-dollar programs.
Ron taught advanced writing courses at the University of Pittsburgh (member of the adjunct faculty). He currently teaches courses and workshops at major writers' conferences on topics ranging from plotting and publishability, to copyright law and computer technology for writers.
Ron holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a master's degree in management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and a juris doctor from the Duquesne University School of Law. He was a member of the Bar of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Ron and Janet live in North Carolina.
Ron "wrote his way" through college as a freelancer. After graduating, he became Electronics Editor at Popular Science Magazine. He went on to become a corporate communicator and speechwriter for several of America's largest companies. Ron is also an experienced oral presentation coach who has trained hundreds of managers and engineers to give winning proposal presentations - including several multi-billion-dollar programs.
Ron taught advanced writing courses at the University of Pittsburgh (member of the adjunct faculty). He currently teaches courses and workshops at major writers' conferences on topics ranging from plotting and publishability, to copyright law and computer technology for writers.
Ron holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a master's degree in management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and a juris doctor from the Duquesne University School of Law. He was a member of the Bar of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Ron and Janet live in North Carolina.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 16, 2021
A warning to you - It has taken me more than 6 months to get through Benrey's book. (Okay, more like over a year, but I've been reading a few pages here and there as I have the energy to do so).
He has excellent information for new writers who wish to enter the Christian fiction genre but who, like me, have not ver been big readers of Christian fiction. Although the book is older, much of what he says agrees with what I have seen and heard from webinars, blog posts, and conference speakers this past year. He has a little of everything.
I highly recommend it.
He has excellent information for new writers who wish to enter the Christian fiction genre but who, like me, have not ver been big readers of Christian fiction. Although the book is older, much of what he says agrees with what I have seen and heard from webinars, blog posts, and conference speakers this past year. He has a little of everything.
I highly recommend it.
November 5, 2013
This book is a fast and lively read.
While it covers many important topics, it seems pretty heavy on some and light on others. It focuses more on writers' conventions, agents, publishers, gatekeepers and even computer software than on what I would say are the bare bones of novel writing: creating and developing characters, emphasis on grammar and the like.
I suppose the book is called "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing..." and not "The Idiot's Complete Guide to Writing..."
It does have a lot of great advise for writing Christian fiction, a genre I'm just beginning to dabble in. I would strongly recommend it to anyone interested in writing Christian fiction. If you're more interested in writing general fiction, there are more complete how-to books out there. Either way, I would still suggest any new writer read some of those other books, too.
While it covers many important topics, it seems pretty heavy on some and light on others. It focuses more on writers' conventions, agents, publishers, gatekeepers and even computer software than on what I would say are the bare bones of novel writing: creating and developing characters, emphasis on grammar and the like.
I suppose the book is called "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing..." and not "The Idiot's Complete Guide to Writing..."
It does have a lot of great advise for writing Christian fiction, a genre I'm just beginning to dabble in. I would strongly recommend it to anyone interested in writing Christian fiction. If you're more interested in writing general fiction, there are more complete how-to books out there. Either way, I would still suggest any new writer read some of those other books, too.
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September 4, 2008Apparently two renewals is the limit at the local library. My heart, especially the financial part, is weeping. With big fat tears of sorrow. In the shape of a cross, after great repentance.
Christ will reclaim me sooner or later.
Christ will reclaim me sooner or later.
March 25, 2012
Writing is a minor past-time of mine. This book pretty much covers everything!
August 7, 2017
A very thorough book, and even though I'm not sure I can write for the Christian fiction market, I enjoyed getting a ton of insight and advice. :)
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews