The Storied Life: Christian Writing as Art and Worship

by Jared C. Wilson

When writers write, they are getting in touch with the image of God in them. This is true in some way of all artistry, but writers especially create worlds, characters, histories, and transformation--all ex nihilo ("out of nothing").

In The Storied Life, veteran author Jared C. Wilson explores the ins and outs of writers and writing, exploring the myriad ways the craft is more about transformation than simply communication. From decades of experience and with his signature wit, Wilson brings well-earned insight, autobiographical reflections, and meaningful meditations to the topic of writing as a way of life and as a way of worship, showing how the concept of Story--our personal stories and God's grand story of redemption--shapes fiction and non-fiction writers alike.

Chapters focus on topics

The liturgy of story.Writing as a spiritual act.Perseverance and endurance.Writing as a calling.Promotion, publishing, and platform.Whether you're a long-time writer or a beginning author, a daily journaler or an occasional dabbler, The Storied Life will help you improve your craft. It will lead you to think more deeply about the disciplines and dispositions needed to write for transformation.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Christian, Christianity, Christian Living

203 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 7, 2024

About the author

Jared C. Wilson is the Director of Content Strategy for Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Managing Editor of For The Church (ftc.co), and Director of the Pastoral Training Center at Liberty Baptist Church in Kansas City, Missouri. He is the author of numerous books, including "Gospel Wakefulness," "The Prodigal Church," and, most recently, "The Imperfect Disciple." Wilson blogs regularly at gospeldrivenchurch.com, hosted by The Gospel Coalition and is a frequent speaker at conferences and churches around the world.

Reviews

[Kevin Halloran · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid look at the creativity, calling, and craft of writing. I love Jared Wilson’s writing and enjoyed hearing behind-the-scenes details about the ups and downs of his writing journey. (He was rejected for ten years before finally landing a book deal!) This book encouraged me to keep writing for the glory of God and to focus on the long-game of writing.

[Sarah Frazer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read some books on writing, but I absolutely loved this one. It was so thoughtful, well-written, and honest. It also really motivated me during a time of writer’s block. I was feeling discouraged in my work and sort of had a “what’s next” feeling. This book pushed me over the hump and encouraged me. It is written from a completely Christian perspective, which I loved. It puts writing in an appropriate place when it comes to the kingdom of God. This is a must read for all writers - no matter where you are in the writing journey.

[Tristany Corgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The call to write is an echo of the call of the creation mandate: to fill the earth and subdue it. To build, to cultivate, to establish creative monuments to the glorification of the Divine Author of all things.” -Jared Wilson📝

Jared Wilson’s new book, The Storied Life, is easily my favorite nonfiction read so far this year. Wilson focuses on the Story of Scripture and how that story ought to be reflected in every Christian’s writing. Yet, he also shares numerous practical tips on writing and publishing based on his own personal experiences as a writer and pastor. As a Christian writer, I felt very seen and encouraged by Wilson’s witty prose, and his book challenged me and gave me a lot to think about as I continue on in my personal writing journey. If you are a Christian writer (fiction or nonfiction) or you’ve ever wanted to be a writer, I highly, highly recommend this book!

“To him be the glory in our writing and in our winding, wonderful storied lives.”🩵

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A big thank you to Zondervan Reflective for sending me a copy of this book! All thoughts and opinions above are my own.

[Johnny Zacchio jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding.

[JD · Rating 5 out of 5]

My history with writing stories began as early as I can remember; I wrote and wrote and wrote endlessly as a kid. I had notebooks full of characters and worlds and bad plots that I shared with classmates and even some receptive teachers. Once I learned to type, I spent whole mornings or afternoons writing huge Word document fantasies. But by high school, I began to spend far less time behind the keyboard; by college, the writing flame had burned down to a low flicker on a short candle.

In my 20s I picked writing back up again, and I managed to write the script for a graphic novel I hoped to illustrate. That never came to fruition, and the script is long gone. Here and there I dabbled in stories, but unfortunately the passion I’d had as a kid just wasn’t there anymore.

At 29, I married an avid book reader, and wonderfully, a long-lost love of books reemerged in my life. As I read, I began to think about stories, and as I thought about stories I longed to write stories, and the flame rekindled.

But then, in a moment, I was stuck again. I became discouraged with my work. Nothing seemed to come together. I had started on a new story, but it wasn’t going the way I hoped, and sadly I haven’t touched my notebooks in a long time.

I won’t go into the details, but providential events in the past year have brought Jared Wilson’s book into my life, and it’s been a blessing. His words have kindly nudged me back into remembering that writing is a skill to nurture, not neglect. Even if my writing is private, even if it’s never published, I can still write to God’s glory by allowing that gift to grow— and to let that gift be sanctifying for me. This book motivates me to keep trying, because ultimately, I’m not writing for myself. I’m not even writing for others. I have an audience of One, and that inspires me to write well; to write with truth, with humor, with love; to employ every tool and every skill I’ve learned and to do my very best.

I want to revisit this book often, as a reminder of what it means to write like a Christian, and maybe some day— if God permits it— I can write something that will encourage someone the way Jared encouraged me.

[Elizabeth Solomon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I often enjoy reading books about writing, for the inspiration and expertise they provide. However, I don’t usually come away from reading a book on writing feeling equipped to unite my spiritual life with my writing life. This guide to Christian writing seems to be the writing book I’ve always been hoping to read. Wilson graciously and vulnerably shares about his journey of becoming a published author in the midst of his ministerial career. Some key takeaways for me included:

-Removal of pressure to include overtly Christian messaging in writing. Wilson argues that the Christian who strives to write “as unto the Lord” will be infusing the hope, joy, peace, and love of the Gospel into whatever they write.
-Clarification of the reason many “Christian” works, such as movies, television, and even some worship music, feel flat or lackluster. This section sparked great conversation for us one evening.
-Encouragement to use writing as worship.
-Practical wisdom for the actual nuts and bolts of writing, getting published, and dealing with having (or not having) a specific platform or readership.
-The writing life as an echo of the Creator’s act of making.

I thoroughly enjoyed each chapter, infused with Wilson’s wit and many quotes from admirable literary works. I enjoyed picking this one up and putting it down over many months. It will continue to be a reference guide for me as I pursue “the storied life.”

[Mresch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read a lot of Jared C. Wilson and this book of his was something very different than the rest. I really appreciate his vulnerability and openness in this book as he shares a lot from his life and journey as an author. It was often relatable, encouraging, and at times challenging. He does a great job of describing the internal creative pull that comes out as writing and I think he uniquely connects this to the Christian faith, story and identity. I’m glad this book exists, I’m glad a Christian writer has put their voice to this topic, and I’m energized to put it into practice!

[Zak Schmoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book. The author does a very good job differentiating between what makes competent writing versus good writing. The first is technically adequate and does the job, but the second has the potential to impact people. This book specifically focuses on Christian writing, and I appreciated how he talked to all Christian writers, not just theological or devotional writers. I appreciated many of his personal stories as well as his practical chapters on breaking writers block and working towards actually publishing and publicizing. Overall, this is a very worthwhile read.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book and what it said about writing and life as worship. So many things to continually think about and process; everything being for God's glory, our life living that out, nothing between sacred and secular. And just writing. Highly recommend for writers.

[Josh Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do I fancy myself a Writer? Maybe? I’m undecided. But I enjoy writing. The Storied Life was a helpful read as a writer hoping to be come more of a Writer. Wilson covers all the helpful high points in a concise and engaging fashion. If you write or want to write, give it a read.

[Allison Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this read! Helpful motivation if you are a writer. I didn’t agree with all of his statements about what a writer is and isn’t, but perhaps he meant them more as descriptive than prescriptive. I aligned with a lot of what he said, and appreciate how he thinks about the craft.

[Joshua Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t believe I’ve read any of Wilson’s other works, but I really appreciated his insights on writing as worship and art. Makes me want to take pen to paper and start writing.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not a writer, or really an aspiring writer, but I enjoyed this book on Christian writing.

[Summer Culver · Rating 4 out of 5]

“We have to see our writing as spiritual waging of war against the darkness by shining a light. We indeed write first for the Divine Audience.”

[Anna Zachary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me after reading this book: inspired 🫡✍🏻

[Panda Incognito · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read more books about writing than I care to admit, and this is one of the best ones. It is specifically for a Christian audience, so it is more niche than most, but that makes it especially helpful for the intended audience. Throughout this book, Jared C. Wilson shares general wisdom about writing, offers advice on technique, and explores why the written word, stories, and the act of writing are so meaningful within a Christian worldview. He validates the calling that Christian writers have to write in a way that glorifies God, regardless whether the content of their writing is explicitly spiritual, and he explores how the process of writing can help us to grow spiritually. In all of this, he doesn't idealize writers, but he explores this specific calling in an encouraging, thought-provoking, and surprisingly humorous way. I laughed out loud multiple times.

In the first section of the book, Wilson focuses on the big picture of writing as an act of worship. These chapters focus on big ideas and abstract concepts, while also including concrete advice and application ideas. Wilson also shares personal stories throughout the book, illustrating different concepts based on his own experiences. The second part of the book focuses more on practical concerns, such as developing your voice as a writer, dealing with obstacles like writer's block, and improving your technique. This section also includes information and advice about paths to publication, and Wilson explores themes related to the potential blessings and dangers of having a public platform. He also encourages writers who don't want to publish, assuring them that their work is valid and meaningful even if they and God are the only ones who experience it.

This is an excellent book for Christian writers, regardless where they are in their journeys. Wilson offers insights and applications for both seasoned and beginning writers, and because of his broad experience, he includes advice for people who are writing novels, nonfiction books, blog posts, short articles, and sermons. He describes how nonfiction writing also conveys a story arc, and he shows how sermons both flow from and present the story of the gospel. Because Wilson explores so many different types of writing, this book is relevant to a broad audience, and it can deepen readers' appreciation of writing as a whole, instead of just speaking to their specialization. This book is unique, thorough, and very insightful, and I highly recommend it to Christian writers.

I received a free copy from the publisher, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Emma Hinkle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wilson is a well known pastor and author and walks the reader through why Christians write and. Often Christians think that you must only write about Christian topics, but Wilson pushes back on that since our worldview will be baked into what we write. He includes a lot of practical writing tops that are extremely useful for the burgeoning and well-seasoned writer.

This was a delightful book that I found very encouraging as someone who loves to write for fun, but also writes for a living. The point Wilson makes about writing being a calling for some and how that is a way to worship God really resonated with me.

[Lianna Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. It got to the point and covered multiple aspects of writing and being a writer. It was peppy and sometimes spunky. Yes, I enjoyed it.

Most importantly, I felt it shred me a bit—stripping away some of my self-glorifying thoughts and reminding me to rejoice, above all, that I get to fellowship with God as I write. That, for me, is the true blessing of writing.

P.S. I did disagree with one point: that almost all writers must have a plan and thesis in mind before writing. I don’t think this comports with the experience of many.

[Fred · Rating 4 out of 5]

As both a pastor and a writer -- one of the few that is first an author and then a preacher -- Jared Wilson gives helpful insights on writing as an act of devotion and as a spiritual discipline. He also shares practical advice for those who want to write, want to be published and may even want to write professionally. You don't need to be published to be a writer, and you don't have to make money to be a writer. The only thing you need to do is write.

[Mark Youngkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered this book from an email from the publisher. I was not familiar with jared Wilson, but the back cover featured endorsements from three of my Christian writing heroes - Russell Moore, Karen Swallow Prior and Tim Challies - so I figured it would be worthwhile. It surely was. If you have an inkling that you may be called to write for the glory of God - a book, a tweet or anything in between - you will appreciate and be inspired by this book, as I was.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admire Jared Wilson in many ways and feel a theological and dispositional kinship with him. Wilson's "The Storied Life" is an excellent guide for any aspiring writer. Wilson is right in the trenches with you--wedding biblical content and practical advice. The book will inspire and challenge you. My only critique is that I would have loved to see the book beefed up just a bit with some more specific advice on writing itself.

For more reviews see thebeehive.live

[Zak Mellgren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wilson doesn't mince or waste words. He is clear, direct, helpful, and inspiring, refusing to baby his readers but also avoiding becoming unnecessarily harsh as he challenges writers to pick up the pen and get to work. I finished this book completely confident in the God-glorifying, neighbor-loving beauty of writing, regardless of whether or not it leads to a published novel or financial gain. I can't imagine a Christian writer who wouldn't benefit from this book.

[Garrett Wishall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jared Wilson writes about writing as a way of life and a way of worship. For beginners all the way to published authors, Wilson writes to help writers improve their craft and think more deeply about the disciplines and dispositions needed to write for transformation.
This book is best suited for committed writers who can't help but write. Wilson says every life is a storied life, “a succession of days ... full of wonder and insight ... because of the way they are driven and shaped by the glorious gospel” (p. xvi).
Wilson spends 90 pages reflecting on writing and then 100 pages on the following topics: Finding Your Voice, The Adornment of Excellence, The Promises and Perils of Platform, Writing as Warfare, and Writing as Calling. Highly recommend!!

[Natasha Quinonez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book was like an awakening. As someone who’s always felt a call to write, I had begun to second-guess myself and think maybe it wasn’t what I thought it was. Now I understand what I feel was an internal call, a longing to type out my own reflection of The Story. This book makes me long to carve out a time to write everyday, and I can’t wait to see what comes of it.

[Chad Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful and encouraging

Not only does Jared provide excellent, practical tips, he is encouraging, interesting, he also provides great resources. Great book. Quick, easy read with invaluable takeaways.

[Adam Callis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good thoughts on Christian writing, filling a gap in that area. Occasionally, good thoughts on preaching as well. Had me reflecting on taking the same care for good storytelling arcs in preaching as in fiction writing.

[Tim Franks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very strong biblical worldview about being a writer. Lots of great practical advice from a veteran writer of fiction and non-fiction alike. I am not a book writer at this point in my life, but I do write messages and occasionally articles, but this book is helpful in thinking through these things.

[Ryan Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite Christian writer on writing. This was excellent. The reflections on story, what it means to write as a Christian—all just fantastic.

[Bledar · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking to get into Christian writing, this book is for you. It will challenge you and show you a path to be disciplined about it.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars