- Wed, May 11, 1994
- Writing
5 Tips for Clear Writing and Talking
C. S. Lewis’ advice to children on writing is good advice to pastors on preaching, or anybody on talking.
Resources: Writing
- Fri, Dec 29, 2000
- About Randy Alcorn, Writing
Amazon.com interview with Randy Alcorn about his writing
A publisher asked me last week what my distinctive mission as a writer is. I think it's to probe beneath the surface into the deep longings of people, then to open a door into the invisible spiritual realm so people can see ultimate realities (including God, angels, demons, heaven and hell) with the eyes of faith and imagination.
- Mon, Jan 18, 2010
- Writing
Are any of Randy’s books going to be made into a movie?
There has been much interest in making Randy's book Deadline into a movie. In fact, the screenplay has already been written.
- Mon, Nov 29, 2010
- Writing
Are Christian bookstores still relevant? (video)
Randy Alcorn answers the question, "With a growing number of ways for people to access books and content online, are Christian bookstores still relevant?" Filmed at the 2010 International Christian Retailers Show.
- Wed, Apr 13, 2011
- Writing
As you continue to write fiction books, what is your greatest source of inspiration for your writing?
I seek to read and think and use my imagination, and improve my writing skills. I ask God for ideas and help, and I sense Him answering those prayers. Whether we build or draw or fix things or make a home for our families, God wants us to yield our gifts to Him, and depend on Him for the next step, even the next breath. I don't always succeed, but that's what I seek to do in my writing.
- Thu, Jan 28, 2010
- Christians, Past and Present (By and About), Writing
Bible College professor writes a response to The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien
A story rewritten may best express my feeling about the book.
- Thu, Mar 04, 2010
- Writing
Budding Author Questionnaire
Tips from James Scott Bell and some writing friends.
1. What training does a career in writing require?
Mostly it is SELF training. You must teach yourself to write. You can read good books on writing, take courses, go to writing conferences, etc. But the most important thing you must do is WRITE, each day if possible, and APPLY what you are learning. You learn by writing, trying, seeing where you need to improve, and writing some more. There is no shortcut.
In college I wrote to an author I admired asking some of these same questions. He wrote back ...
- Mon, Oct 28, 2002
- Christians, Past and Present (By and About), Recommended Reading and Resources, Writing
C. S. Lewis on Writing the Chronicles of Narnia
Some people seem to think that I began by asking myself how I could say something about Christianity to children; then fixed on the fairy tale as an instrument; then collected information about child-psychology and decided what age-group I’d write for; then drew up a list of basic Christian truths and hammered out “allegories” to embody them. This is all pure moonshine. I couldn’t write in that way at all. Everything began with images; a faun carrying an umbrella, a queen on a sledge, a magnificent lion. At first there wasn’t even anything Christian about them; that element pushed itself in of its own accord. It was part of the bubbling.
- Tue, Jan 01, 2002
- Writing
Can Fiction Tell the Truth?
Imagination and truth go together in good literature. Because a story is “made up” does not necessarily mean it is not true. It means it is imaginative. Fiction is basically literature about imaginary people and events (and includes mysteries, fantasy, drama, science fiction, and more). The definition of fiction is to shape, to fashion, to feign. Feigning is imagining-making visible images for invisible things. Why should I read fiction if it is just made up? I read it because it helps me pay attention to life. Reading good fiction is not simply a frivolous activity for those who aren’t ...
- Fri, Mar 05, 2010
- Writing
Can it really be Christian and God-honoring to write “Christian” fiction?
I personally believe that Christian fiction can be fully honoring to Christ.
The history of Christian fiction is very big, very prominent. Take Pilgrim's Progress (1670s), a work of fiction. For a long time, people said it was the second-best selling book of all time. Besides the Bible itself, it is arguably one of the most influential books of all time, and it’s a work of fiction, an allegory.
