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Effective Communication Between Religion & Authors

Effective Communication Between Religion and Authors … By Leena Patel

 

There are two categories people fall into: 1) Writing for an audience, and, or, 2) Writing for yourself.

Who says being an author is easy? It is not. There is a criteria by which all potential authors should consider. It is easy to get carried away as a potential author, simply because people think it is simple due to being isolated and comfortable in their home environment.  Again, anybody can self publish since contemporary publishing has opened up so many avenues. However, what is the essence of having a book published and eventually it just sits sadly on the shelf, only accompanied by it’s identical siblings?

Question: What criteria should Authors be aware of?

 

Who is your audience?

For instance, if you were writing a Christian children’s book, would you write using simple words, or, would you write using adult words?

The establishing perspective of who the audience is you are writing for, will determine the way you write and how you write it with the added consideration of whether images are required, and, what type of images.

As an author you are offering a credit which has a huge impact of important factors, such as: being responsible and accountable for published works in the perspectives of – social, academic and financial implications. Therefore, it is vital to have an insurance of self agenda to follow accurately; any contributions of the concept of any artwork, acquiring the such, interpretation and analysis of data work appropriately; any works drafted should be revised critically; the final draft should be approved for this version to be published;, and, finally, taking responsibility to being accountable in making sure of the contents accuracy.

There is also the further added complication once the book is complete. What comes next and how do I work towards the tasks of putting the whole book together ready for publishing. Already it is clear this road to publishing is far from straight and narrow; in fact, there are bends and side roads appearing.

This is the reason why most authors choose publishing companies. It is then ensured with an agreement between the publishers and the authors the complete manuscript will be professionally analysed with editing and proofing the context. The worse humiliation would be to be confronted with public who have read the book and criticize the author for huge grammatical errors, sentences that don’t connect in the correct context, and even, if I am to be mean, ridicule artwork that is totally inappropriate for the audience and genre of the book.

The final horns of a dilemma will come when considering who will buy the book, how will the public become aware of it, and, what exactly do I need to do? Well. If you came this far and reflected on this last but least of all important hill, you did well. Since, many seem to be simply content that they hold a published, final masterpiece in their hands and they deservedly can now be addressed as successful authors. In reality, this is absolutely not the case.

The completed publishing is required to be registered, which allows bookstores to search for potential authors of diverse genres to be considered. Of course, at this stage, the process is still not as simple, simply because a barcode and ISBN needs to be allocated. Furthermore, an appropriate and successful marketing and advertising task needs to be executed.

Question: As a potential author, have you considered all of this and much more? Instead of gruelling yourself and putting so much unnecessary stress on your shoulders – go to the experts and let them take away the headache and give you the deserved support to write at ease.

 

We all lead lives with twists and turns. Our religious experiences and journey accumulate and recorded. However, the effective communication between our Godly experiences written, deserve to be read and recognised widely for what the author intended.

 

 

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The Thin Line of Influence for Christian Publishing

As a Christian writer or publisher, you wield a lot of power over the lives of many people who really take Christian books very seriously. Unlike secular and fictional novels, where readers already know that what is contained is fictional and strictly for entertainment purposes, readers take Christian books very seriously. This is where the thin line of Christian publishing appears, and all writers and publishers must walk this line with a lot of care.

The negative

There are some Christian publishers who do not put much thought into outputting Christian books that have a negative impact on their readers. The use of fear is one of the tactics that many authors have used to get increase readership. “If you do this, then something bad will happen to you.” This approach has been used by many writers in an effort to scare sinners out of their ways and into Christianity, and also to keep those within from straying. Although there has been some success in some cases, there are cases where people view themselves as being unworthy, when they read about some of the issues written by an influential Christian writer.

The positive

On the other hand, there are Christian writers who have a knack of showing the greatness of living a Christian life within a positive context. The issues spelt out in the book show the positive results that one gets from being a good Christian. This approach is said to work wonderfully, but in some cases it has brought about a feeling of being too good. “I am a good Christian and deserving to go to Heaven, while these sinners will go to Hell”.  The individual disassociates from people who are not Christians and will not even have a simple conversation with non-believers.

Walking the thin line

A good Christian writer knows how to balance between these two extremes when writing books. He should be able to show the result of living a non-Christian life and that of living a Christian life. Weaving through these two extremes and coming to a wonderful conclusion at the end of the book will bring about a positive and lasting effect on the reader. Actually, most of the writers who have a long-lasting relationship with their readers carefully toe this line.

The role of the Christian publishers

The Christian publishers should engage the writer right from the start. The writer may have a great idea, but the way it is fleshed out in the book may be on the extreme. Publishers need to know how to work with the writers to come up with books that are well balanced and will influence readers in a manner that is long-lasting.

Christian publishers and writers have a huge responsibility in ensuring their readers get books that will have a positive effect on their lives.  They must always keep the thin line in focus. With this in mind, writers and publishers will not only win large readerships, but also ensure that their influence is Godly in nature.

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Steps towards Self Publishing

When most people think about self publishing, their hearts are filled with fear. This is an uncertain terrain for many aspiring Christian writers. They do not know which platform to use, which agent or publisher to use, and a lot more. We endeavor to put down some steps that one can use to make it as a self published Christian Writer.

Find the right Publisher

Always search for a publisher who shares your views. It is important that you pray before you go out and get a publisher. You need a publisher who publishes books which have Christian themes and morals. If you decide to publish where secular books are also being published, then your message may become diluted in the process. So always make sure that you really know the kind of publisher that you want before you start your grand self publishing journey.

A publisher who walks with you

You need to find a publisher who will walk with you through every step of this new literary journey. For a first time writer, this journey can be confusing and the publisher should be sensitive and patient with your requirements.  Every contact that you make within the organization should be ready to answer your questions and allay your fears and concerns.

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You want a publisher who will understand your vision right from the submission of your manuscript, all the way to viewing your cover image and design. They should have a deep understanding of what your objectives are in publishing the book. They should be willing to go out of their way to accommodate your vision for the book. The service should be exceptional and all-inclusive.

Get proper recommendations

You need to find people who will recommend you to certain Christian publishers. You should do your due diligence and find out which publisher is the best when it comes to publishing and marketing the book. Some publishers have a wide array of channels that they use to market your book. They should be enthusiastic in their efforts. Reading through some forums will help you get a clear picture of the publishers that are available for you.

Pray Always

The power of prayer is clear to every devout Christian. When you reach the point of writing your own book, you need to pray a lot for the vision of the book and also getting the right publisher. This may seem like a small matter to many, but it is not. Take time to pray before you even start structuring the book and let the Holy Spirit guide you on what you should do.

In conclusion

There are many other aspects that you should consider when you are staring off into self publishing. Not all Christian publishers may share your vision, and this could result in a frustrating process, and a bad result in the long run. The message of your book will not get to the people in the proper manner, and your vision will be diluted.

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Have Faith When Writing Your First Book

Every writer has one through an initial phase when they thought that they would not finish their first book. At such times, you need encouragement from people within your circles and also from your publisher.  Christian publishers play a great role in fostering new writers so they can fulfill their dreams of writing their first book. There are many obstacles, both real and perceived, that you will go through when writing your first book, but you can overcome them by having faith in your ability.

Reach deep within you for the faith and courage

Most new writers are driven to write from a deep conviction that they have something to share with other Christians. In some cases, a person has had a bad life growing up, and this changed upon getting salvation. This may drive the person to want to share this experience with others who may be going through the same.

In such a case, reaching deep within to embrace what has happened to you may overcome some of the initial jitters that you may be having. Know that the message that you have is important to millions who are going through the same rough path that you went through- and conquered! This faith that the message must get out will give you the impetus that you need to overcome whatever fears and doubts that you may have.

Have faith in your publisher

After looking for a great Christian publisher, you must have unwavering faith in their ability to get you through this initial stage. You should take them into your confidence and let them know exactly what you are feeling and any challenges that you may be having. Publishers have worked with aspiring writers from all walks of life so you can believe that they probably have come across another writer with similar challenges.

Create faith through prayer and communion

Always pray for your book before you sit down to write. Let the Holy Spirit guide you on what you have to write. The power of prayer is something that every Christian knows and you should have faith in it too. You should also commune with the people in your church and also other members of your family. The encouragement you get will push you beyond any obstacles that you may be facing. They will support you spiritually and in other ways to ensure that you attain your dream of publishing your first book

Take the leap

Talk about taking a leap of faith. When you decide to write your first book, then take a leap of faith and start writing. When your book is finally published, you will be glad. You will be overwhelmed with emails and other messages from people whose lives you have touched. This is one of the best results of publishing a book – when you know that you have changed somebody’s life for the better. This thought should always stay in your mind, even if you will be expecting some financial recompense for your effort.

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Christian Publishing and the Church

Not many people consider this question, especially because the decision to buy any sort of Christian publication is a personal one for many people – Where would the church be without Christian publishing companies?

There stands your preacher, teaching his sermons every time. Armed with only the Bible, but not having Bible references, periodicals and journals that enhance his understanding of the Bible. Imagine that you do not have any hymnals, choir music and only a few Bibles on each pew. The big question is whether the teachings would reach people without all of these publications.

Of course, the word would get out. In several parts of underdeveloped countries, Christianity is taught under such tough conditions. So how does Christian publishing impact the church?

Christian Publishers, especially those owned by secular publishing conglomerates, seek to expand their profits by appealing to the market, rather than truly meeting the spiritual needs of the readers. There are small publishers who seek to enhance the spiritual lives of their readers. Publishers tend to concentrate on the personal link between the reader and God, rather than the link between the reader and the Church.

Unfortunately, many readers have embraced this kind of thinking, and look more towards their own personal relationship with God, rather than their relationship with the Church. The Bible warns that appealing too much to the market may lead to publishing untrue or outright heretic material. The Apostle Timothy warns of this when he says that people will have itching ears to accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and turn away from listening to the truth, (2 Tim 4:3-4).

Well, Christian publishing on one hand may seem to be a detriment to the Church, but let nobody forget just how much it has done for the Church in the past and will continue to do so. In the last Century, Christian publishing has energized the Church. There was a true reform of theology and the churches resurged, thanks to Christian publishing.

There is a large number of youth who are turning to the church at an early age thanks to publications that they read. This will give rise to a largely Christian adult generation in the future. Christian publishing is playing a greater role now, more than it did in the past.

In the second half of the 20th Century, Evangelism has been the major publisher as compared to any other denomination. Christian publishers played a great role in the proliferation of the Bible, and hence the Church. One can see the large number of translations that were put forth, and also the reference material, which enhanced the understanding of the Bible. Christian publishing did make a great impact on the Church in the past, and is set to make an even greater one in the future. The answer to the question above is that Christian publishing, when done properly, has a great impact on the growth of the Church and should be lauded.

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All about Christian Fiction Publishing

Christian Fiction Publishing is a lucrative business and it can really pay off, but it also comes with a lot of challenges. There are some companies that have completely abandoned Christian Fiction publishing while others have reduced the number of titles that they send out every year. This may give the notion that the market for Christian fiction books is shrinking, but when you look at industry statistics, you see a different picture.

The estimates show that the mass market format, is the one favored by most publishers. This is a format where the books are produced in huge amounts, and then prized at what you would use to buy a snack. Harlequin has produced a Christian fiction romance line called “Love Inspired” with each book being sold at $5.99. This has made the books very popular, and one can see the appeal of the mass market format.

The challenges of Christian Fiction stave from this ability by some publishes to drive prices to such a level that the smaller publishers cannot break even. Industry insiders say that only 3 or 4 publishing houses take the lion’s share of this market. They have mastered what their readers want and keep on producing hit after hit. There are those that have specialized in Romantic suspense, which is what most readers are looking for.

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There are other Christian Fiction publishers who have partnered and pooled their resources to produce best sellers. This is another strategy that is being used in order to beat the mass make strategy that is employed by the bigger publishing houses. Another strategy that has made a great impact is reinventing the publishing house.

When talking about reinventing the publishing house, it does not mean that the overall strategy of printing and marketing should be changed; it means that there should be a change in the topics that are being output.

Christian Romance has really been saturated. This subgenre is dominated by a few major publishing houses and it would be very difficult to publish a new romance book if you are a small publisher. That is the reason why some publishing houses are looking for less common Christian publishing subgenres. One of the most popular is Amish fiction because there is so much that can be written about these people. Again, the Amish are avid readers and are a huge pool of potential customers.

For a small Christian publishing house to truly make it, it should consider entering into a new subgenre and then producing a best seller. It would be prudent to take time to find such a subgenre and then properly create and publish a formidable book, which would take the Christian publishing world by storm.

When considering entering into the world of Christian Fiction publishing, one must be ready to take a different approach and then market it with a lot of gusto. A new method that has become popular is “time slipping”, where the reader is taken to different time periods throughout the book. Do you have any new ideas?

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Christian Publishing and the Children’s Ministry

There are several benefits that Christian publishing imparts on the Children’s Ministry. Every parents should make it a habit to walk into a Christian Bookshop UK and find a book that will help shape the Christian future of their young ones.

Ensuring that children are exposed to beneficial books right from the start ensures that they grow up to build a better society, family, church and world. The importance of Christian publishing in this aspect cannot be understated.

Ways in which Christian publications benefit children

The negative results of sin – You want your child to know that it is wrong to sin, and Christian publications have many ways of teaching children this. The 10 commandments are some of the basics that children start to learn, and they should follow them with dedication. A Christian Bookshop UK should have publications that teach about the bad outcomes of sin.

Understanding the world – Children are usually confused about the ways of the world. Christian publications help them understand who made the world and what the initial desire of the Maker was. They get to know about what went wrong with God’s initial plan and how this has shaped the world as they know it today. With this understanding, children will then get to know how they can stay close to the teachings of the Bible, and to God’s initial plan, so they can one day get to meet Him in Heaven.

Acceptance of Christ – It has been shown that people who accept Christ as their Lord and Savior at an early age tend to keep their faith. Children are very impressionable and tend to keep what they learned at a tender age for longer in their lives. These are the years in which they are molded into the adults that they will become. A Christian Bookshop UK should have books that encourage children to embrace salvation from an early age.

Counterbalancing worldly influences – The influence of worldly things can make a child stray from a Christian way of life. Christian publications have helped children in countering this kind of influence, by teaching them what really matters in life. A child is less likely to steal or lie in order to get ahead in life, if he or she knows that there is a clean and honest way of getting to the same objective. A Christian Bookshop UK should stock books that tell children about some of the challenges that they will face in life and how to overcome them in a Christian manner.

It is fun – Any Christian Bookshop UK will testify that Christian publications targeted at the Children’s Ministry are full of fun lessons. Children easily assimilate information when it is presented in a fun way. It may be in the form of cartoons, comics, stories or activities.

Christian publishing has a great responsibility and role to play when it comes to the Children’s Ministry. Authors and publishers should always think about these young and impressionable minds when they are creating content for them. The industry will help shape the future society with proper dissemination of Christian teachings.

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Christian Publishing and the eBook Boom

Electronic books, also known as eBooks, have become a popular means of getting literature to readers. The ales of electronic books have by far surpassed those of hardcover and paperback editions. Christian Publishers UK have embraced this kind of dissemination, with a wide range of publications available for Christian readers.

The audience for digital Christian books has continued to grow over the years. Many publishers have seen it grow exponentially and have structured their online stores to provide eBooks for their readers. How has the eBook boom affected the Christian publishing environment?

The Copyright Issue

The copyright issue was quite a sensitive one, when eBooks were launched. One book would eventually and up being distributed to so many people, thereby denying the author and publisher their dues for the intellectual property.

The main distribution software developers eventually developed ways in which copyrights could be protected. Digital signatures were developed which meant that a digital product could only be downloaded once to a particular computer or Smart device, and could not be distributed beyond that device.

This was great news for Christian Publishers UK and the world over. Finally digital books were protected and they could publish without fear. This kind of protection further accelerated the use of eBooks as a means of disseminating published Christian works.

More authors can be accommodated

Traditionally, Christian Publishers UK would have a warehouse where they would store books from the authors that they publish. There is a limit to the number of slots that you can have in a warehouse for such books. When it comes to eBooks, such limits become obsolete.

Christian Publishers UK were able to concentrate on quality without thinking of the confines of quality. It can take about 6 to 12 months to print a book, right from the manuscript stage to the final print edition, but when you look at digital eBooks, the final copy is ready within a very short time. This has resulted in more books being published in the digital platform within the same time that it would take to publish a single book.

The costs associated with printing books are minimized when it comes to digital eBooks. Christian Publishers UK have given authors a means of earning money from their published work, without having to incur large initial costs. Some authors prefer to have their printed editions done after they have reached certain sales benchmarks for their digital versions. This means that they will have some money to cover the costs of printing their books.

Christian Publishers UK have digital Christian eBooks from great authors such as Pastors Andy and Maria Yiangou. Their books appeal to both young and old, and have valuable Christian Lessons to teach. Publishers have taken up digital publishing to easily give people from all over the world, access to such inspiring books. Spreading the Word of God is not as difficult as it used to be in the past. eBooks have ensured that the books can be easily downloaded from Christian Publishers such as Kingdom Publishers UK.

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Can Fiction Be Used to Teach Valuable Christian Life Values?

Normally, works of fiction are usually associated with the secular world. Whenever you read a book based on fiction, you tend to have a feeling that no valuable Christian tenets could be found in the book. Granted, fictional books have a heavy leaning towards the secular world but these works can still be used to teach Christian values. A Christian Bookstore should have such books in their stocks.

At one time, a heated argument arose out of the issues surrounding the “Lord of the Rings” Trilogy. It all started out when one of the participants asked the brother for the trilogy to go and watch at home. The lady in question was a staunch Christian and her brother wondered why she would want to watch the series.

Now here is a lesson that any Christian Bookstore should bear in mind. The Trilogy can be likened to the journey of a Christian, passing through trials and tribulations, in order to defeat an overbearing evil presence and reach the Promised Land. The Bible is full of such stories, where a Christian is in the wilderness, facing evil and temptation and how eventually the Christian prevails.

Fiction is appealing, but should be chosen wisely

Any Christian Book store can opt to sell fictional books that have a strong Christian leaning. However, the choice of such boos should be done with care. The books should always teach the true values of Christianity, even as they entertain the reader.

A great example of how fiction can be used to tell Christian stories can be found in tales by Dr. Seuss – “The Grinch That Stole Christmas”. It tells of a Grinch who was never happy when people in the village below enjoyed Christmas, and eventually stole Christmas one day. The story unfolds and ends up with the Grinch giving back Christmas, and actually having a life-changing revelation about the true spirit of Christmas.

Thinking of how such an interesting fictional tale is used to teach a great Christian tenet, shows the potential that fiction has in spreading the Good Word. The example used above may be a bit simplistic, but there are fictional books targeted at adults that have the same desired effect.

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The challenge for authors and publishers

Authors and Publishers need to find ways in which fiction can be used to teach Christian values to people of all ages. A Christian Book store should have a wide range of books, both fictional and non-fictional to cater for the interests of their readers. It should be remembered that people enjoy different types of books, and the core message must be spread using all these available channels.

The Christian Book store known as Kingdom Publishers, has exception fictional books, such as Jungle Tales by Pastor Andy Yiangou, which has stories based on the fictional Karoomba Jungle and the characters who live there. Each story has a beautiful Christian lesson to teach. Fiction can truly be used properly to teach people about the value of the Bible and Christianity.

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Reasons to Buy Books from the Best Christian Book Store Online

In recent times we have seen a huge shift in the trend of buying books. Book lovers or active readers no longer go to a conventional store to buy their favorite book; they choose to shop from trusted Christian online book store. The number of people using these web based shops for their favorite books is increasing with every passing day. The main reason for this shift in the trend is the endless list of buying books online.

It’s not just about price or comfort but readers can also access a wide range of fiction and non-fiction books at a top Christian online book store. Moreover, authors from around the world can get their book published online by submitting their work at these Christian book stores. All they have to do is follow a few simple steps.

Below we have listed many other advantages of buying books from an online Christian book store. If you love reading or writing, read all the following points to understand how these online Christian book stores can help you out.

  1. Unlimited choice

When it comes to buying books online from a Christian book store, you get to choose from a range of options.

  1. Great convenience

Buying books from online Christian book store offer a lot more convenience over your local book store. You can order your favorite book online anywhere, anytime using popular online Christian book stores.

  1. Online price comparison

Online book shopping also offers you the comfort of price comparison. You can compare the prices of your favorite book on different online stores and then purchase it for the best price.

  1. Access to consumer review

You can also read genuine reader reviews online before buying a book. This offers you an opportunity to make a smart decision.

  1. Great deals and discounts

There is a range of deals and discounts available online. So you can buy your favorite book and save big bucks at the same time.

If you are thinking about reading a Christian book or waiting to get your work published online, visit Christian book stores like Kingdom Publishers.