What Should Christians Write About?
by Debra Jehonyak

The Short Answer

Short answer: Anything. Life experiences of believers are similar to those of non-believers. But the way we handle them should be completely different.

Write About Divorce

Take divorce. The Bible tells us that God hates divorce (Malachi) and Jesus said it is not lawful, except for adultery. Yet a fair percentage of Christian marriages end in divorce without the adultery tab or Paul's teaching about abandonment, or other serious problems like drug use, gambling, or abuse to the spouse and children. Christians who remain married can write about why they do, and how they cope with difficulties or temptations that all of us are prone to. Or, if they have divorced, they may choose to write about the struggle for God's forgiveness, and describe lessons they've learned about relationships and about themselves. Anything along these topical lines will interest a variety of publications, for different reasons.

Write About Parenting

How about raising kids? Now there's a universal experience! Even editors' readers who do not have children may have them someday, or they could adopt, babysit, visit, or help with others' kids. Sharing your parenting experiences via humor, practical advice, or helpful insight can be a great ministry for spiritual magazines, and a self-help tool for a secular audience.

Write About Health

Health and nutrition, along with beauty and fashion never go out of style with women readers. Write from a Christian perspective of making the best of our assets for God's glory and our good. Or shape your message to appeal to a worldly set of readers that can benefit from a wholesome appearance or healthier bodies. Feeding a family effectively is any woman's challenge, as is getting enough exercise or watching for symptoms of serious health conditions. If you've been there or done that, you probably have something to write about for others who have not.

Write About Hobbies

Have a hobby? Write about it! Some folks would never dream of sky-diving or deep sea fishing or even camping in the mountains. But maybe you've done a little community theater or have sold a few paintings to local customers. It may be you've worked in a soup kitchen, rescued a stray kitten, or watched other "super novas" in action. Whatever your interests or experiences in leisure time, you can write about them in ways that will appeal to and perhaps inspire others.

Write About Loss

Have you cared for an aging relative? Coped with a serious illness? Lost a spouse or a fortune or a home? Saved money relentlessly or lost it just as quickly? Any of these themes may prove useful fodder for hungry readers in a plethora of publications.

Still Unsure?

If you're still not sure what to write about, try this exercise. Make a list of several categories that are important to you. They may include your job, home, family, children, relationships, pets, hobby, ministry, or church life, among others. Beside each of them, jot down several possibilities related to past experience. For example, was there ever a time you thought about leaving your husband, but didn't? Or did? How about the night you and the kids delivered a litter of puppies? Did you ever stretch out under the stars and imagine other roads your life might have taken? You will be surprised by how many things you can come up with as possible article topics.

Research, Rewrite & Re-submit

You also may want to visit on-line chat rooms or discussion boards for writers, and browse favorite magazines to see what has been covered recently so you won't submit a duplicate idea. Then start with a funny, sad, annoying, or reflective idea and write a page or two to get started. Let it sit overnight and return with a fresh eye for revision. After you send it off and if it is rejected, take heart. It may be that the Master Author has another purpose for this piece. Be patient and review the article once more, looking for ways to strengthen or tweak it. Then prayerfully mail it again.

The Final Editor

Writing is about experience and persistence. More importantly for Christians, it is a ministry. Seek God's leading as you choose ideas to work with, and let Him be the final editor of your work.

Copyright 2004 Debra Jehonyak

About the author: Debra Johanyak teaches college English and has just published Shakespeare's World (Prentice Hall, 2004) a textbook written from a Christian worldview. Learn more at: www.bardworld.com.