Christians worldwide share the same calling; to proclaim the excellencies of Him who delivered us from the kingdom of darkness into His marvelous light. This calling manifests differently in each believer’s life—through preaching, missionary work, homemaking, a 9-5 job, music, painting, and, for some, like myself, through writing. The Storied Life: Christian Writing as Art and Worship by Jared Wilson is a guide for those called to be writers. In this book, Wilson explores the power and significance of stories in the Christian life and offers Christian writers insights on reflecting God’s story in their writing.
The book is divided into two parts.
Reflections on Story. In this section, Wilson delves into the various aspects of Christian writing, such as what constitutes good writing, how to shape your writing to reflect God’s story, and the spiritual nature of writing. This part is rich with theological insights and provides a deep understanding of the spiritual dimension of storytelling.
Cultivating the Storied Life. This section covers the nuts and bolts of Christian writing. Wilson addresses topics such as finding your voice, writing for publication, getting an agent, building a platform, grammar rules, and overcoming writer’s block. Each chapter features practical tips, encouragement, stories, and illustrations from Wilson’s life, making it a wealth of actionable advice.
As a writer and aspiring author, I found this book incredibly valuable! Wilson strikes a perfect blend of theology, encouragement, and practical advice to bless writers at any stage of their journey. I particularly benefited from the sections on what makes up good Christian writing, crafting introductions, and the liturgy of stories. It gave me much to ponder in terms of my work and provided a fresh perspective that will shape my future writing.
I also appreciate that Wilson covers both fiction and nonfiction writing. Most writing books focus on one genre, so his inclusion of both benefits me as I aspire to write fiction and non-fiction.
Overall, reading this book was a delightful experience and timely blessing that encouraged me to persevere in my writing journey. Whether you are a seasoned writer, just starting, or aspiring to write, The Storied Life is for you. It is a helpful guide that equips and encourages writers to glorify God through their writing. This book is one of my favorite reads of the year, and I strongly recommend it to all Christian writers.
*Zondervan Reflective graciously gave me a copy for an honest review*
