Easy, Valuable Guide on How to Publish a Christian Book

A simplified road map on how to be a Christian writer

Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, “Write all the words which I have spoken to you in a book.”

—Jeremiah 30:2

You may be one of the select few who have been called to spread God’s word through writing. You feel that fire inside you, and you want to share it with others. More than just sharing Christian reflections, you want to shine a light for the faithful to follow and use as their guide to Christ. If you are a starting author, don’t let the task intimidate you. Consult this guide on how to publish a book.

Whether you are planning to write a spiritual story, a devotional, or a Bible guide, consider the following as you embark on your publishing journey.

Seek your internal purpose.

Before looking for answers on how to write a Christian book, make time for a little introspection. Ask yourself why you are writing this book.

Christian writer Francine Rivers emphasizes the importance of identifying yourself as either a Christian writer or a Christian who writes. There is a difference between the two.

A Christian writer always has faith as the central element of their work. The meaning of their work rests on ideas, concepts, or teachings taken from the scriptures. The word of God stands as the pillar of their writing. Without it, the work does not hold up.

Meanwhile, a Christian who writes can choose anything as a subject. They may incorporate their Christian values into their work, but these only serve as complementary or additional parts. Their faith is not the defining element of their writing, so you can remove their Christian values and their work remains fundamentally intact.

Build a routine.

Now that you have just learned how to be a Christian writer, you can proceed to the most challenging yet exciting part of your publishing journey: getting down to the actual writing.

One can’t always wait around for the creative muse to come. You can seek out inspiration by reading a book, taking a walk, watching a film, listening to a podcast, or browsing writers’ blogs. Immerse yourself in any activity that may get the words flowing.

Better yet, condition yourself to not rely on inspiration or other external stimuli. Make writing a daily discipline. You can train yourself to write a page per day, and by the end of the year, you will have about 365 pages, enough for a complete manuscript.

Choose your publishing route.

Finishing your manuscript is half the battle. The next part may require more grit than you originally thought, but don’t fret. If you got through the first half of the journey, you have the fortitude to take on the rest.

You have two main options on how to publish a Christian book: traditional publishing and self-publishing.

Traditional publishing

Traditional publishing will require you to write a book proposal. Most traditional publishers won’t read your manuscript right away. You have to convince them that your work is worth their time and investment.

According to author and speaker Michael Hyatt, a typical publishing house has three screening bodies: an acquisitions editor, an editorial committee, and a publishing board. You have to appeal to all three to have your manuscript published.

You may ask for help from a literary agent to assist you with finding and negotiating with the right publishers. Keep in mind, though, that the more people you get involved in the traditional publishing process, the more you have to share your profits with.

Most traditional publishers look for writers who have already built an established platform or a solid readership. This reduces their chances of investing in a project that might not take off. If you haven’t been published before, you have to double your efforts to get them to notice you.

Self-publishing

Because of the usual hurdles in traditional publishing, there is a growing number of writers who opt to publish their work on their own. This is not to say that self-publishing is a walk in the park. It, too, has its challenges, but here, you are generally in control of every aspect of the publishing process.

Quicker

With its lengthy screening and production process, a traditional press usually takes at least 6 to 18 months to publish a book. Theoretically, with self-publishing, you can release a book instantly. However, we don’t recommend that; even the most gifted writers need a fresh set of eyes to review and edit their work.

Creative freedom

Since self-publishing is DIY, you are free to craft and tweak your book’s design and content to your heart’s desire.

Unlimited shelf life

When you publish through a traditional press, your book will be displayed in physical stores for at least 1 to 2 months. After this period, your work will have to make way for newer titles. Meanwhile, if you self-publish through a platform like Amazon, your book will be shelved for as long as you want.

7-step checklist on how to publish a Christian book on your own

1. Determine your book’s format: print, digital, or both.
2. Hire a printer or pay for self-publishing services, like the following:
   • Kindle Direct Publishing
   • GoToPublish
   • Barnes & Noble Press
3. Apply for ISBN and copyright.
4. Format your book’s interior or hire a layout artist.
5. Buy a premade book cover or hire a book cover designer.
6. Set your price and publication date.
7. Create a website and other marketing platforms or materials.

With the right resources and an effective marketing plan, especially one that takes advantage of the influence of social media, you can fare just as well in self-publishing as one does in traditional publishing—if not better.

Get the word out.

When you have your spiritual story, Christian reflections, devotional, or Bible guide in hand, on print or digital, it’s time to reach out to your readers. Know your demographic and make yourself visible to them by building a platform that caters to their needs. Look for digital marketing guides that will help you make the most out of major social media websites, like Facebook and Twitter.

You can start making connections now, even before you release your work. Let us know what you are writing about. Comment your thoughts below.