Do you have a message to offer as a Christian? Or a love for motivating people and a heart for God’s Word?
You might have the ability to produce a book that has the capacity to change the lives of countless people. However, completing a manuscript can be difficult. We can help with that by providing a detailed instruction on how to write and publish a Christian book.
We are committed to assisting authors like you in publishing their faith-based publications, and we have years of expertise providing Christian writing services. We start from writing a rough draft and go all the way to designing an eye-catching book cover and distributing it to other Christians. Our staff of Christian book publishers can also help you on every step of the Christian book marketing services.
Trinity Book Publishers has put together a complete guide to help you self-publish a faith-based book. Here’s everything you need to know.
Traditional vs. Self-Publishing Options
It’s likely that you are already working on a Christian book if you are reading this. You want to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of self-publishing and traditional publication because you’re nearly finished with your writing but are still undecided. So, which is preferable, self-publishing or traditional publishing?
Which approach protects your marketing interests and which brings in the most money for you as an author? There are several factors to take into account when comparing self-publishing vs. traditional publishing, including book rights, author revenue, creative control, time investment, industry trends, and more.
For example, if you want more creative control, rights and royalties, and more marketing control, you should opt for self-publishing. On the contrary, while self-publishing a book can bring you more profits, it can be time consuming and costly as you will have to avail several other services like Christian Book Marketing Services, Christian influencer marketing, book cover design, video trailer script writing, etc., from different sources.
Meanwhile, traditional Christian book publishing can be hassle-free, such that you won’t have even have to lift a finger. Professionals at Trinity Book Publishers have industry experience to handle everything so you are free to write. Dealing with Christian writing services like ours could establish your standard as an author in the publishing industry. Moreover, with traditional publishing, you can get paid in advance, which is a huge benefit if your book doesn’t sell enough.
Writing for Faith-Based Audiences: Tips to Consider
Know your audience.
- Not all Christian readers are the same. Some want clean, family-friendly stories. Others are okay with messy, real-life struggles. Decide who you’re writing for.
Be true to the story God gave you.
- Don’t water it down or force it to fit what’s “popular” in the Christian market. Let the Spirit guide the heart of your message.
Be honest about sin, but don’t glorify it.
- If your characters go through dark seasons, show the consequences. But always lead the reader toward hope, grace, and redemption.
Don’t preach. Tell a good story.
- Let the message come through naturally. Readers connect more with real characters and stories than with forced sermons. Use Scripture wisely.
- Quote verses, but don’t overdo it. Make sure it fits the scene and feels natural to the character and story.
Show transformation.
- Faith journeys need to see some kind of growth even if it’s small.
Mind your language and content.
- Some readers are sensitive to strong language or sexual content. If your story includes heavy themes, handle them with care and purpose.
Pray through your writing process.
- Invite God into every step that leads towards the book’s publication. Ask Him to use your words to reach the right hearts.
Once your book is out, trust God to get it into the right hands. Your job is obedience; He’ll take care of the rest.
Christian Book Publishing- Things to Know
Choosing Your Book Title
Take time when choosing your title and sub-title.
Regardless of where you book ends up, i.e., on Amazon or in a local bookstore, the title and sub-title need to clearly reflect what the book is about to help people find it when they’re searching for that topic online or offline.
Let’s say your book is about a woman who becomes a widow and is left to raise three little boys. A good sub-title might be something like: “A story of hope in the midst of grief and loss.” This includes key words that people are likely typing into Amazon: “grief” and “loss.”
So, always make sure your title or sub-title clearly explains the heart of the book, using words people might search for. If you don’t, chances are your book won’t show up in searches, and that means people won’t find it. Remember, most readers are looking for books that speak to what they’re going through.
Designing Your Book Cover
If you’re going the self-publishing route instead of working with a publisher like Trinity Publishing, you’ll need to think about your cover design too.
There are helpful sites like Canva and BookBrush that let you design your own covers. They’re user-friendly and come included with a subscription. Another option is hiring someone from Fiverr—just be sure they know what they’re doing.
One thing to watch out for: some designers use stock images that have already been used on dozens of other book covers. You don’t want to discover months later that your book looks exactly like five others on Amazon. So be cautious and do your homework.
Formatting Your Book
Once your book is complete, it needs to be properly formatted for both print and digital versions.
For print, you’ll need a version in PDF or Word format. For digital formats like Kindle, Apple Books, Nook, Google Play, Kobo, Smashwords, etc., you’ll need your manuscript in MOBI or EPUB formats.
Marketing Your Book
Someone once said, “The day you publish your book is the day the real work begins.” That couldn’t be more true.
If you’re fortunate enough to sign a professional publishing deal with a Christian Book Marketing Services, then you can expect them to help promote your book.
But if you’re self-publishing or working independently, you’ll need to come up with a plan to reach the right audience yourself. Think about your target reader, and then figure out where they are and how to reach them.
Conclusion
Christian Book Publishing is a calling, and it deserves to be handled with a purpose. That’s where Trinity Book Publishers comes in. Whether you’re just starting with a rough manuscript or have a finished draft ready to go, our team is equipped to guide you every step of the way. We offer everything from manuscript development, cover design, and professional formatting, to marketing, price setting, printing, and distribution. If you’re looking to hire Christian writers, Trinity is also your go-to source as we offer skilled professionals who understand both storytelling and faith. Simply put, you can rely on our Christian Book Publishing services for almost everything you need to bring your message to life. Your book is a ministry tool. Put it in the hands of people who value that. With Trinity Book Publishers, your story is in good hands.
