Writing Rules

Writing rules are the hinges on every writer's door-to-publishing.

If we compare the act of writing to the Titanic than publishing is the iceberg. Navigate it poorly and you’ll sink.

To understand navigation, we must understand the guidelines.
Likewise, getting published takes an understanding of the market, the reader and the Christian publisher's needs.

To understand the guidelines we must first know them...and I do mean know them. Why?

Because once you know what the Christian publisher wants, and why he/she wants it, then you can begin to deliver.
That's important because the publisher is the one who must meet the needs of the reader. The Christian writer in turn must meet the needs of the Christian publisher. It works like this:

Writer>Publisher>Bookstore>Reader
The writer gives the publisher what he wants who in turn gives the bookstore what he wants who then gives the reader what he wants.

It can also work like this if the writer is paying attention to the reader's needs and then self-publishing:

Reader>Writer>Reader

Of course it more realistically looks like this when you are self-publishing:

Reader>Writer>Publisher>Writer>Reader

Have we confused you yet? Don't worry. Just get the rules right for now and we'll worry about the other stuff later.



Below, you’ll find simple guidelines designed with the Christian writer and Christian publisher in mind.

Top Rules