How to Publish a Christian Book?

Have a divine inspiration for a Christian book but not sure where to start with the publishing process? Here are the key steps to getting your faith-based message into the world.

Determining Your Message and Genre

The first step in publishing a Christian book is determining the central message or topic you feel called to share. Some common genres for faith-based works include:

• Devotionals: Short passages focused on a biblical theme, often following a calendar format. Popular for daily reflection.
• Bible Studies: Guides for small group exploration of scripture with questions, project ideas, and leader aids. Can focus on books of the Bible or specific doctrines.
• Inspirational Memoirs: True life stories chronicling an author’s journey of faith overcoming hardship or their mission work experiences. Move readers with testimony of God’s faithfulness.
• Children’s Books: Introduce kids to Bible stories, character values, or holiday traditions from a Christian perspective using accessible language and illustrations.
• Leadership/Self-Help: Writings encouraging spiritual growth offering guidance, strategies, and biblical wisdom to navigate challenges of service, family, or personal development.
• Fiction: Novels, mysteries, or suspense with Christian worldviews and redemptive themes integrated into plotlines. Genres like romance are also popular.

Choosing your message’s focus and intended audience based on a message you feel inspired to share or a need you see helps determine the best genre vehicle. This clarity guides your entire writing and publication efforts.

Researching Christian Publishers

Once clear on your book’s genre and vision, research potential publishers. Evaluate target publishers based on:

• Specialties: Small presses niche in certain genres while large houses handle many. Match your work.
• Author Roster: Study authors and books currently published to gauge fit with your vision and voice.
• Imprints: Larger publishers house multiple imprints tailored for different audiences. Research each.
• Submission Guidelines: Follow all instructions regarding proposal formats, accepted genres, and submission windows.
• Turnaround Times: Request average times from inquiry to decision to plan accordingly.
• Contracts: Review sample contracts to understand standard terms like advances and royalty rates offered.

Thorough research identifies publishers primed to champion your particular project. Include both large industry leaders and smaller faith-focused alternatives.

Preparing an Effective Proposal or Query

A well-crafted proposal or query is key to piquing publishers’ interest. Consider including:

• Cover Letter: Succinctly introduce your project, credentials, and request for review.
• Manuscript Description: One paragraph synopsis of the scope and arc including estimated word count.
• Marketing Plan: Identify clear audience, how you’ll help promote through social media, and related titles for tie-in potential.
• Competitive Market Analysis: Note similar titles released recently and your book’s point of distinction.
• Author Bio: Highlight relevant experience, accomplishments, and platform reach.
• Sample Chapters: Teasers allow assessing your writing style and message flow.
• Future Projects Pipeline: Express commitment to category with ideas for sequels.
• Rights requests: Note any subsidiary rights of interest like app development.

Invest significant thought crafting. Have publishing professionals critique drafts to highlight promise before widespread querying.

Patience, Persistence, and Rejection

Query widely to spread risk while also focusing on top target publishers. Understand evaluation cycles may involve multiple internal readers. Request feedback if declined to strengthen future efforts. Remain gracious yet persistent if your inspiring message aligns with a house’s audience. Be open to constructive criticism as part of the process. Many published authors weathered rejections en route to success.

Considering Self-Publishing Options

For those whose proposal journey proves fruitless, evaluate reputable self-publishing services. While entailing upfront costs, you maintain full control and ownership. Some key platforms include:

• Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing: Reach millions of Amazon shoppers with distribution via their dominant online stores and devices.
• Ingram Spark: Print and ebook distribution through major retailers like Barnes & Noble and independent bookstores.
• West Bow Press: More typical traditional publisher model handling manufacturing, distribution, and pre-sales setup.
• Christian Faith Publishing: A boutique industry player specializing in Christian self-publishing at reasonable rates.

Carefully research packages, pricing structures, and pros/cons of each before committing funds. Build relationships with like-minded creators for advice on profitable self-publishing strategies too.

Refinement Through Multiple Drafts

Keep refining your manuscript even after initial proposals through multiple rewrites addressing feedback. Common areas to improve include:

• Flow and Pacing: Ensure plotlines or chapter progressions maintain reader engagement.
• Character Development: Flesh out personalities, goals, flaws, and redemptive arcs for multi-dimensional figures.
• Dialogue: Craft natural speech befitting diverse characters to enhance storytelling.
• Description: Vividly set scenes without excessive detail through strong verbs, imagery, and sensory details.
• Refinement: Polish through developmental editing, line editing, copy editing, and proofreading services.

Diligent revising in response to early reviews from beta readers, editors, and test audiences will tighten your eventual submission. Consider hiring a skilled freelance editor if major gaps emerge too.

Building an Author Platform and Presence

Publishers desire authors bringing proven promotion abilities and engaged following. Focus on building an online platform:

• Professional Website: Share bio, book information, blog, and subscriber sign-up.
• Social Media Accounts: Actively post on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other relevant sites.
• Newsletter: Grow subscribers to whom you spread news, free content and can promote upon release.
• Speaking Engagements: Seek faith-based venues to share passion and generate buzz.
• Community Involvement: Find or support faith-driven organizations aligned with your message.
• Industry Events: Attend and participate in writing conferences for relationship building and learning.

Your goal becomes consistently providing value to connections through inspirational, shareable content before debuting as a published author. Quality platform shows promotion viability.

Securing a Publication Deal

If accepted, you’ll negotiate a publishing contract with a team of lawyers and agents guiding your rights. Key contract points:

• Advance: Any upfront payment for signing over subsidiary rights like translation or movie.
• Royalty Rates: Typical is 10-15% of retail cover price or net receipts depending on print run levels.
• Subsidiary Rights: Determine proceeds sharing on foreign language, large print, or other editions if contracted.
• Print Run: Impact on how many books publisher agrees to initially publish and promote.
• Reversion Timeline: When rights revert if sales targets aren’t met allowing subsequent self-publishing.
• Marketing Obligations: Both you and publisher’s promotion responsibilities outlined.

Though exciting to achieve your book deal, carefully weigh all contract implications before inking. Your lawyer ensures your long-term interests as an author.

Leveraging Exciting Launch Events

Upon release, support your publisher’s launch efforts and also independently promote:

• Author Events: Book signings, speaking gigs, and community gatherings to connect with readers.
• Media Interviews: Seek placements via radio, podcast, and relevant faith magazines or blogs.
• Social Media Campaign: Leverage your network through targeted sponsored ads and influencer outreach.
• Affiliate Promotions: Partner with related ministries, speakers, and lifestyle brands.
• Giveaways: Freely gifting books boosts reviews while growing your reader base.

While the marketing load splits between you and publisher, fully engaging amplifies visibility in an increasingly noisy landscape. Stay focused on your message over gimmicks.

Monitoring Success and Future Works

Gauge initial sales velocity to determine if higher print runs may be Warranted. Study metrics like:

• Amazon Sales Ranks: Assesses daily performance against competitors.
• Review Counts/Ratings: Indicator of reception that boost search presence.
• Regional Bestsellers: Monitoring sub-categories your book may crack.
• Platform/Outlet Performance: Which promos delivered highest conversions?

Sustaining momentum requires consistently creating new helpful content while crafting future book concepts that uplift in unique ways. Consider sequels, companion guides, workbook editions, or entirely new works spread across genres. With diligence, persistence, and divine grace, your Biblically-inspired message can have lasting impacts.

Frequently Asked Questions