By Donna Gartshore

            The characters in Love Inspired hold a Christian worldview. There are many ways to have this come across. We all know, of course, that we don’t want them giving sermons, so to speak. Yet the faith element is important, and the stories would collapse without it. So how does one balance the two?  There are probably as many ways to do this as there are writers out there, but here are a few points I found have worked for me.

            These are stories not sermons:

            The stories focus on the romance, not the faith journey. The characters can demonstrate their faith in a variety of ways. It can be expressed through prayer, conversation between the characters, and showing them in activities such as attending church, participating in Bible studies, and personal devotional time. But, however you choose to convey their faith, it must be woven into the thread of the story, not pulling the reader out. I remember reading a book once where the plot would stop short so that the author could deliver what could only be called a five-page sermon. This is not what we’re going for here.

            Focus on the core beliefs of Christianity:

            First and foremost, however you choose to do so, it will be made clear that the characters believe that their salvation is through Jesus Christ. In Love Inspired, however, we avoid mention of things that would be specific to a particular denomination, such as confession to a priest, liturgical services, washing feet, etc. Instead, the focus will be on characters striving to live out the attributes of Christ, such as love, forgiveness, kindness, hospitality and the like, as they struggle with their personal journeys. They will realistically have varying degrees of success and, again, it’s important to remember that all of this is woven into the larger romance story.

            A character can grow in faith:

            Most often I will have characters who are already Christian and demonstrate that by the activities they participate in during the story. Sometimes, though, I will have a character who is Christian, but has been experiencing doubts, or has questions because of challenges he or she is going through. This can be shown by as they are praying and literally asking God “why?” Perhaps they are reluctant to attend church or don’t feel qualified to lead a Bible study group, etc. Again, and I sound like a broken record here, it’s important not to dwell in these moments so much that they overtake the story. They are meant to add seasoning and nuance to the character. It should be noted that Love Inspired does want the main characters to be in a good place with God by the end of the story.

            It’s all about love:

            As I attempt to convey the balance between having a faith element in a book, without making the book wholly about a faith journey, I realize how difficult it is. I want readers to know that I am open to questions and discussion – writerdlg@gmail.com. At the same time, I trust that many of our InScribe writers will be able to find this balance instinctively because our faith is woven so intrinsically in our own lives. These stories are about love and we know that it’s our Father’s love for us that enables us to love others. I would love to hear from anyone who is writing- or wants to write –  romance with a Christian Worldview.

by Donna Gartshore

Publishers Weekly best selling author, Donna Gartshore, lives in Saskatchewan, Canada. Donna is so grateful to be able to tell stories of faith, hope and second chances for Love Inspired. She also writes devotionals and the occasional poem or short story.