Well, it's official: the unofficial theme of the month is historical fiction! (Because why not, am I right?) And as such, I thought it only fitting to invite my sweet friend Joy Caroline Woodbury, an up-and-coming historical fiction author, on for an interview!
And, y'all, this interview is fabulous! Her answers are so deep and well thought-out; I know you'll learn something from her no matter what genre or era you write!
Now, without further ado, join me in welcoming Joy Caroline!
When did you first feel God calling you to write?
I have always loved writing since I was very young, but I never regarded my ability to write as a gift from God. In fact, for a few years I wrote things that were dishonorable to God, and I’m ashamed to remember there was a time in my life when I used my gift as ammunition against the Giver. But when I decided to follow Jesus, I began slowly to realize that my gift for writing is the Lord’s, not mine; and that out of His love and mercy, He gave me a tool to use to build up His kingdom. What an honor it is that He chooses me and you this way!
However, even after I began to realize that my ability to write is a gift from God, I still didn’t want to fully accept that. I still wanted to claim my gift as my own, and as a result, didn’t fully seek God’s guidance in my writing life. It actually took me quite a while to finally grasp the fact that my writing is a sacred calling. I wish it hadn’t taken me so long - but thank the Lord Jesus for His patience with us!
I wouldn’t say there was exactly one moment when it finally dawned on me that God was calling me to write for Him. It was more of a process, and it wasn’t just one experience that helped me realize I am called to write - it was many experiences. I had several prayerful conversations with my chaplain and principal (I go to a Christian school, for context) that helped me greatly. My principal got me involved in a writing project that was in progress in my community a year ago, and when I got a poem published on Kingdom Pen around the same time, she made me read it out loud at a vespers - which I was hesitant to do at first, but her gentle encouragement and the lovely compliments I received afterward were really God-sent messages. Speaking of Kingdom Pen, the writing community there also helped me a lot, as did interacting with other Christian writers - including Grace, of course. *wink* And of course, reading stories by Christian authors and experiencing firsthand how powerful fictional tales really are in furthering the kingdom of God.
So yes, God used a lot of people and experiences to bring about the change in me - I went from a writer selfishly using my heaven-granted gift for the wrong reasons, to a writer seeking only God’s glory with each word I pen.
How has He guided you along the way?
I already kind of touched on how God has guided me along my writing journey, but in the previous question, my answer was more focused on how I came to realize I was called to write. So now I’ll talk a bit about how God continues to teach me and carry me - because there’s never a point, even after we accept His calling, that we stop learning from Him. In fact, it’s quite the contrary: When we accept God’s calling, we only become more and more eager to learn from Him and walk with Him.
One big way God has guided me is by providing me with like-minded friends who understand what it means to struggle and triumph as a Christian writer, and who encourage me and lift me up. As Christians, we can’t go it alone, and God of course knows that; that’s why He gives us friends. And friends who are on the same path of also being called to write are very special and necessary friends to have. If I didn’t have them, I probably would have given up at the first bump in the road.
Another big way God has guided me is by providing me with mentors, who are not only friends, but who also guide me when I’m lost because they have once been where I am now. This includes Christian authors whose books I’ve read or whose websites or social media accounts I’ve come across, and they really have incredible advice to share from all their experiences. It also includes my people IRL, who may not be writers (well, except for my creative writing teacher), but who know me best and can give me what I like to call “customized advice” just for me, haha. My creative writing teacher has really inspired me and helped me improve, and she also creates a nonjudgmental and fun environment when we’re working together. And my chaplain and principal, who I mentioned before, once had a talk with me about why I shouldn’t include swear words in my book Where Faith Remains. (I took their advice and am glad I did! Also, Grace has an insightful article on that very subject which you might like to check out.)
And the very biggest way God has guided me is just by remaining alongside me. It sounds so simple, but knowing He’s in my corner is what keeps me going the most. Before each writing session, I make sure to pray and ask that He draws my heart closer to His during the writing experience. And the most amazing thing is that I really have felt Him do just that. Writing really makes me feel so close to Jesus, and I am so grateful for that. When I’m writing, I can feel Him beside me, and I know we’re in this together. That’s the best feeling in the world, and knowing He’s got my back is what sets me on fire to keep on writing.
What inspires you the most?
That’s a hard question, haha! But I would say that what inspires me the most is human history. And I guess that would make sense, because I am a historical fiction writer after all. XD
I don’t think any of us can deny that human history is plain horrible. War, strife, persecution, crime, violence, death . . . Our history is filled with so much horror. But it’s also beautiful and filled with so much hope and light. Why? Because Jesus came to earth to die for the sins of the world, and He has redeemed humanity. We can see that redemption at work all throughout history - from martyrs who were burned at the stake or torn apart by wild animals in the Colosseum because they refused to deny Christ; to heroes of the Holocaust, such as Oskar Schindler, who refused to align themselves with the evil Nazis. And of course, those are only two examples. Only two, out of all the events that have transpired in all of human history. I feel that we as Christians sometimes focus a bit too much on the darkness and not enough on the light; we’re so focused on the evil of the world that we fail to rejoice in the good - rather, the God - that overcomes evil. That’s really a big part of why I write historical fiction - because I want to help others see that God is very much alive and has been triumphing over all since before the very beginning of history.
I like to describe my writing as featuring “ordinary people with extraordinary faith in God.” That’s who the martyrs were - ordinary people with extraordinary faith in God; they were not anomalies, but rather human beings just like us who trusted in the One Who conquers all. That’s who people like Oskar Schindler were - ordinary and sometimes very flawed people who believed in good; who believed, to quote the Talmud and a scene from Schindler’s List, that “whoever saves one life saves the world entire.”
I can’t say just how greatly I am inspired by the way Christ’s redemption shines throughout human history. Our God is truly a wonder, and He will only continue conquering. He is our Warrior. How can we not be inspired by that? :D
What is the hardest part of writing Christian fiction?
The hardest part of writing Christian fiction for me is learning the difference between crafting an unapologetically faith-filled story and being one of those preachy (I hate that word because it’s so uncreative, but I’ll use it for lack of a better word), cram-the-message-down-your-throat authors. I want to write beautiful, uplifting Christian fiction that unashamedly shares the gospel of Jesus Christ, and which doesn’t make readers feel like the themes are being slammed in their faces. But in my efforts to do this, sometimes I end up running into one of two problems: 1) I find that my themes aren’t showing through enough because I was so anxious to make sure I wasn’t being “preachy” that I was too vague; or 2) I find myself writing a full-on sermon in the middle of my book because I was so anxious to make sure I wasn’t being too vague that I was too preachy.
If that all just made sense. LOL
But in all seriousness, it is a struggle. I have the strong desire deep in my heart to share the love and salvation of Jesus with my readers, and I know that beating them over the head with my themes isn’t the way to go. I myself have been turned away from some Christian fiction because I felt like I was being screamed at, not gently taught. I don’t want readers to experience that with my own books. Yet it is tough to know how to write in a way that will draw others closer to Christ.
If you’re struggling with the same thing - which I know many other Christian writers besides myself do - thankfully I heard a quote a while ago that completely changed my perspective and transformed my writing. This quote taught me how exactly to write a faith-filled story without being preachy.
This wonderful quote comes from Christian YA epic fantasy author Gillian Bronte Adams. On her Goodreads author page, she was asked how to avoid preachy, and her reply changed my life: “I think it's important to remember that the purpose of a sermon is to preach, but the purpose of a novel is to tell a story.”
This is so, so true, y’all. When I read it, I couldn’t believe I hadn’t realized it before. “The purpose of a novel is to tell a story.” Novels are powerful precisely because they tell stories, while sermons are powerful because they preach. Both are powerful in different ways, but both are equally powerful. And both reach people for the kingdom. Stories are very, very powerful things.
Have you ever endured any discouragement for writing Christian fiction?
I have endured discouragement for writing Christian fiction - in subtle ways, not in-your-face ways. I think that often “subtle” is a much more powerful tool of the devil than “in-your-face.” Satan knows that when he throws in-your-face discouragement at us, we can often recognize it easily and fight it off, but subtle discouragement often succeeds in crawling under our skin because it’s less obvious. I haven’t had anyone tell me directly that I should stop writing for Christ, but I have heard discouraging things around the Internet like “So few people like Christian fiction” or “People don’t want to read only Jesus stuff.” And I’ll admit it makes me feel sad and wonder, “Maybe I shouldn’t be doing this. Maybe it’s not worth it.” Throughout my writing journey, I’ve had to learn to combat my doubts with reminders from Scripture and with prayer.
And this is for all of y’all: Never think your writing is worthless. It is so worth it because it’s going to lead a lonely soul to Jesus. It’s going to comfort a grieving heart. It’s going to bring light and laughter to an exhausted face.
Keep going. <3
What Christian books have impacted your life?
Christian books that have impacted my life, you ask? *rubs hands together* Ask and you shall receive.
DECEIVED by Madisyn Carlin, The Vault Between Spaces by Chawna Schroeder, and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis are three beautiful allegories that have deepened my understanding of a walk with God.
The Out of Time trilogy by Nadine Brandes taught me what it means to possess both Christ’s courage and His compassion, and the Katie Parker Productions series by Jenny B. Jones nudged me to laugh and to rise with Him.
The Life of Jesus trilogy by Marjorie Holmes made Jesus Christ even more real and beautiful to me.
The Key to the Chains by Allison Tebo enhanced my love of His sacrifice.
Les Miserables (although it isn’t classified as Christian fiction) is full of powerful teachings on what it means to be Christlike.
And I’ll sneak in a bit of nonfiction at the end here: The Desire of Ages by Ellen G. White filled me with awe and appreciation for all that Jesus has done for me, and A Trip Into the Supernatural by Roger J. Morneau convicted me with truth.
There are more, but we’ll leave it at those. :)
What advice do you have for aspiring Christian writers?
My top piece of advice for aspiring Christian writers is to write what God has placed upon your heart to write. You might be wondering, “How can I know what God wants me to write?” I feel that a lot of aspiring Christian writers overthink this, and as a result, they hesitate to write anything and don’t use the wonderful gift they have been given.
If you feel called to write and don’t know what the next step is, ask yourself, “What am I passionate about?” It really is as simple as that, because as followers of Christ, we desire to share His love with the world, and our passions are God-given. Ask yourself, “What lies heavy on my heart? What changes do I want to see come about in the world?”
It’s likely you’ll have plenty of answers to these questions. Don’t feel that you have to write a book about every single thing you are passionate about - overloading a single book with too many themes will diminish their power. Each of your passions will naturally be woven throughout your writing in a single novel or story - some of them obvious, some more subtle, but they will be there.
Two examples of things I’m very passionate about are mental health and the pro-life movement. I feel a burden to comfort those suffering from mental illnesses, let them know it’s okay - and in fact extremely necessary - to seek help, and point them to the true Healer. I also feel a burden to stand up for the defenseless, speak for the voiceless, and fight for the human right to life. The book I’m currently writing, Where Faith Remains, contains a very overt message about mental health, how mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of, and how Jesus’ love mends even the deepest wounds. WFR also contains a pro-life message - but while this message is not overt nor directly stated (I never even mention abortion in the text), it is there. (I recently talked about this in a blog post if you’d like to check that out.) As long as you stay true to your God-given beliefs, they will all shine through in your writing, and you will never fail to write what has been placed upon your heart to write.
So be faithful, and you will find that your writing truly changes things. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “If you want to change the world, pick up your pen and write.” He was so right.
Can you tell me a little bit about your upcoming debut novel, Where Faith Remains, and what inspired it?
Yes, I will absolutely take the opportunity to talk about my book! Grace is going to be sorry she asked me. JK. *clears throat* Anyways.
So yes, as y’all already know, my upcoming debut novel (I hope to have it published in early 2023) is titled Where Faith Remains. I won’t share the full synopsis here (you can check that out over on my site if you’d like to), but I’ll absolutely share a little bit about it!
It’s about a Vietnam War veteran and his adopted daughter, who are literally the most adorable duo in all of literature (and I’m not saying that just ’cause they’re my characters *wink*). But in all seriousness, Russell and Eliza are the best ever.
The entire story is essentially the story of their love for one another and how their love transforms not only the two of them, but everyone and everything around them. They represent Christ to each other, and they represent Christ to the world. Where Faith Remains, more than anything, is all about love. It’s a very simple, touching story about two people who the world attempts to outcast because of their love for one another, but that love is so powerful that it instead rises and overcomes all the world’s hate. Russell and Eliza’s love is more powerful than racism and prejudice, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, a cancer diagnosis, cruelty and sin, and all evil. Writing this novel is teaching me so much about why God calls Himself one and the same with love (1 John 4:8).
The source of inspiration for Where Faith Remains was an AP World History class I took at school when I was a sophomore. Back in April 2021, my teacher (who is a total history genius) talked briefly about the Vietnam War and the accompanying Civil Rights Movement, and what I learned just intrigued me so much. I couldn’t stop thinking about it, and I knew I had to write a story set in this tumultuous time period. My teacher’s lesson caused the image of a Vietnam veteran and a little girl to pop into my brain, and I tried to sort out a story for them, but it didn’t work, so I gave up in frustration and forgot about the image. However, in December 2021, the image returned and wouldn’t let go. By then, I had learned even more about Vietnam and the Civil Rights Movement in my United States History class (taught by the same teacher). I realized that God was causing this image to stick with me, and that these two people had a powerful story He was going to give to me to write. I realized that I hadn’t been able to write the story before because I was trying to invent it myself instead of allowing the Lord to dictate it to me. So I listened for His voice, and He told me Russell and Eliza’s story. Overjoyed and excited, I began to write Where Faith Remains right away, during Christmas Week 2021.
What are your top tips for writing historical fiction?
My top tips for writing historical fiction are 1) Don’t neglect research; 2) Don’t get so hung up on research that you never actually write; and 3) Don’t overstuff your novel with every fact under the sun just so you can show off your research.
Let’s start with the first: Don’t neglect research.
Some historical fiction writers make the rookie mistake of doing too little research (or, surprisingly, no research at all) before writing. Then their book is full of so many historical inaccuracies that it’s downright annoying to read - and more than that, readers will likely perceive a ton of inaccuracies as indicators that the author didn’t care enough about the story to properly research it. And if the author didn’t care about the story, why should the reader care? Neglecting research is a surefire way to get more than just one or two readers to put down your book.
Research is so crucial to historical fiction writing. Take it seriously. And believe it or not, ninety percent of the time, it’s a lot of fun! Plus, research can provide you with more awesome ideas for your book. There’s been more than a couple times I’ve been doing research for Where Faith Remains and something I read makes inspiration spark in my brain.
Research is so worth it for so many different reasons. You want to provide a high-quality story for your reader that makes them feel as if they’re on a real journey through this time period with these characters. You don’t want historical inaccuracies to throw your reader out of the experience and ruin your beautiful story.
However, it’s also important to note that you want to actually write the story, not spend years obsessing over research. And that brings me to my next tip: Don’t get so hung up on research that you never actually write.
There’s a point where you need to realize that you’ve done enough research and you can begin writing now. But what if you know you’ve done enough research, and yet you keep worrying, “But what if I forgot something?!!??” I’ve been there. I’m pretty sure almost every historical fiction writer has been there at some point.
But here’s the thing: You can go on doing this forever. And guess what? Go on doing it forever, and you’ll never write your amazing book, and no one will ever be able to be moved by your words.
No book is perfect, y’all. I’ve read some truly amazing historical fiction books that have maybe one or two very minor, tiny inaccuracies. But it doesn’t matter because I’m there for the book’s wonderful message, not to scrutinize the fact that the author accidentally mentioned mint ice cream in their book set in the 1960s when mint ice cream wasn’t invented until the 70s. There’s a difference between making a small error in ice cream flavors and describing your Union soldier as wearing a gray uniform when gray uniforms were worn by Confederate soldiers. If you’re doing the latter, then we definitely have a problem that shows you’re not doing enough research.
Basically, all this is to say that you need to write. Your. Book!! If you make a couple small mistakes, it’s not the end of the world. Again, no book is perfect. But your book will turn out just right. (Thanks Meg and Jo. Comment down below if you understood the reference.)
Finally, don’t overstuff your novel with every fact under the sun just so you can show off your research. Trust me, this will not elicit the response, “Oh wow how impressive!” It will instead elicit the response, “Oh get on with the story!”
A lot of the research you do will probably not even make it into your novel. I’ve done a ton of research for Where Faith Remains, and not nearly all of that research has actually made it into the book. Not all of your research has to end up in your book. Research is not meant to be the whole story; it’s meant to enhance the story and make it authentic. Your reader didn’t come for a college textbook; they came for a riveting tale.
Don’t turn your novel into a textbook. Use your research when it’s necessary, not when you feel like showing it off.
So yes, those are my top three tips for writing historical fiction! Hope they help any of y’all who are interested in diving into this wonderful genre for yourselves.
Meet the Author
Joy C. Woodbury is a teenage Seventh-Day Adventist Christian and scribe of historical fiction and biblical fiction. She loves Jesus, St. Paul, the family of Christ, theology, and tiramisu. Her passion is bringing hope and light into the world through fictional tales, and her stories feature ordinary people with extraordinary faith in God. She can often be found daydreaming, overanalyzing books and movies, and jamming to contemporary worship music. You can connect with her on her website, discipleshipwithjoy.com, or on Instagram @discipleshipwithjoy.
I hope y'all enjoyed reading Joy's answers as much as I did! If you're interested in learning more about her upcoming novel, Where Faith Remains, you can check out its page on her website and subscribe to her newsletter for updates on its release!
What about you? Do you write historical fiction? If so, what are your biggest strengths and struggles with that genre? What would you like to learn more about historical fiction? Did Joy's tips resonate with you? Do you struggle with being too vague or too preachy? Let us know in the comments below!
Yours in spirit and script,
Grace
Romans 1:16