Christian stories don't have to be cheesy or preachy. Here is how you can avoid both.

One of the greatest tragedies of recent Christian media is its tendency to fall flat. It's become embarrassing to reference a Christian movie these days.

The success of The Chosen proves that good Christian storytelling is possible—people often say, "It's actually good," as if surprised that a Christian series could measure up.

There’s plenty of readily available advice on avoiding clichés and shortening dialogue to improve story writing.

But if you’re serious about crafting stories that resonate, here’s the key:

Don’t sacrifice quality for the sake of pushing a message.

Christians hold the most remarkable story ever told, and it’s natural to want to share its life-transforming power. But just because a message is meaningful to you doesn’t mean it will resonate with your audience in the same way.

Great writers bridge the gap between their story and their readers by trusting their audience's intelligence.

Subtlety is powerful. Your readers don’t need every message spelled out or a moral point shoehorned into the narrative. Don’t prioritize the sermon over the story.

Slow down, develop complex characters, and let the story stand on its own.

When you focus on writing an excellent story, the message will naturally find its way to the hearts of your readers.

To summarize: Your primary focus as a Christian storyteller is to tell a great story. The Word of God is a powerful force and doesn’t need help to be impactful. They say, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.” I say, “You can salt his food, though.”

Write on!

Payton