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You are here: Home / guest post / Writer Wednesday / Writer’s Desk Issue No: 6: Brennan McPherson

May 22, 2020 by Tricia Goyer 9 Comments

Writer’s Desk Issue No: 6: Brennan McPherson

Welcome to the Writer’s Desk Issue No: 6: Brennan McPherson where we share what the writers do when they write.

 

Writer's Desk: Brennan McPherson. Brenna shares his top 3 tips for making Biblical fiction come alive! Enjoy!

Writer’s Desk Issue No: 6: Brennan McPherson

We’re so excited to have Brennan McPherson featured on this week’s writer’s desk. Brennan S. McPherson writes epic, imaginative biblical fiction with heart-pounding plots and lyrical prose, for readers who like to think biblically and feel deeply. He lives with his wife and young daughter in the Midwest and spends as much of his spare time with them as possible. Be sure to stick around until the end of the post for more about her most recent release plus a chance to win a copy!

Do you have a writing routine? When/Where do you write?

I work a full-time job at a non-profit ministry and have a 3-year old daughter, so my writing routine looks like, “Whenever I can write.” Most of the time that’s either early in the morning or late at night (or both).

When are you most productive?

In the morning, by far.

What do you snack on or drink while writing?

Coffee!

How do you overcome writer’s block?

I write cruddy words that I hate. Most of the time, I end up using them anyway.

What is your outlining process? Are you a pantser/plotter or something in between?

In between. I get impatient when plotting, so most of the time I start writing long before I should. But as I’ve written more books, I’ve leaned more heavily on plotting before writing. I use a few different methods/ideas and mix and match them, depending on what’s unclear to me about the story. One is the Snowflake Method. Another is Susie May Warren’s Dark Moment Story for character/plot development. Also, because of the work I’ve done as a script-writer, I use some concepts from script-writing for plotting/character development, because they’re useful.

Best advice for someone who is just starting out.

Study basic story structure first while you try your hand at writing your own stories. Then, once you know what makes stories tick, and you’re able to render your stories in ways that are simple, understandable, and emotionally resonant, add studying how to write good sentences and how to render action vividly.

Writer's Desk: Brennan McPherson. Brenna shares his top 3 tips for making Biblical fiction come alive! Enjoy!

Writer’s Desk Issue No: 6: Brennan McPherson

What are your three top tips for bringing the Bible alive through fiction?

Alright, this one is going to be long, so bear with me. Each person brings stories to life in a different way, and that’s part of what makes it beautiful. When we write biblical fiction, we are rendering our own imaginative interpretation of the events in vivid detail so that others can enjoy it. This is the same process we all go through in our minds whenever we read the text of Scripture. When we read, “Paul was imprisoned,” every one of us imagines what it was like. We may think of the stone wall he sat against, or perhaps whether his clothes were tattered or clean. However, few people have thousands of readers picking that imagined rendering apart, and judging whether or not it’s “accurate.”

All of us have myriad assumptions and presuppositions about Scripture that have gone unchecked, including readers.

Part of the trick of rendering biblical fiction successfully is understanding what the prevailing presuppositions about that Scripture passage are, then understanding exactly what Scripture says (or doesn’t say), and finding a way to render the text that is faithful and unique, yet doesn’t frustrate too many ideas people hold to be central. The trouble is, often the prevailing presuppositions are at odds with the text – this has led to issues for me. So, I think my top three tips would be: 1. Study the Scripture obsessively and pray over it frequently. 2. Study both the historical and the current interpretations of the passage. 3. Focus on making your rendering a compelling story, rather than a dry recounting of historical details.

Favorite thing to binge-watch:

Hayao Miyazaki’s animated films

Book(s) currently reading:

I’m reading close to 20 books right now, from high fantasy to historical, writing textbooks to contemporary romance.

Favorite song right now:

That’s like asking a painter what his favorite color is – all of them!

Favorite thing to order at Starbucks:

I prefer black coffee, light-roast, single-origin, with fruity overtones, made pour-over style; but a good frap from Starbucks is always tasty.

Enter to win a copy of Eden from Brennan*

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
*Due to shipping costs open to US only.

Be sure to catch the video interview with Brennan McPherson  HERE, and be sure to join Avid Readers of Christian Fiction group so you don’t miss any of our other fun author LIVE chats coming up!

 

More about Eden:

“You want me to tell of how I broke the world.”

It’s the year 641 since the beginning of everything, and when Eve passes away, she leaves Adam the only man on earth who remembers everything since they walked in Eden.

When Enoch, God’s newly appointed prophet, decides to collect the stories of the faithful from previous generations, he finds Adam in desperate need to confess the dark secrets he’s held onto for too long.

Beside a slowly burning bonfire in the dead of night, Adam tells his story in searing detail. From the beginning of life, to how he broke the world, shattered Eve’s heart, and watched his family crumble.

Will Enoch uncover what led so many of Adam’s children away from God? And will Adam find the redemption and forgiveness he longs for?

“Eden is in a class by itself. It’s biblical fiction with an emotional depth that laid my heart bare. Not only does Brennan McPherson vividly describe the first days of human awakening; he also masterfully unmasks sin’s effects through the broken relationship of Adam and Eve.” – Mesu Andrews, Christy award-winning author of Isaiah’s Daughter

Amazon | Kindle

Connect with Brennan McPherson

Website | Facebook | GoodReads

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Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” Read full privacy policy here.

Filed Under: Writer Wednesday Tagged With: biblical fiction, Brennan McPherson, Eden, giveaway, writer, Writer's Desk


Are you new here? You might want to subscribe to my newsletter, check out my podcast, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, or Instagram.
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” Read full privacy policy here.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Amy Smith says

    May 22, 2020 at 10:50 pm

    This is exciting. I found a curriculum to use with my kids this year for Bible that includes creative writing. I am quite excited about it, as both of my kids are pretty good story writers and creative thinkers. This sounds like it would go along with it. 🙂

    Reply
  2. Stacy says

    May 22, 2020 at 11:31 pm

    This topic sounds so interesting and intriguing!

    Reply
  3. Jill says

    May 23, 2020 at 12:51 am

    Eden looks amazing! I have on my “want to read” list now!

    Reply
  4. Becky says

    May 25, 2020 at 3:58 am

    Loved this interview with Brennan McPherson; she is a new-to-me author so I look forward to checking out her books! Biblical Fiction is one of my top favorite genres and I really appreciate learning more about authors.

    Reply
  5. Brenda Murphree says

    May 25, 2020 at 5:45 am

    I love Biblical Fiction and this book looks so interesting. I would love to win.

    Reply
  6. Lual Krautter says

    May 25, 2020 at 2:06 pm

    Sounds like an intriguing book, written from an unusual perspective. Thanks for the opportunity to enter a giveaway! Would love to win a copy!

    Reply
  7. Emily Potter says

    May 25, 2020 at 3:53 pm

    Sounds intriguing! Enjoyed learning about your books!

    Reply
  8. Dayna says

    May 26, 2020 at 4:01 am

    I love this kind of fiction. I can’t wait to read it!

    Reply
  9. Connie Hendryx says

    May 26, 2020 at 8:12 pm

    Thanks for the interview!! I’ll need to look for some of your books….

    Reply

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