American society thrives on voyeurism. Lurid talk shows and courtroom dramas allow a television audience to participate in other people’s scandalous lifestyles. Tabloids capitalize on celebrity secrets. Hardly a month passes without a tell-all book hitting the shelves and the best-seller list.

Because sensationalism sells, the American public feeds on a steady diet of the extreme. In recent decades, the entertainment industry has turned away from conservative Christian values, parading everything from the liberal to the bizarre before the public eye. Over time, these influences have altered the public’s perception of reality, changing the definition of the word “normal.”

Despite these changes, which many tout as progress, America is not happier, healthier or more at peace. She is, in fact, rapidly deteriorating into a hopelessly pagan society. In such an environment, Christian writers have a tremendous opportunity to influence lives. If society wants a peek, give them one – a good one. Through well-crafted inspirational fiction, the public can glimpse the wholesome and satisfying life that comes by living godly principles. As readers travel through a story, identifying with the struggles and hardships of a character, they also experience the joy and victory found in walking with Christ.

I appreciate the ACRW writers who supply my local bookstores with quality reading material. Pamela Griffin is one of those authors. Multi-published by Barbour/Heartsong, she writes quality fiction, which includes a message of hope and life. I hope you enjoy this look “Behind the Scenes” into her writing career.

Q: How many years have you been writing, Pamela?
A: I’ve been seriously writing—writing in the hopes of getting published—since 1996.

Q: How much time do you spend writing daily?
A: I don’t clock myself, but I would have to say a minimum of three hours, though I often write much more than that. That includes free writing, editing, critiquing, researching—anything needed to produce a story. I am a full-time writer, and as a general rule I write when the boys are at school and after they go to bed.

Q: Do you set daily goals for your writing?
A: No. Some days I write more than other days, but I always try to write something. When I’m on deadline, I work harder at achieving completion, and I may set an amount during a given day—depending how much time I have before deadline. As for goals, I pray about how to set my far-reaching ones, and how to go about them. God knows what I need and what will work for me better than I do.

Q: Where do you write?
A: At my house--in a corner of my bedroom. At my parents--in the spa room or on my laptop in the den.

Q: Do you plot or not?
A: I don’t plot or chart things before writing them. I may have a basic idea in my head, of how the story will go, but it often takes twists I’d never dreamed of. Sometimes I do jot down important info I may easily forget.

Q: Is your first draft rough or do you aim for a polished manuscript the first time through? How much time do you spend on rewrites?
A: Before I do any writing, I normally crit the chapter I’d written the previous day. Sometimes, though, I start from the beginning. I don’t have any set amount of rewrites I plan out ahead of time. Once the story is completed, I just keep editing, rereading from beginning to end, and polishing until I KNOW it’s ready. I’m the type to go back and edit something as I’m working on it. I can’t JUST free-write and not edit. It goes against my grain.

Q: How does your Christian walk influence your writing?
A: My Christian walk strongly influences my writing. I commit every aspect of my writing—from the germ of the idea to the published book--and even beyond that, to committing the copy editing, the artwork, everything--to the Lord and asking it all go according to how He wants it to be, not the way I want it to go. Also, I ask that if I missed Him in any part of it, that He shows the copy editor, etc. what it is that needs fixing. With a story in progress--I pray in advance for His anointing to flow through me and His words, not my own to come out. Words that will minister to those who need it. Often when that happens, I find my fingers tapping out a chapter scene that takes an entirely different trail than what I had thought it would. One-on-one time with the Lord, praying, praising, and dwelling in the Word--is vital to everyone, but especially to the Christian writer, whose stories will teach and touch so very many hearts.

Q: Do you have any advice for a new writer?
A: Don’t give up. Don’t take rejections personally—even the big-time “star-writers” still get them. Focus on God and commit your every work to Him, and He will bless you abundantly if you follow His leading. Be professional at all times—and whatever you do, follow the guidelines and preferences concerning what each publishing house wants. Don’t assume that your story is so good that it will be the exception to the set rules.