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How I Write: Barbara Britton

February 8, 2021 by Karin Beery 2 Comments

One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to novel writing, as is evident with Barbara Britton. She doesn’t have an agent. She lets music inspire her. And she’s here to share some of her writing tips and suggestions with you!

What do you write? How did you pick your genre?

I write primarily Biblical Fiction, but I have also published a WWI Historical novel. Looking back, I think my genre chose me. I taught Bible stories to elementary students in a chapel setting. When I decided to write a novel based on a Bible story, that manuscript sold to a publisher. I had been honing my “voice” in my teaching without knowing it.

What’s the most difficult part of writing your genre? How do you work through those challenges?

When you don’t live in the time period that you are writing about, you have to research the lifestyle and customs. With Biblical Fiction, you may have to cross-reference Scripture to get the entire background to the story or characters. With anything related to the Bible, an author wants to get the theology correct. When Scripture is silent on a part of the story, I have learned to place an author note in the back of the book with reasons why I chose a certain interpretation.

Research can take time away from actually writing the story. An author must be diligent to not let research derail their inspiration and determination to get the story written.

If you’ve written multiple books, which was harder: the first book or the following books?

A debut novel may have taken one, five, or ten years to write. No one knows about the book except the author and their critique partners. There is no pressure or deadline to finish the book. Once you publish a book, your readers and publisher want another one and they want it fast. The traditional publishing process is slow, so the faster you write, the more your books can release closer together.

The pressure of “your next book” can slow the creative process or stymie it altogether. I’ve heard it said that if you are going to indie-publish a series, have at least three books written in the series, or all of it written, before you release the first book. Then you can rapidly release the series and keep the interest of your readership. Of course, after the series ends, you will still hear, “When’s your next book coming out?” Only the author knows what is a practical, and realistic, timeline for them to write a book. I can’t write a book in six weeks. I can write a book in six months if I have a deadline. I prefer to write a Historical in nine months.

What’s your favorite book on writing? What do you like about it?

One of my favorite craft books is Rivet Your Readers with Deep Point of View by Jill Elizabeth Nelson. The book makes Deep POV easy to understand. It’s a short book and the answers to Jill’s questions and exercises are in the back of the book.

What writing book do you want to read next?

A book that I recently purchased and want to use more in my writing is The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi. I like seeing the list of physical reactions to emotions in the book and the reasons for such emotions. I once had an editor tell me that my character had sweaty palms too many times. A writer has to vary the emotional and physical reactions of their characters.

How do you combat writer’s block?

I try to have a playlist for each story. I find music that is the essence of my character or tells the emotions my characters are going through. I like fast-paced music for action scenes and quieter songs for impactful scenes. I play the music before I sit down to write, and it helps put me in the mood to write.

I also recommend having critique partners and deadlines to submit chapters for review. If you have to get a chapter written for your fellow authors, you will find the time to do it.

What’s surprised you the most about the publishing process? Why did it surprise you?

I began writing stories before social media existed. Publishers and agents didn’t talk about platforms because they didn’t exist in the world of fiction. Now, a writer must have a following on several social media platforms, and a website, before their work will be considered by some agents. Being active on social media takes time. The interaction can take time away from drafting new stories.

Some authors will hire virtual assistants to manage their social media accounts. This helps with the time crunch, but it costs money. A writer has to find the right mix between being engaged on social media and making their writing a priority.

How do you self-edit your manuscript?

Grammar is not my best subject. I rely on grammar books, Google, and my critique partners to catch mistakes before I submit my manuscript to my publisher. I write my story on paper and edit it as I type it onto the computer. I review a chapter before I send it to my critique partners for feedback. When I think my story is done, I will read it from start to finish. I also send it to beta-readers for their comments. When I think the story is as good as I can get it, then I send it to my publisher.

I do not have an agent. If an author has an agent, the agent will go over a submitted manuscript for errors or improvement.


Barbara M. Britton lives in Southeast Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches. She is published in Biblical fiction and enjoys bringing little-known Bible characters to light in her stories. Barb ventured into Christian Historical fiction in 2020 with “Until June.” Barb is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Romance Writers of America, and Wisconsin Romance Writers of America. Barb has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. Find out more about Barb’s books at http://www.barbarambritton.com/books.html

Barb is also active on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Filed Under: interview Tagged With: author interview, Barbara Britton, writing fiction, writing tips, writing tools

Can Your Work Become an Idol? by Barbara Britton

November 18, 2019 by Karin Beery Leave a Comment

Recently my church was doing a study on Tim Keller’s book Every Good Endeavor. The book is about work and how a Christian should view their profession. I was asked to speak in the adult education class about being an author and how I handled the idols in my work.

Idols? Does a writer have idols? After I thought about the publishing industry and how it has changed in the past twelve years since I began writing, I did discover some idols. When I began my publishing journey, there was no internet sales or social media. The rise of Amazon, Facebook, Twitter, and a whole host of new inventions have brought some “watch outs” into the writing life.

I am a Christian and a child of God. What is a child of God? John 1:12 puts it this way:

“Yet to all who received him (Jesus), to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (NIV)

Since I believe in Jesus, I write my stories from a Christian worldview. I hope people like my stories, feel better after reading my stories, and in the case of my Biblical fiction, learn something new about God and the Bible. When people praise my novels or think I am somehow on a higher plane since I write novels, I have to set my idol warning to high.

I believe God has given me the talent to write stories. It’s a gift. Just like some people have gifts of singing and painting and business and athletics. The list is endless. One gift is not better than the other in God’s eyes. When readers say nice things about me, I thank them, enjoy the moment, but see their praise in the bigger picture of God’s gifts. God wouldn’t be please with diva moments.

I Peter 4:10 says, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in various forms.”

I pray that I am administering well, but people have different ideas about what “well” means. I have heard from readers who weren’t impressed with my stories. Sometimes the review of my work overflows onto my being. My relationship with God is attacked and less than nice things are said. Ouch! When that happens (and it can be in a book review or through e-mail), I have to remember who I am in Christ. I remember the John 1:12 verse above and realize that I am a child of God. No two Christians are the same and not every piece of art is for every reader or for every patron of the arts.

The idols of doubt and discouragement can sink into my core if I let them. Social media allows words to soar through the internet without the typist realizing there is a beating heart on the other side of the screen. If I’m okay with my story, and I believe God is okay with my story, then I have to let a bad review sink into oblivion.

So, are there idols in writing? Are there incidents that can take our eyes off of God? Definitely.

Enjoy the good times of your profession but keep walking in humility. Ask God to help you when a discouraging remark zaps your enthusiasm. The Holy Spirit is the best comforter when we are hurting. And remember, the giver of good gifts does not make mistakes.

Do you see any idols creeping into your work?


Barbara M. Britton lives in Southeast, Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches. She writes Christian Fiction for teens and adults. Barb brings little-known Bible stories to light in her Tribes of Israel series. Barb is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Romance Writers of America and Wisconsin Romance Writers of America. She is published by Harbourlight Books an imprint of Pelican Book Group. Barb has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. Find out more about Barb and her books at www.barbarambritton.com.

Follow Barb on Twitter, Facebook or BookBub.

Filed Under: Professionalism, Uncategorized Tagged With: Barbara Britton, best practices, integrity

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Editor. Teacher. Novelist.
A passionate lover of fiction, Karin doesn't just write novels, she helps others write their best stories! A certified substantive editor with the Christian Editor Connection, her goal is to help authors to put her out of business by equipping them with the tools they need to become better writers.

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