You’ve seen God do something in your life that you can’t keep quiet about. Maybe it was a healing, a rescue, a marriage restored, or a long road back from addiction. People have told you, “You need to write a book.”
They’re probably right. “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so” (Psalm 107:2).
But writing a testimony book well is harder than it looks. I’ve helped a lot of people do it, and here’s what I’ve learned.
First, decide what kind of book it is
There are two kinds of testimony books, and they’re built differently.
A story-driven book. This tells what happened, start to finish, like a novel that happens to be true. The reader experiences it with you. The Cliff: I Once Was Lost, the true story of Nancy Erickson’s fall and rescue that I wrote with Carol Erickson Lubbs, is this kind of book.
A transformational book built on your story. Here your story is the backbone, but the book’s job is to help the reader with their own struggle. You share your experience to show them a way through.
Both are good. Just know which one you’re writing before you start.
The big mistake: making yourself the hero
Here’s what trips up most testimony writers. They make it a memoir.
In a transformational book, the reader is the hero and you’re the guide. That’s the hero’s journey, and it’s how I build almost every nonfiction book. Your reader is stuck. They need help. You’ve been where they are, and God brought you through. Now you can show them the way.
If the book is all about you, readers drift. They’ll wonder, “What does this have to do with me?”
I wrote more about this on my Substack: Nobody Bought Your Book to Read About You.
Even in a story-driven book, the true hero of a testimony is God. Your job is to point to Him.
Find the thread
Most people have more story than one book can hold. Pick a thread.
Ask yourself:
- What’s the one thing God did that I most want people to know?
- Who needs to hear it?
- What do I want them to believe or do when they finish?
Everything that serves that thread stays. Everything else, even good stories, may need to go.
Build the shape
A simple structure for a testimony book:
- The before. Where were you? Be honest, but don’t wallow.
- The crisis. What broke? What was at stake?
- The turn. How did God show up?
- The struggle after. Change is rarely instant. Show the hard road.
- The new life. What’s different now?
- The invitation. What does this mean for the reader?
If you’re writing it as a transformational book, each chapter should also give the reader something to take into their own life: a truth, a question, or a step.
Tell it like a story
Testimonies come alive in the details. Don’t just say “I was scared.” Tell us your hands were shaking on the steering wheel. Don’t summarize the hospital. Put us in the waiting room.
Use scenes. Use real dialogue when you remember it. Let readers feel what you felt.
Be careful with other people
Your story includes other people, some of whom hurt you. Be honest, but be fair. Change names when you need to. Talk to family before you publish about things that affect them. And remember that some stories aren’t yours to tell.
If you’re writing about real events involving others, it’s wise to talk with an attorney about privacy and defamation before publishing.
Don’t skip the hard parts
Readers trust honesty. If you tie everything up too neatly, readers who are still in the middle of their pain will feel left out. Tell them about the doubts, the days you didn’t pray, and the questions you still have.
Get help if you need it
Some people want to write their testimony themselves. If that’s you, my Substack for Christian writers, Heart to Page, has practical help, and paid subscribers can join my weekly Tuesday Zoom writing workshop.
Others find it too painful or too close to write alone. That’s okay. A ghostwriter can interview you, help you see your story from the outside, and put it on paper with care. Read Ghostwriter or Write It Yourself? to help you decide, and if it’s a novel inspired by your experience, see how to write a Christian novel.
When you’re ready to get it out into the world, How to Publish a Christian Book Without a Traditional Publisher walks you through the steps.
Your story matters
God didn’t bring you through it so you could keep it to yourself. Somebody out there is where you used to be.
If you’d like to talk about turning your testimony into a book, book a free consult. I’d be honored to hear your story.
Jeff
