My Adventures as a Writer – What I’ve Learned About Research

 

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Although students often feel intimidated by research when writing papers and major projects, research can lead to interesting discoveries. This is true whether someone gathers information for a fiction novel or an article. The method of research will be different: One topic might require observing a sword fight or riding a horse, while the other involves searching through databases and flipping through books. Either way, the process can be an adventure.   

As a writer for a Christian website, I regularly engage in research on various topics including the Bible, Christian history, apologetic issues, and practical advice for everyday Christian living. Writing about a wide range of topics involves different research techniques at times, but I use a few basic skills to get me started. In this blog post, I am going to share some of the basics about researching and writing for Christian websites.

How do I know what I need to research?

Knowing what to research often depends on the website and editor you are writing for. I have written for Got Questions and currently write for a variety of sites on Salem Web Network, including Christianity.com. The editors typically assign specific article topics in the form of questions or allow me to pick from a list of topics. For these types of articles, the research required is already focused, although I still try to craft a main thesis for the article.

However, there are times when the assigned or chosen topic is not entirely clear. At this point, I usually do one of two things. I contact the editor I am working with to ask for clarification about the topic. Or I try to narrow down the topic myself, deciding on which angle I could take when writing the article.

An example of this was when I was assigned an article topic about why Christians say that everything happens for a reason. In doing preliminary research, I realized that the website I was writing for already had an article on this topic, which prompted me to send an email to the editor. She narrowed down the topic for me by saying she wanted an article that focused on how this common phrase, “everything happens for a reason,” is misleading and unhelpful when someone is grieving the loss of a loved one. A simple email for clarification helped me to narrow down my research topic.

Another important note is that freelance writers are usually required to pitch their articles. Freelancers need to keep in mind the purpose and scope of a website before pitching an article and engaging in research. To start, I recommend familiarizing yourself with the website and reading any guidelines about what the editors want and are expecting from writers.

Where do I find sources?

When writing about biblical and theological topics, I regularly use websites, books, and journal articles that I trust.

The main source I use is the Bible. Keeping a print Bible next to me on the table when I write is helpful, especially if I have specific verses in mind. Online Bible websites are also valuable sources for quickly copying and pasting verses into the article I’m writing, such as Bible Gateway and Bible Hub. Seeing multiple versions of Scripture is important as well since it helps me better understand the language of the passage.

Other sources I use to find information include:

• Bible commentaries (both in print and online)
• Online Greek and Hebrew concordances
• Scholarly journals and databases (such as Galaxie)
• Theology books
• Church history books and encyclopedias
• Christian websites

    Using these sources regularly enables me to find information quickly and efficiently when writing articles.

How do I know if a source is credible and appropriate for my project?

If I know the focus of my topic and have done preliminary research, then assessing the credibility and appropriateness of sources is easier. When thinking about credibility, we need to ask questions such as:

• Who wrote this? Are they knowledgeable about this topic?
• How old is this source? Is it outdated or current? Even if it is an older source, is the content still relevant?
• Is this source presenting misleading information?

Evaluating the appropriateness of a source includes remembering the topic and thesis of an article as well as considering the audience and purpose for writing. If I am writing about a deep theological discussion, such as the debate about limited and unlimited atonement, then quoting popular devotional writers might not be appropriate for my article.

In contrast, if I am writing to encourage people who are grieving, then listing apologetic arguments about suffering from leading scholars is not the best option. My audience will not appreciate an academic approach to a personally difficult experience.

How do I incorporate sources into my writing?

I have found that many editors expect writers to synthesize the information they researched in their own words. If specific quotes are used, these are usually given attribution through a hyperlink.

Depending on the editor or website, though, there might be specific guidelines for citing sources. Some might prefer Chicago, AP, MLA, or an abbreviated form of a style. Christian websites and publications may require a knowledge of The Christian Writer’s Manual of Style, which is the standard style for the Christian publishing industry.  

If in doubt about citing a source, it is best to contact the editor and/or check any guidelines they provide.

Any resource recommendations?

I have found the following sources helpful when writing about biblical topics:

• Basic Theology by Charles C. Ryrie – If you plan to write regularly about the Bible and theology, then I highly recommend this source. It is a helpful guide in understanding key doctrines in Scripture.
• NET Bible – This is a wonderful source for delving into specific verses or passages. Not only can you read the Bible fully online, but you also have access to commentary, notes, and the original biblical languages. 
• Oxford Concise Dictionary of the Christian Church by E. A. Livingstone – I suggest this source since it contains short, informative entries about theology and church history. It provides an overview of a topic and is a great starting place when doing preliminary research.
• The Bible Knowledge Commentary edited by John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck – An indispensable source for researching specific verses and passages, as well as understanding context and background. The Old Testament and New Testament versions are always on a shelf near where I write.

Having a reliable set of books and websites is important for writers. The more readily available the resources are, the quicker you can begin your research on a topic. Although the search will likely lead to other sources, the journey is much easier with a list of websites or a stack of books.

And that is when the adventure begins – learning from research, crafting words, moving around parts, and editing a piece for publication.

Music and Story - The State of Modern Christian Art

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    The past few posts have examined how music and story overlap. Songs influence writers, and the created works of authors have impacted music. Another area where music and story meet is in the discussion of modern Christian music and literature.

    People from mainstream and Christian circles criticize Christian art, including music and literary forms. For example, numerous forums exist online arguing that most contemporary Christian music is cheesy. Others claim that these musicians lack creativity and artful expression. As Emily Hughes wrote in an article for Musical Mum, “Most [Christian musicians] are repetitive and lack the depth and creativity that secular artists often display.”

    The same is true of modern Christian literature, especially Christian fiction. Many individuals insist that the fiction books created by Christians lack depth and insight or read like a sermon. They criticize writers who do not use profanity and lament that works of Christian art are too clean and unrelated to the experiences of modern people.

    While I acknowledge that lots of the critiques of Christian art often seek to provide constructive feedback and ideas for improvement, such as the article by Emily Hughes, a lot of these judgments fail to recognize that there are numerous examples of believers who are making beautiful, true, and good pieces of art. They might not be as popular or well-known as mainstream artists, but they do exist. Should we dismiss all Christian artists if there are a few bland musicians and writers? And should we think art has no purpose or worth if it is created by a Christian with the intent to “say something?”

    I argue, no. In fact, believers in Jesus are in the position to create the best and most beautiful work because they are redeemed and devoted to serving Christ. Who else is better suited to create art that is beautiful, true, and good than someone who knows the One who is the Truth and is most beautiful and good? Scripture also encourages us to think about what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy, which provides us with opportunities to create truly beautiful art (Philippians 4:8).  

    For artists who know Jesus, the task is not to erase any reference or mention to faith or truth, but to merge the virtues of beauty, truth, and goodness in unity. As Andrew Peterson wrote in Adorning the Dark, a proper approach to Christian art is not about avoiding an agenda in our art (many Christians do have an agenda when writing books or songs; they want to incorporate a truth or point to Christ), but to ensure that we do not neglect beauty (84-85). The place where artists can “go wrong is when we tilt the scales away from grace, or beauty, or excellence, as if truth were all that mattered” (86).

    More Christians need to focus on combining these virtues into their art. However, there are already numerous Christians who are creating excellent art. Andrew Peterson has created works that resonate with many people. His young adult fantasy series, The Wingfeather Saga, is popular among Christians and non-Christians because it tells a gripping story. He follows his advice of promoting truth, but also telling a story with excellence and beauty.

    Another author, Christine Cohen, a finalist for the 2020 Christie Award, has also succeeded in creating delightful stories that are compelling and well-written. One such story is a fantasy novel, The Winter King. Although she might not neatly fall into the Christian fiction or mainstream category, her works convey significant themes through well-written characters and plots. As the director of the MFA program for New Saint Andrews College, she sees craft and biblical truth as equally important in the work of an author. On the college’s blog, she is quoted as saying, “Technical proficiency must be paired with a firm commitment to Scripture as the authoritative and inerrant Word of God.”

    The same is true of music. There are a multitude of artists who are creating works of truth with emotional depth and creativity. Some of these songwriters and bands may not label themselves as “Christian artists,” but their music conveys biblical themes and truth. Others do place themselves under the genre of Christian music but are challenging what it looks like to make music as believers. They deal more openly with struggles and questions in life.

    The following playlist serves as a representation of these types of musicians. Each section highlights a specific theme, including emotional depth, creativity, desire for justice, authentic praise, honesty, and hope.      

    Of course, this does not mean that combining truth, beauty, and goodness is easy. At times, musicians and writers could be tempted to compromise one of the areas in favor of the others. I believe this is why Christians lean so much toward truth instead of keeping a balance of all three virtues. Often, biblical truth is what individuals forsake or neglect to appear relevant. We have all heard of Christian artists who “left the faith” or compromised biblical teachings. The temptation to appease the world is strong. For instance, I struggled to decide to include Page CXVI (named after the page number in C. S. Lewis's The Magician’s Nephew when Aslan sings Narnia into existence) on the playlist because of their current support of unbiblical theology. Since their early works focused on modernizing hymns for the younger generation, though, I decided to include them as an example of what believers can do when they work together to create art that glorifies God.

    We need more Christian artists who are committed to following Jesus and developing excellence in their craft. However, we should not overlook that there are already many who are doing just that. Critics will continue to bemoan the artistic work of believers, but a great deal of literature and music they are creating is beautiful, true, and good. For Christians know the Lord, the Author of everything beautiful, true, and good in the world. The more we grow closer to Him, the more we will create works of art that glorify Him.

Works Cited

Hughes, Emily. “Why Is Christian Music So Cheesy?” Musical Mum, 28 Sept. 2022, Why Is Christian Music So Cheesy? - Musical Mum.  

“NSA Announces Author Christine Cohen as Director of MFA.” New Saint Andrews College Blog, 29 Mar. 2023, https://nsa.edu/blog/nsa-announces-author-christine-cohen-as-director-of-mfa.

Peterson, Andrew. Adorning the Dark: Thoughts on Community, Calling, and the Mystery of Making. B&H Books, 2019.  

Resources for Further Study

• On the Renovare Life with God Podcast, Nathan Foster interviewed Matthew Clark, who provided thoughtful insights about art and truth on the episode, “The Gift of Truth.”
• Although I do not agree with all areas of R. C. Sproul’s theology, he does have an interesting series of lectures about Christianity and the arts called Recovering the Beauty of the Arts. I recommend the first in the series, “Aesthetics in Recent History,” which is free to view on Ligonier’s website.  

Music and Story - Literature-Inspired Songs

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In the last post, I examined how music can influence the creativity of writers. Songs can help writers focus and enable them to visualize a scene before putting pen to paper, or fingers to keys. As much as music does help with the creative process, though, we cannot deny that books have influenced music. Many songwriters and bands have drawn inspiration from literary works.            

The reason for this is probably a mixture of admiration for the work and author, but also because great works of literature tell exceptional stories. Since stories have always been an integral part of music, it should not surprise us to find songs based on well-known books. Music can spark imagination that leads to further creativity, as does great literature.

In the list below, you will find a list of literature-inspired songs. If you are someone who wants to guess which book influenced the musician, then listen to the playlist first before reading the next part of the post. However, if you want to understand the literary connection before listening, then keep reading. Either way, I am sure you will appreciate the book-inspired music.

“In Like a Lion (Always Winter)” by Relient K

What could be more depressing than being stuck in an endless winter without any hope of Christmas? C. S. Lewis captures this feeling well in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Jadis, the evil White Witch, cursed Narnia so that it was “always winter, but never Christmas.” Only when Aslan begins to move and sends Father Christmas to Narnia does the holiday reappear, and with it, the hope of spring.

Although Relient K is well-known for their witty and, at times, humorous music, their Narnia-inspired song is expertly written and performed, blending both sorrow and joy.

“Dear Wormwood” by The Oh Hellos

The title is a clear hint to its connection to literature. Drawing from C. S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters, this song mirrors the title of the album, addressed to the demon Wormwood. The narrator of the song has experienced abuse from someone who resembles Wormwood, who constantly tries to tell him who he is and what he can do. No longer under his abuser’s control, the narrator breaks free, declaring the truth about his identity and that of his abuser.    

“Weight of Living, Pt. 1” by Bastille

Although the phrase “albatross around your neck” has become a way to refer to problems in life, the albatross symbol has strong literary roots. Samuel Taylor Coleridge poetically conveys the story of a man who shot an albatross in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. As punishment, the mariner is forced to wear the albatross around his neck. The bird serves as a constant reminder of his guilt.    

Bastille’s song captures the weight that many of us have felt. We all have regrets and things we wish we could forget. There are times when we do need to let go of these burdens, as the song says, but other times our “albatross” might be a burden that we deserve. Many scholars believe Coleridge’s classic poem has religious symbolism. If that is correct, then we can see the heavy weight of guilt and sin in the symbolism of an albatross hanging around someone’s neck.

That burden is not easily lifted, at least not in our strength. Thankfully, Jesus has invited us to turn to Him and He will give us rest (see Matthew 11:28-30).    

“Sigh No More” by Mumford & Sons

When I first heard this song, I was impressed by the instrumentals and lyrical connection to faith. However, I did not originally understand the literary reference. Upon closer study of the lyrics, I discovered that the song draws inspiration from Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. The title comes directly from a song in the play about man’s infidelity called “Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more.”     

Since Mumford & Sons’ song emphasizes the desire to see love as it was meant to be, listeners could interpret the lyrics in contrast to the song in Shakespeare’s play. Yes, many men are unfaithful and cheat on their wives, but there is also love that is faithful and beautiful. True love will not betray or hurt, as Mumford & Sons reminds us.

I believe that this love is found in Christ. Only by knowing Him can we understand love as it was meant to be and express that love to others. As 1 John 3:16 says, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters” (NIV).  

“Lothlorien” by Enya

Enya is well-known for her song featured in The Fellowship of the Ring film called “May It Be.” However, long before she recorded music for the movie, she was already a fan of Tolkien’s work. The instrumental song “Lothlorien,” is inspired by the Elven realm ruled by Galadriel and Celeborn.  

“My Love Has Gone Across the Sea” by Andrew Peterson and “Yurgen’s Tune” by Isaac Horn, Lincoln Mick, and Sarah Wood

Many authors long to add songs into their story world, but do not have experience with songwriting. Thankfully for Andrew Peterson, he has skill in both crafting stories and writing songs. He used his musical ability while crafting The Wingfeather Saga.  

These two songs are not only beautiful pieces of music, but they add to the overall story. Esben, the father to the Wingfeather children, spoke a few of the lyrics from “My Love Has Gone Across the Sea” before he died. The words he speaks foreshadow the ultimate act of love that Janner does for his brother, Kalmar.

Sacrificing one’s life for another is presented as an example of love because “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13, NIV). The greatest act of love in all history was done when Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world. We can only show such love to others because of what the Lord did (1 John 4:19).

“The Lobster Quadrille” by Franz Ferdinand

Although this song was created for Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland (2010), it directly follows the lyrics of the song in the story by Lewis Carroll. Franz Ferdinand adds a darker tone to the whimsical song but remains true to the original rhyme.

In the story, Alice encounters the Mock Turtle during her adventures in Wonderland, and he performs “The Lobster Quadrille.”      

“Where the Shadows Lie” by Bear McCreary and Fiona Apple

McCreary’s “Where the Shadows Lie” was created for the show The Rings of Power based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. Fiona Apple, a singer and songwriter known for her unique vocals and songwriting ability, recorded the song for the final episode of season one. The lyrics come directly from the opening poem of The Lord of the Rings.

Regardless of individual opinions about the show, “Where the Shadows Lie” is a powerful song that captures the spirit of Tolkien’s fantasy epic.

“Digory’s Regret” by Sarah Sparks

We end where we started: A song based on a book by C. S. Lewis. “Digory’s Regret” is a haunting song that captures the perspective of Digory in The Magician’s Nephew. Sarah Sparks expertly conveys the thoughts and emotions expressed in the book, especially when mentioning Digory’s ill mother.

This song is part of Sarah Sparks’ Narnia-inspired album Into the Lantern Waste. Like “Digory’s Regret,” the songs are told from the perspective of individual characters in The Chronicles of Narnia. The album includes other characters from the beloved series such as Lucy, Eustace, Puddlegum, and others. My favorite is “Shasta’s Complaint,” which is excellently written.  

Therefore, many songs, and even entire albums, have been influenced by literature. The cycle is circular though, as written works influence musicians and songs inspire authors.

Creativity encourages creativity.