by Julie Zine Coleman @JulieZColeman

At a writer’s conference, a line of agents and publishers sat before the eager crowd for a question-and-answer session. What did writers want to know? As I listened, one woman’s question soon had me sitting straight up in my seat: What do agents and publishers look for in a book proposal?

As a non-fiction writer and Bible teacher, the answer shocked me. All the way down the row, every single panelist answered with one word: story.

At that time, I was writing a book on women in the church, which required some serious digging into Scripure and its pertinent passages. I included several of my personal experiences to serve as examples or illustrations to my teaching. Right then I needed more people whose experiences would further flesh out the teaching content.

As I prayed for God to supply what my book needed, He sent a thought across my mind. I was involved with a Facebook group populated with people who shared my theology, whose journey reflected the hurt that came from verses taken out of context (then used as weapons). So I asked them to Private Message me with a brief description of their experience. Within two days, I had over 70 messages waiting for me. I was thrilled.

Have you ever sat through a sermon that gave so much detail in the teaching that you were almost cross-eyed by the end? That speaker would have done well to wisely insert stories occasionally to keep the audience from glazing over, right?

The same is true for writing. We need to give the reader a mental break to process the information we are imparting. Using an appropriate story can illustrate a point, show how that truth can impact their life, or prompt a personal application from the passage. Story takes the abstract and puts flesh and bones on it, breathing life into those important biblical teachings. Without that opportunity, our words can become just information.

If you don’t believe me, take a look through Scripture! God uses story all the way through the Bible, stories that reveal Himself to the world. They often provide a fresh perspective or new way of thinking that helps us understand Him on a deeper level.

Jesus spoke largely in parables, stories from ordinary, everyday things that richly illustrated His Kingdom principles. Those stories were solid gold to those that received Him, and echo in our hearts to this day. Even the Holy Spirit, as our teacher and guide, can bring to mind examples that assist us in taking truth to heart.

We would do well to imitate the greatest teachers (Father, Son, and Spirit) of all time. Prayerfully consider story that will make your teaching sing. Your readers will thank you for it.

Julie Zine Coleman is an award-winning author, speaker, and member of the Pastoral Team at New Hope Chapel. She is the managing editor for the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association’s devotional website, Arise Daily. Julie holds a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies and has authored four books including Unexpected Love: God’s Heart Revealed through Jesus’ Conversations with Women and On Purpose: Understanding God’s Freedom for Women through Scripture, which was named The Golden Scrolls Book of the Year as well as The Selah Awards’ Director’s Choice. Julie and her husband have four grown children, six grandchildren, and one crazy Golden Retriever puppy.