Writing Faith That Feels Real

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, both as a writer and as a dad, it’s this:

Kids can spot fake faith from a mile away.

They know when something feels scripted.
They know when a character says the “right answer” instead of the honest one.
And they absolutely know when a story is trying to preach at them instead of walk with them.

That matters to me deeply.

Not just because I’m writing a book.
But because I’m raising real kids.

Why Subtle Faith Matters

I’ve watched kids disengage when faith feels performative.

When every problem is solved with a perfectly timed Bible verse.
When doubt disappears too quickly.
When characters never wrestle.

That doesn’t feel like real life.

And if it doesn’t feel like real life, kids tune out.

Faith in the real world grows through:

• Friendship

• Questions

• Mistakes

• Awkward conversations

• Moments of courage

• Moments of silence

That’s the kind of faith I want to write.

Respecting Kids’ Intelligence

Middle-grade readers are in a powerful stage of life.

They’re asking real questions.
They’re noticing hypocrisy.
They’re figuring out what they believe—and why.

They don’t need stories that hand them answers in neon lights.

They need stories that respect their intelligence.

As a parent, I care about how faith shows up in the stories my kids read. I want them to encounter it the way they encounter it in real life:

Through relationships.
Through doubt.
Through growth.

Not through perfection.

How I Approach Faith in The BUG Boys

In The BUG Boys, faith isn’t a speech. It’s a thread.

It shows up in:

• A boy who feels spiritually inferior.

• A friend who struggles with anger.

• A moment of forgiveness that takes time.

• A quiet decision that costs something.

Faith grows in conversation.
In tension.
In imperfect attempts.

That’s intentional.

Because I want readers to see that faith isn’t about always saying the right thing.

It’s about seeking God with your whole heart—even when you’re unsure.

Why This Matters to Me

This isn’t a marketing angle.

It’s personal.

I care about how kids encounter faith in story because I’ve seen what happens when they don’t connect with it. When it feels forced, they close the book. When it feels honest, they lean in.

As a dad, I want stories that strengthen faith without oversimplifying it.

As a writer, I want to create stories that feel true.

If faith is going to show up in a story for kids, it should feel like it belongs there.

And when it does?
It can change everything.