As an editor, I occasionally see books that are based on an author’s pet peeve. Topics could be anything from dissatisfaction with how churches are generally organized to a pet doctrine no one else seems to believe or accept. In a book, authors have what they may not have anywhere else: a platform. So the temptation to air a grievance or harp on a pet peeve is very enticing.

The reality will show up in the tone of the book. I’ve edited a variety of books where the tone was clearly combative, angry, or belittling—coming across like an adult speaking to an ignorant child. The tone of your book is one of the major factors that influences how your readers perceive you personally and may be a determining factor to whether they will buy into whatever premise or argument you are trying to make.

I’m not against this type of writing. Sometimes, a grievance or a pet peeve has sparked a needed change, but your tone will either attract readers to you or distance them from you. If a reader thinks he is being treated as a child, he may just stop reading. If you lay out your arguments in a persuasive manner and don’t rely upon strong-arm tactics that attack people, personalities, or your critics, you will be more convincing and influential. Too many pet peeve authors have a chip on their shoulder that shows in their writing.

Pet peeve authors tend to come across as if they are the only holder of truth, that if anyone believes anything contrary to what they claim, then such individuals are heretics and false teachers. May I be pastoral here and try to help? No one knows everything about anything. No one is the sole possessor of truth—except God. The open-minded author who acknowledges this fact builds trust and rapport with readers. Be persuasive. Be passionate. But beware of condemning those who don’t agree with you.

I edited a book by a man whose sole reason for writing was to disagree with a particular pastor on a variety of what he perceived to be essential doctrines. Few would agree with him, and I believe the frustration of not having a platform or audience that supported his beliefs finally led him to write his book. The book became his means of airing his pet doctrines. He took the pastor to task by name, adding the entire contents of personal letters and texts exchanged between them. His tone was defensive and combative. In essence, he had created an audience of one: himself. A Christian or an unbeliever who read it would be instantly put off by it, and I struggled to understand how the cause of Christ was being uplifted.

Publishers look at this as one of the factors in deciding to publish your work. So unless you intend to self-publish, this type of writing may not be good for you.

Also, another inherent danger here is that of slander. When you name people, you run the risk of being sued—and it doesn’t matter if you are right in what you claim. If you bring injury to someone else’s name, they may very well sue you for slander. The court costs alone could ruin you.

Write for a greater cause than your own grievance. Write to increase the Kingdom of God within the kingdom man, to uplift Christ, and to help fellow Christians.

Happy writing, folks!