genre musings, part deux

In a comment to my "genre musings" post (and you might want to read it first, then come back to this one), Pam said:

This is extremely interesting in light of something I just read today on a Christian Reader newsletter I receive -- an article about a christian writer who is writing in the non-christian market. It went on and on saying what a jewel of a writer this author is (I wouldn't know, because I haven't read him yet). But it sort of sounded to me like it was putting him a notch above "christian writers" because he says he does not want to write "happy endings" (they aren't realistic in his view) or to write for the "choir" because we should already "know." I agree that he may have a wonderful place in his "genre" but why the subtle message (from the article writer, not overtly the novel author) that christian writing is "less than?" I wonder if you read this article, too.

Yes, I have read that article. Off the top of my head, I couldn't say who the author was that the article is about or if I have read his book(s), but that isn't important to my response. I'll take it a point at a time.

... But it sort of sounded to me like it was putting him a notch above "christian writers" because he says he does not want to write "happy endings" (they aren't realistic in his view) ...

It's an author's own prerogative if he/she writes happy endings or not. If by happy endings, that writer above meant that everything in the books he doesn't like ends perfectly for every character, then I would agree. I don't find that realistic. I write CBA fiction, and I don't write perfectly happy endings for every character either. I write stories about imperfect people in an imperfect world. But I also write books that end with hope. How can a Christian not write with an overall theme of hope, even when writing about death and destruction, even if they write for the general market?

There aren't very many "Oprah picks" that I have liked. Although every one of them I've read have been beautifully written by writers of superb talent, they have also been stories that left me depressed when I finished them. I am a pragmatic person whose life has been touched by trials and tragedy. I don't need anyone to point out to me that life can be hard and unfair. But I am also a Christian who knows that God is just and righteous, and I have a Father who has given me many promises. My worldview is infused with hope because I stand on the Rock. That worldview infuses my books as well.

...or to write for the "choir" because we should already "know."...

Well, if we follow the natural analogy here, we would say that Christians also shouldn't bother to go to church on Sundays because they "should already know." Nor should Christians read any of the non-fiction books about healing or prayer or family life because they "should already know." Nor should they bother to read the Bible because they "should already know."

Hmm. I don't know any Christians who have it all together, who don't learn something from teachers and preachers if they have ears to hear, who don't continue to struggle with attitude or choices or whatever, who don't have to strive to reach a new level of maturity in Christ.

In fact, as I have shared in my blog before, I resisted writing for the CBA for a while because I, too, thought it would be preaching to the choir. I wondered if I couldn't reach more people with my Christian worldview stories if I stayed in the ABA. And God brought me up very short by saying that "the choir is sick." Meaning, the choir isn't perfect. The choir needs to hear from others in the body of Christ who have struggled with the same issues and overcome. I have stories to write that come out of the walk I've walked and the lessons God has taught me, stories that the "choir" wants to hear because we can often see ourselves better when we are looking at another life (which is why Jesus spoke in parables).

The "choir" is full of brand new believers and those who have walked with Christ for 70 or 80 years. Those who have walked with Christ for 80 years will hear something different in a message/parable/novel than will someone who accepted Christ last week.

Wasn't it to Christians (to the choir) that Paul addressed his letters? Wasn't it to Christians that Peter and John wrote? Not that our Christian fiction can be equated to Scripture, but I think my point is clear. The choir has needs too.

Now if that author is writing to evangelize and win readers to Christ, then my analogy falls apart. If that is what he meant, then yes, the "choir" does already know because they are already believers. But the authors of Christian/CBA fiction whom I know don't write to evangelize. We write to entertain and we know that the majority of our readers are already believers.

... I agree that he may have a wonderful place in his "genre" but why the subtle message (from the article writer, not overtly the novel author) that christian writing is "less than?"...

This bothers me most of all, this subtle — and not so subtle, by some — message that those who write for the CBA are writing something "less than." While I am not surprised by cattiness outside the body of Christ, it wounds my soul when it happens within the family of God.

Reading is subjective. Not everyone will enjoy the same kinds of books. As mentioned above, I have found Oprah picks to be novels that leave me depressed and that end without hope. But obviously Oprah loves them. Different tastes. But I would never demean those books or those authors. All that I've read have been wonderfully written. They just aren't my cup of tea. I'll bet my books wouldn't be their cup of tea either.

My heart is to write quality fiction, no matter the genre I write in. My heart is to tell stories that will move readers. But I know without a doubt that God called me to write Christian fiction with a strong message of faith for the CBA market. If I am writing what God called me to write, then I know with assurance that I am not writing anything that is "less than."

-rlh-

Comments

[Pam]

I could really feel the Spirit in what you just
wrote, Robin...and the truth in every point. I had
goosebumps reading it. Especially about hope. I
also read an interview in C.R. with a popular
christian singing group. They said something that
struck a chord with me too. That when their song (I
think it was "I Can Only Imagine," or one with a
similar message) was played on a secular station,
the station was inundated with people calling to
thank them for such an uplifting song because
"uplifting music is so rare." (Mmm...Rare. What a
sad comment on our world -- how has music become a
"downer?" )
Hope is what the world, christian and non-christian,
is clamoring for. Even Oprah...I think that she is
attracted to these desperate stories because of
tragedies in her background, looking for hope but
not finding it. I haven't read her "picks" for that
same reason...because I've always thought that same
thing about the movies she presents. They attract me
at first because they sound heartwarming, but then I
immediately sense the hopelessness in it all and can
never sit through them. I've lived enough of my own,
like you, and how grateful I am for the hope of the
Lord!
I'm in the midst of praying about and mulling over
how to share my written testimony with someone I'm
praying for, without being overly preachy. The
question in my mind has been "How do I explain in
words how you healed my heart, Lord? How do I put
in words how we can know your heart to someone who
has never met Jesus -- yet heard about you all his
life? Someone who has sought you in dark religions
and been disillusioned." Several things you said
here about hope were like flashing lights in my
mind. "Share how I give hope, Pam... that's how..."
And that makes me think of another point to writing
christian fiction (and christian blogs )... The Lord
can speak into your readers' lives like that...

[Robin]

Well said, Robin!

[Paul N.]

One of the better sermons I've ever read. I kept agreeing and saying "Amen." You don't mind amens while you preach, do you. Excellent post. The part about hope is the best.

[violet]

Robin, about preaching to the choir, people who make that criticism need to re-read the Great Commission. Jesus' command (Matthew 28:19,20) was to "make disciples of all the nations..." I believe that a disciple is a lifetime in the making and that Christian fiction can play a powerful role in that process.