Into the Fire

Okay, I want to make one thing clear. There is a difference between self-deprecation and the reluctance to shamelessly market oneself.

Ask me anything about my novels, and I’ll discuss them. With excitement. Carry on about the individual characters. Etcetera. Etcetera. I love the stories. Surely, that can’t be wrong.

Self-deprecation tells you I’m not the best writer (which I’m not), I’m “lucky” (no such thing as “luck”) to have written even one of them, let alone seven of them. That anyone likes them at all is inconceivable (why?) and that if you have a publishing contract, it’s probably because the editor and pub board were on prednisone and dangerous doses of antihistamines or, heck, maybe LSD, that day they decided you were worthy of a contract. You get it, right?

I’m not going to apologize for writing my books. Not even the monster saga first one. Nope. It’s a good story no matter how many unnecessary words it contains.

I will give disclaimers for my work because of the blaring sirens of the “rules of writing” police and the fawn-eyed wannabes who worship every word/opinion that proceeds from the mouth of an agent, editor, or publisher as if it’s iron-clad and inarguable and appears in every book they publish, work on, or represent. And, hey, that statement is not meant to ridicule the wannabes. I was there. However, I came late to that party, too, so I had already formulated strong opinions, habits, feelings, and practices as far as the writing of novels was perceived. Too late to latch onto every word spoken by the pros without an occasional red flag or “What-the-heck?” Anyway, it doesn’t matter what I think. Let me repeat that: It doesn’t matter what I think. About anything in the publishing industry. It’s only a difference of opinion, but included with the differences of opinion is a keypad to a door for which I do not have the combination. And that’s okay, too.

Regarding my disclaimers and why I don’t intend for them to be self-deprecating: it’s important to me that potential readers understand that I write adult Christian fiction. Adult is code for if you’re uncomfortable with reading about real life without Jesus Christ—the mindsets and philosophies, the lifestyles, the hardness—my novels are not for you. Keep in mind those lifestyles, etc., are ultimately contrasted to Christianity. There are all kinds of people in my books. Second on my list of disclaimers is that I’m well aware of most all the rules and choose to break them at will. Not for the sake of breaking them but because I have a voice, a style, and even if I wanted to, I couldn’t abbreviate them to serve “the rules”. I am true to who I am as a writer, who God is working on to always improve—He knows better than anyone how much I need to do just that especially within my soul.

I removed apologizing for any offense or if someone doesn’t like my style of writing from my disclaimer list. That’s self-deprecating, and it’s pointless. If I was truly sorry for writing like I write or what I write about, I’d write differently and pick new stories. No. I love the stories. And here’s for all you eye-rollers and scoffers—your very favorite quote: God gave me these stories. Ha! See, you couldn’t resist, could you? Your eyebrows dodged upward before you even knew they were reacting. The point is without Him I couldn’t write my name, let alone find interesting people (characters) and circumstances to string together in looonnnggg books. If you don’t like them, take it up with the Lord. I’m sure He’s gifted someone else with a novel you’ll find perfect for your particular taste in literature.

So, the reason I detest “marketing” per se is because I don’t want to have to “sell” myself. I’ll gladly talk about the stories, but knowing what I know about my own tastes in books, why should I tell you whether or not you’ll definitely like mine unless I have information about your likes and dislikes? I need information about your reading preferences. That tells me a lot about you. And it also tells me why you might like or why you might not like my novels.

You know, I’m just not going to put my writing down. As I said, I know it’s not the best out there, but whose writing is? Who is the judge? God is the judge, and if He’s given us the task and joy of writing, then the only thing He’s going to judge about it are our motives, our obedience, our perseverance, our desire to bring Him glory. His “rules” are a little different, only they matter so much more.

Father, I’m desperate for you. Day in and day out. You are the provider for what I need to be a better person. You are the director of my life. Help me to listen and follow you alone. You are what I need the most. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

*Please pray for Kristy Dykes and her family.*