Into the Fire

There is a significant difference between a writer who wants to mesmerize a reader with exquisite language while weaving a tale and a writer who merely wants to tell a story well. There is a difference between a writer who wants to allude to the things of God and a writer who wants to include the gospel message inside a realistic story. There is a difference between the writer whose story contains innate humor and the writer who features humor within the story. There is a difference between the writer who pushes the reader to the next page and the writer who draws the reader to turn the page.

Some of the differences rest in the genre factor. It’s hard to imagine writing a thriller with pretty meandering language because a thriller demands an accelerated pace. It doesn’t eliminate the prospect for lovely language, but we don’t necessarily expect it. As much as I chafe against “formulaic” writing, I can’t deny certain types of novels are expected to fit comfortably into a specific formula or category. I’ve come to the conclusion it isn’t necessarily the formula for the genre I object to sometimes—it’s the same old, same old type of writing used to accomplish the goal. However, my objections are irrelevant because there are many readers who are content to read novels they won’t have to concern themselves with how they’re going to end, and the writing is secondary without them even being aware of the fact.

I’ve come to the conclusion that the differences in preferences for types of stories and types of writing have created a “we vs. them” atmosphere among writers who are Christians. I’m not sure if part of the reason for this lies in the fact that there are significant numbers of “okay” novels written decently but not spectacularly in CBA fiction. The objective of these novels is supposedly to reach the overwhelming numbers of women who purchase Christian novels within a certain age group and are said to be the mainstay of CBA book buying. The complaint has basically been, “What about the rest of us?” And those who are unwilling to explore the shelves of Christian bookstores—because you cannot find a good selection of Christian novels in either Barnes & Noble or Borders or any other secular bookstore—or don’t have enough title information to search Amazon.com really don’t have any idea what’s available in the current realm of Christian fiction. The majority of novels may still cater to that particular description of female buyer, but it is no longer the overwhelming majority. Nowadays you can find the well-stocked Amish/prairie romance books, but you can just as easily find supernatural horror, although not in abundance.

The point of this post is to note the differences between writers without contrasting those differences in an unfavorable manner. It seems unfair to suggest weaknesses in writing styles and objectives just because we favor one over another. I do think it’s fair to point out poor efforts and skills if done in a way which is not unkind. Those of you who’ve read a few of my less than complimentary reviews know it wasn’t easy for me to criticize a fellow writer—especially since they’ve accomplished publication without doing it themselves. I’m well aware of the negative stigma attached to self-publication.

There are so many different styles of writing and an ever increasing number of genres which overlap and intertwine. Some novels are strictly for a reader’s enjoyment or entertainment. Others force the reader into the depths and then rescue him at the end while still others leave the reader hanging or in a funk at the end of the final page. It’s up to the writer how they choose to tell the story. If we as readers don’t like a book, nobody can change that for us. But for as many novels as I’ve disliked, there have been those who raved about them. Go figure.

We keep reading. And we keep writing, hoping for a favorable audience, someone or someones who “get” us. It’s what we do. In the process I think we have to be careful what we say about others along the same path—those who are way ahead of us and those coming up behind us.

Father, help us to give of the grace we receive from you. Help us to be encouragers, but help us to be fair and honest and kind. We need you in all we do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.