Into the Fire

. . . is another person’s normal. Edgy is a term whose definition depends upon who exactly is using it. One learns to decipher what someone might mean in using it attached to describe CBA fiction by knowing who their favorite authors are or what their favorite novels are. It also helps to know within what genre they’re applying the term. Is it about passion, violence, language, or plot elements?

My definition of edgy basically indicates the realistic portrayal of sinful conduct without judgment. In other words this character in the world (without a spiritual knowledge or inclination) lives this way. This struggling Christian fights this (or these) temptation(s). This is how they live, love, battle, whatever.

A lot of the professionals and writers themselves tire of the term because it often is overused in describing literature, or because it can be used as a desired goal: to produce edgy material, to push the envelope as the cliché goes, to stretch the limits of CBA. I’m convinced CBA is not done stretching, but if you’re foolish enough to think it will stretch to include erotica and consistent f-bombs, it might as well exchange its CBA nomenclature for something generic like the ABA. There is a standard in the CBA, and with some publishers it’s very tight, very restricted. But overall that standard is now far more fluid than most people know. You just have to know where—which house—to direct your reading or writing interest.

I don’t mind the term, but I’ve grown a little weary of it. Generally I don’t describe my work as edgy, but if you’re used to reading romance written by Karen Kingsbury who is able to cover “edgy” topics without actually being that way, then chances are you might find some of the “romance” in my novels “edgy”. It isn’t all clean and pretty, and it definitely ain’t fluff, and some of it is front and center “on screen”. No graphics. Just passion. But it’s not all about “romance”. It’s about contrasting the basics of relationship, romance, and sex in the world to that designed and intended by God. I’ve been both places unfortunately. I know what I’m talking about.

So . . . what does edgy mean to you? And do you write with an “edge”?

Father, the objective is to honor you in all we do. That’s the point, the goal, the purpose. Please help me to do just that. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.