Into the Fire

Christian fiction gets a lot of negative attention sometimes. Some of it comes from those who assume it’s “religious” and want nothing to do with it. Other criticisms come from those who’ve repeatedly been disappointed by the selections they’ve chosen to sample. Some comes from those who can’t find a satisfying read in their particular genre of choice. Many complaints are what I’d consider to be invalid, but many likewise are warranted.

The thoughtful complaints usually come from writers because writers can be the worst critics of their peers when they search for books which in their opinion “deserve” to be published. Without singling out individual authors, and it’s usually those of us who remain unpublished, we suggest there is some not-so-great writing out there in the world of published novels. And, hey, it’s true. But the only reason it matters is because it shows us that some of the limp mantras about only the great writing and dynamite stories making it into publication don’t quite ring true all of the time.

So. About setting a standard. I really have a hard time believing Christian writers who desire publication don’t work very hard to make their prose fit a standard—one they consider to be a high standard. Granted, that high standard wobbles unsteadily because what’s high for one writer doesn’t even meet mid-level for another. This is where judging another’s published product gets a little risky.

It’s far safer to judge the requirements placed on writers by publishers. Some uninformed writers have made assumptions that all publishers require a gospel moment, a salvation scene, no reference to alcohol, dope, cigarettes, being in bed with someone, adultery, etc. While these requirements are true for a select few imprints, they don’t exist for the bulk of Christian publishers. In fact sin is indeed rampant in Christian fiction and rightfully so. There are also many novels published by CBA publishers with little or no mention of God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, church, and/or prayer. Although rarely labeled as such, there is now Christian horror to go along with all the variants of speculative fiction which literally had—and still has—to be force-fed to some publishers and why Jeff Gerke broke away from the industry mold/standard to create Marcher Lord Press for speculative fiction authors.

My personal standard complaints about some Christian fiction are the writing “requirements” and commentary on the “rules” by some professionals. Staunch adherents to rules which produce formulaic fiction—and, believe me, I’ve read my share of it—do nothing to raise my confidence level for creating a higher and ever-creative standard in the industry. This philosophy translates to “there’s only one way to write well”, one way to create. The beauty of writing is in the multitude of ways people create stories and the language they use to tell them.

Although sometimes it’s not, the knowledge of grammar should be a given before anyone attempts to write seriously. So from the aspect of being on the receiving end of some truly inferior attempts at writing, I understand the emphasis on the rules of writing. However, sometimes the way this standard for writing is expressed makes it sound like if you “obey” these rules, a publishing contract awaits your manuscript. Not true. There simply isn’t a formula for perfection in writing because subjectivity is exercised over a uniform passionless attempt at storytelling.

Standards. Who sets them? And why? It is the concern of many writers that Christians should set a high or high-er standard in their writing if for no other reason than the fact they represent the King of Kings. Striving for excellence should be the daily goal, the basis for all efforts, the impetus to create literature worthy of Him who gives the talent. As I mentioned before, I really do think believers aim for this lofty goal, as well they should, but according to their peers, sometimes they fall far short. So, who is the judge of this? Of course if we write in obedience to God, working hard to make our art pleasing to Him, we will recognize that pleasing humans can be far more difficult, arguable, controversial, and often not achieved.  

Father, I pray for the anointing on the writing you give me to do. You’re all that matters and all I’m livin’ for . . . In the Name of Jesus, Amen.