Into the Fire

So many opinions about the CBA. So much rhetoric. I understand the fatigue factor generated by the posts I’ve asked you to read. The practical advice of just write what the Lord has given you and pursue the path He ordained for you sounds obvious and doable. However, when the obstacles to The Plan seem insurmountable and man-made, some tend to fight back to tear down the ill-placed and meaningless roadblocks and expose them for what they are. Personalities vary, and some writers can’t understand the choices made by others. Christian writers understand the sovereignty of God, but some in the writing community question the roles of others in their approaches and responses to “the problems” in the Christian publishing industry.

And therein we might find one significant problematic issue: the cookie-cutter, acceptable, staid, Christian-ese response to difficulties in the industry. When trouble surfaces, some go right to prayer, others stand back and observe, some react with questions, others ignore and/or accept, some persevere in silence, others challenge the “norm”. When someone responds outside our comfort zone, some of us tend to overreact and criticize the approach instead of taking a genuine look at the issue.

On Tuesday, not Monday as I previously said, I will answer the question I posed to many people in the industry of Christian publishing. On Wednesday I will begin posting the various answers I received from authors, editors, and I’m hoping to hear from some agents. Many of those responding asked to remain anonymous. These are not pre-published writers or people on the fringe of the industry. These are insiders. Some of the responses are so detailed and fervent they will receive their own posts. I’m not sure yet how many days it will take for all their comments to be posted because I’m still receiving more of them.

All this to say, most problems do produce a wearying affect especially when the problem is not new and has been rehashed or batted about for virtually years with slow adaptations if any made to what’s being addressed. Some grow numb to the problems and meld into acceptance mode. Invariably new people take up the mantle and demand—or more likely suggest—change. And so around and around the talk goes again. The fact that a problem won’t “die” intimates perhaps change is necessary. The concrete, resolute kind. Maybe just in one area, maybe a full-fledged revamping needs to take place. Fresh vision? A new outlook?  

Monday we’ll take a brief break from this topic for my review of The Bishop, fourth in the Patrick Bowers Series by Steven James. Interesting and timely novel to precede this discussion.

Lord, give us grace to persevere, to follow you, to do as you ask. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.  

(I apologize if the various links to other sites aren’t working. I’ve done everything I can do and have notified Typepad for help.)