Into the Fire

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Bummed.

 

                   ThCALNUIJD

Recently a very good writer remarked that certain words had to be eliminated from a story according to the editor. Why? Because they might offend some readers. No big deal this writer said. Not a critical decision. Problem solved.

Were those literary instances worth fighting for? Apparently not in this particular case. Not the battle to stand up and fight for. Not the hill to die on. Because let's just say death to those words in that little situation was next to certain.

So why did the author include them in the first place? To sneak them in there? You know, just to see if the writer could get one by the editor? No. Not at all. The depiction and the conversation in the scene seemed accurate, revealing. Was the author trying to be crude or vulgar, daring to challenge the norm in Christian fiction? No. Not even close to possessing underlying motives.

Marisa-lerin-free-spirit-word-art-asset-words-commercial-use

Offending readers. Not offending readers. Is that the objective behind writing stories in the Christian ficiton arena?

Bummer.

 

Father, sometimes I just don't know what to say other than I'm desperate for you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

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4 responses to “Bummed.”

  1. Tim George Avatar
    Tim George

    You probably know how I feel about this subject so I don’t think I need to qualify the following observation. Anyone who has worked with an editor knows, some words will go no matter what.
    Our mutual friend Athol Dickson made this comment to me in an email some time ago:
    you have to have a professional’s ability to take editorial direction properly, making significant changes where warranted, but remaining in charge as the man whose name will be on the cover by not changing the aspects you believe in. .

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  2. Nicole Avatar
    Nicole

    I appreciate Athol’s perspective. Wise man.
    Feel free to give your opinion here for others who might not know it, Tim.
    However, and you know how I feel, obviously, Tim, should the impetus for publishing a particular work be “offense” when we’re not talking f-bombs and 50 Shades of Grey material?

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  3. Jessica Thomas Avatar
    Jessica Thomas

    A good rule for me is, if I hear it three times from three different people, it should probably go. If I questioned an editors decisions, I’d have to solicit a few other opinions. By default, I tend to trust my own judgement regarding word choice and other stylistic choices, but I have found that my judgement is sometimes poor.
    If I sensed the editor didn’t really know what he/she was doing (which is a distinct possibility also) or was following some arbitrary “moral” code, then…that would complicate matters. In those cases, I’m sure I would get mad and go on a mini verbal rampage to whomever I could find to listen.
    More and more I’m thinking if I want to write Christian-based fiction, I’ll have to find a small publisher. I’m too stubborn and impatient for big bureaucracy.

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  4. Nicole Avatar
    Nicole

    Welcome to my world, Jess.

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