Into the Fire

Sometimes we who are blessed to have our sight call those places we can't see "blind spots". When driving, our mirrors capture most images and the new technology in some vehicles sees for us, but anyone who's driven "older" cars knows all about the "blind spot".

Many of us who write have blind spots with our writing. We don't understand how or why a reader can't "see" what we're saying – or what we're trying to say. It's clear to us, it rings true for us, but for someone else, it's foggy. They don't get it.

So what does that mean? It means innumerable things. One of those less-often-considered things is it's not the author's fault. Some readers shouldn't read some novels. They aren't the target audience, and chances are they won't appreciate the subject (plot), the reactions of the characters, the dialogue, and/or the conflict and solutions. There's much to be said for reaching a target audience with a book.

For example, many unbelievers can be the harshest and worst critics of Christian fiction. They don't understand it, and they don't want to. They want to criticize the premise of Christianity and therefore all things relating to the specific spiritual aspects in the story come under assault. They detest when characters default to spiritual principles and seek God for help. The irony comes when Christian authors direct their writing to reach the lost. It's a noble endeavor, but only if it's Spirit-led will it succeed because some readers' hearts just don't want any part of a Christian's view of and relationship with "a God".

Understanding the motive(s) for writing a story, the desire to effectively communicate whatever that story entails, and the polish to pull it off lies with the author, but if a non-target reader gets a hold of the book and doesn't get it: so be it. If the author has done his job, he can be satisfied with the negative impact on someone outside his target range by realizing his expectation to reach that kind of reader wasn't his intention.

Lord, your writers want to reach the world with their stories, but it's not always the reason you have us write fiction. We need to follow your instructions, whatever they are and wherever they lead. Please help us to do just that. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.