Into the Fire

Okay. What does it say about me when I give you reviews about the secular novels I've read? I know for a fact some would be disgusted by my reading these general market novels because I always try to include the profanity warnings and in a couple of them there were some graphic sex scenes which also thoroughly disgust me as both a reader and an author. The other question is why am I choosing to read these particular books when I can assume I will be seeing the profanity and possible sexual descriptions? 

You deserve answers to these important questions, so I'm going to attempt to do just that. 

First of all, let's deal with the graphic sexual scenes. I don't read them. And several times I've quit reading the story on the spot, regretful for having started the book. The graphics are non-essential to the storyline, and I cannot and will not understand their inclusion. Any writer can figure their way around the graphics and still get the point(s) across without them unless the objective is to create written porn. 

Now the profanity. Although I make it a point to never get "comfortable" with the various forms and usages of the "f"-word, it does appear frequently in general market literature. Maybe because it's regularly used in the world, perhaps much more than it ever used to be. Authors use it to present authenticity, to seem "real". Readers see it a lot in general market novels like thrillers, used by the military, criminals, detectives/law enforcement, etc., etc., etc. Again, there are multiple ways to get around spelling it out and repeating it over and over, but apparently that takes too much work and the writer might be afraid of not hitting the "real" meter hard enough without f-words. I don't know. I will admit it gets annoying. 

Here's the deal. One of the best thriller writers in the Christian Fiction market is Robert Liparulo, but he hasn't put one in print for several years. James Scott Bell wrote the "Romeo" series which is a bunch of stories with a lot of action intermittent with amazing storylines. My point? There aren't a lot of true thriller authors in the Christian Fiction market. Just because a novel is labeled a thriller doesn't make it one. The thrillers I read are just that. My favorite hero all-time is Mitch Rapp created by the late Vince Flynn and carried on by Kyle Mills. Then there are John Milton, Jon Reznick, and Scot Harvath created by Mark Dawson, J. B. Turner, and Brad Thor respectively. All use profanity in their writing in varying degrees. It doesn't have to be used as profusely as it often is. 

It's not a shock to my system as it is to some readers. I'm not going to say I'm used to it, but I'm going to say I can somewhat ignore it if the story is proving to be a good one. That's not to say I condone it nor do I even advise reading it. I'm telling you that, although I can set it aside, I prefer that it not be there. 

As a Christian, I am instructed to speak well, think on good and righteous things, and not to judge people but rather to judge sin beginning with my own. That takes up enough time when I focus on my own. 

In my writing I allude to those words of profanity when and if the occasion calls for it. I don't write them. Let the reader infer the language. Most crisis situations/frustrations/circumstances don't usually produce an "Oh rats!" especially if faced by people in the world. Authenticity is necessary for me when I read and when I write. But profanity doesn't have to be written out to be expressed. 

So. Whatever you think of me or my writing or reading . . . I hope you can understand my explanations.  

Father, I count on your Holy Spirit to direct me, and I know He does and will. Do I always heed His direction? No. Stupidly, I do not. But thank you for not giving up on me or those you have yet to reach. Thank you for rescuing me. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.