Into the Fire

To be fair, this is not news to those of you who read or have read my blog. The thing is I believe it's an important statement. If not important, at least it's honest. And, there are variables in making it. Here's the statement: I write what I like and want to read. 

In the seemingly most popular genre of all for female readers of novels, although not for all female readers, the romance genre follows a basic formula. In general market fiction there is often a lot of graphic sexual content and in Christian fiction there is not. Boy meets girl and/or vice versa, there is attraction, there are problems, there is reaction, there is either resolution or tantrums, break-ups, good-byes, steamy make-up scenes in general market or pledges of love in Christian fiction. You get the drift. So, naturally, if the reader likes the characters, they're emotionally involved, pick sides or don't, and silently demand a happy or satisfactory ending to the story. 

As you well know, I claim to write love stories because I don't always follow the romance formula. I also say I "write love stories with a passion." And include my 3-word tagline: Raw Romantic Redemptive. Because passion is a fact of love. Failing to acknowledge it makes "romance" mundane – and by "passion" I don't mean getting between the sheets. I mean being physically attracted to the love interest and having to come to terms with the desires that person induces. "Raw" because my words are not graphic, but they definitely touch on the sexual attraction. 

I write this way because I see it as real. If nothing else, it's the reality I know. It's the truthful way to tell the stories I've written. And that's the reason I write the way I do. And that's the reason I write what I like to read. 

Father, you've given me every character, every story. Apart from you, I can do nothing. Thank you is never enough. Please help me to write as you lead. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.