tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post2948676828092876782..comments2024-02-17T17:59:25.010+10:00Comments on Christian Writers Downunder: What is Christian Fiction?Jeanette O'Haganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057798704247611224noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-59883697274115067982013-11-04T21:55:27.116+10:002013-11-04T21:55:27.116+10:00Thanks Dale. I agree - that is what we find in the...Thanks Dale. I agree - that is what we find in the Bible - real people, real problems and a real God.Jeanette O'Haganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11057798704247611224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-65519491989223637202013-11-04T21:53:56.764+10:002013-11-04T21:53:56.764+10:00Thanks Lesley. Ken's story is such a powerful ...Thanks Lesley. Ken's story is such a powerful story and it's wonderful that it has reached the hearts and lives of many. Thanks for sharing it.Jeanette O'Haganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11057798704247611224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-55528856295379166512013-11-04T12:33:31.916+10:002013-11-04T12:33:31.916+10:00Thanks for that response Jenny. Don't worry it...Thanks for that response Jenny. Don't worry it being lost in cyberspace - perhaps it will be uncovered in the new heavens and the new earth one day! :) Will look forward to hearing about your grandfather sometime. Anushahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17508779195790570276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-91207358067854063222013-11-02T09:59:52.848+10:002013-11-02T09:59:52.848+10:00Great post Jenny. Loved it. I believe we have Chri...Great post Jenny. Loved it. I believe we have Christians who write rather than use the term Christian fiction. As writers if we want to reach those outside the church we need to be able to write believable characters struggling with problems and coming through with God's help. Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14217918666756258037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-53611634687441739792013-11-02T09:54:57.539+10:002013-11-02T09:54:57.539+10:00Amen to that Nola.Amen to that Nola.Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14217918666756258037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-59231809390471889552013-11-01T14:07:48.648+10:002013-11-01T14:07:48.648+10:00Thanks Jenny for a really thoughtful post. I, lik...Thanks Jenny for a really thoughtful post. I, like Anusha, write predominantly non-fiction (biographical) however, have been recently stretched to include a fantasy story in snippets at the beginning of each chapter of my current non-fiction WIP. Never done anything like this in the past so it was a real challenge but I found it to be both fun and frustrating. <br /><br />My first book was written for the trade market and contained an element of forgiveness. We certainly didn't hide the fact that Ken forgave his daughter's killer but we didn't focus too heavily on that aspect of the story either as in the Christian meaning of forgiveness, why we should forgive in all circumstances etc. <br /><br />Nevertheless, we have been continually wowed by comments about forgiving in such an extreme circumstance by people who don't necessarily have any 'religious' affiliation. A couple of years later we released a book covering the same story but including much more about the issue of forgiving in all circumstances not just the extreme ones. Again we were wowed by the feedback we got.<br /><br />My point is that as Christian writers we should write what we believe to be what God would have us convey to our target audience. We have the opportunity to be both salt and light through the gift of words and I do believe that as Christian writers we must write the truth about the hope we have.<br /><br />Really enjoyed your post and the responses from all of the above writers. Well done.<br />Lesley Turnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03813827759486341613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-23764739740971781712013-11-01T13:06:48.045+10:002013-11-01T13:06:48.045+10:00Thanks Anusha
BTW I wrote a response to your blog...Thanks Anusha<br /><br />BTW I wrote a response to your blog yesterday, just before dashing out to pick up the kids from school - and at the last minute clicked sign-out (google account) rather than publish. Needless to say, all my good words were lost in the ether. I'll have to tell you about my grandfather another time ;) I enjoyed your post, as always.Jeanette O'Haganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11057798704247611224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-3109718112403914512013-11-01T12:40:53.592+10:002013-11-01T12:40:53.592+10:00Great post Jenny. I am not a fiction writer primar...Great post Jenny. I am not a fiction writer primarily. But I fully agree with you that each of us needs to stay true to our calling - no matter what we write. That we should encourage each other. That we should let God be known through whatever means we use - whether implicitly or explicity. Thank you for your words of wisdom. Well said.Anusha Atukoralahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00859837228901127984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-14052832604516747362013-11-01T10:42:37.340+10:002013-11-01T10:42:37.340+10:00Hi Jenny
You make some great points. Generalisatio...Hi Jenny<br />You make some great points. Generalisations are often flawed. Thanks for your comments. Jeanette O'Haganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11057798704247611224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-7460666784659992892013-11-01T10:11:31.073+10:002013-11-01T10:11:31.073+10:00Hi Ian
I agree - good Christian fiction can have a...Hi Ian<br />I agree - good Christian fiction can have a huge impact on our Christian development. I made a similar point in my earlier post The World of Books http://christianwritersdownunder.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/the-world-of-books.html . Sometimes the influence is subtle - sometimes it was more dramatic. For example, as a 11 year old, reading Patricia St John's The Tanglewoods Secret helped me to more fully understand the concept of living by faith that transformed my walk with God.<br /><br />I like your thought "It's like any vocation, if we're in the office it's generally not a great idea to stand up on the soap box and preach, however, it's in how we love our fellow employees and such that has the strongest impact." Those opportunities to speak about our faith may arise but it is not just what we say but how we live that counts - and of course, the Spirit of God at work in the minds and hearts of people. <br /><br />Jeanette O'Haganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11057798704247611224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-33445619501441424052013-11-01T10:01:39.066+10:002013-11-01T10:01:39.066+10:00Hi Iola
I knew I had read an article by you on thi...Hi Iola<br />I knew I had read an article by you on this area and went searching for it to reference - so thanks for providing the link. I like Ann Tatlock's comment. Jeanette O'Haganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11057798704247611224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-41527772383866773532013-11-01T09:59:08.789+10:002013-11-01T09:59:08.789+10:00Thanks Jo-Anne. Thanks Jo-Anne. Jeanette O'Haganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11057798704247611224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-55180697958880538322013-11-01T09:56:42.333+10:002013-11-01T09:56:42.333+10:00Thanks Nola. I've got "The Light Between ...Thanks Nola. I've got "The Light Between Oceans" on my to-read list as well as Jodi Picoult's "My Sister's Keeper". I agree with you that fiction written for Christians has an important place. I've read, enjoyed and benefited from such works. I also like your statement "If we can write good fiction from a Christian worldview that is not preachy, we may have a greater chance of reaching those who wouldn't step inside a Christian bookstore." There is a difference between adapting our presentation of the message so that it connects with those with little or no contact with the church and altering (or downplaying) the core. Both Paul and Jesus are our models. Paul who "became a Gentile to win the Gentiles to win some" and Jesus who put aside the prerogatives of his divinity and became human - to win a world.Jeanette O'Haganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11057798704247611224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-86798484118476057842013-11-01T09:48:16.978+10:002013-11-01T09:48:16.978+10:00Thoughtful post, Jeanette.This is always an intrig...Thoughtful post, Jeanette.This is always an intriguing discussion.<br /><br />One of the things I find is often left out of the discussion is reading Christian fiction helps in our disciplining process. I wrote Angelguard with the typical (?) Christian in mind. I believe spiritual warfare and prayer's power can be understated so I wanted to encourage believers to better understand both ideas.<br /><br />We've got to write the stories we're called to write. If we're called to write the next Les Miz or Lord of the Rings then great. It's like any vocation, if we're in the office it's generally not a great idea to stand up on the soap box and preach, however, it's in how we love our fellow employees and such that has the strongest impact.<br /><br />As an author we have lots of opportunities to love others who may not be believers and demonstrate the light & saltiness in us.Ian Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00192687613923596829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-66311028067677915112013-11-01T08:04:22.874+10:002013-11-01T08:04:22.874+10:00I really loved it Jo. What seems so black and whi...I really loved it Jo. What seems so black and white at the beginning of the book becomes greyer as you go on. Well worth the read.Nola Passmorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08425394685430146759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-12746256341892987032013-11-01T07:56:56.027+10:002013-11-01T07:56:56.027+10:00“Anything a Christian writes must reflect the trut...“Anything a Christian writes must reflect the truth of God’s account. If as a Christian we don’t write from a biblical worldview, we’re not portraying reality as it is.” Ann Tatlock<br /><br />I agree with Ann Tatlock - as a Christian, we can only write based on truth as we understand it. That may be for the Christian market, or for the general market (and it's probably saying something about both that I misread 'saintly characters' as 'sanctified characters', perhaps reflecting how out of touch with reality characters in some Christian novels are).<br /><br />I've also explored this idea in a couple of articles on my website: http://christianediting.co.nz/how-to-write-a-christian-novel-defining-your-genre-4/Iolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17199141868703826943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-8436160827192700232013-11-01T07:31:01.629+10:002013-11-01T07:31:01.629+10:00Thanks, Jeanette, for a very thoughtful blog on th...Thanks, Jeanette, for a very thoughtful blog on this topic. I've always said I'd love to be called a Christian writer of fiction rather than a writer of Christian fiction, because of the difficulty of defining exactly what 'Christian fiction' is. As you say, it's all about knowing what God has called you to write, then writing it! And Nola, now you've whetted my appetite to read that book by Steadman!Jo-Anne Berthelsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09775045057529728396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-11867312333241859342013-11-01T07:01:51.729+10:002013-11-01T07:01:51.729+10:00That was a great post Jeanette. We certainly need...That was a great post Jeanette. We certainly need to be salt and light through our writing, though as you say, "what it means to be a Christian writer is different for different people". I think there's a place for the more sanitised fiction, but I also don't like reading books where the Christian characters are too perfect and don't have struggles. I've read a few where the hero or heroine were too good to be true. One of the best books I've read this year was "The Light Between Oceans" by M. L. Steadman. It was published in the mainstream market and became a bestseller. As the characters worked through a complicated moral dilemma, it really got me thinking about right and wrong and the grey area in between. There were brief mentions of God and prayer, but the dilemma in the book really got me thinking about where I stood spiritually on the issue. I read lots of Christian books that are mainly marketed at Christians and I've enjoyed them. They certainly have their place and have been a blessing to many people. But I'd also love to see more Christians doing the kind of book that Steadman has done. The popularity of Jodi Picoult's books also shows that mainstream readers are hungry for books that deal with moral dilemmas. If we can write good fiction from a Christian worldview that is not preachy, we may have a greater chance of reaching those who wouldn't step inside a Christian bookstore.Nola Passmorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08425394685430146759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2208627029605402728.post-55631036723464576372013-11-01T05:37:29.379+10:002013-11-01T05:37:29.379+10:00This comment has been removed by the author.Ausjennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07644698706787568679noreply@blogger.com