Log in
Register
Search
Search titles only
By:
Search titles only
By:
Forums
New posts
Forum list
Search forums
Leaderboards
Games
Our Blog
Blogs
New entries
New comments
Blog list
Search blogs
Credits
Transactions
Shop
Blessings: ✟0.00
Tickets
Open new ticket
Watched
Donate
Log in
Register
Search
Search titles only
By:
Search titles only
By:
More options
Toggle width
Share this page
Share this page
Share
Reddit
Pinterest
Tumblr
WhatsApp
Email
Share
Link
Menu
Install the app
Install
Forums
Leisure and Society
Hobbies, Interests & Entertainment
The Writers Guild
What Are You Writing?
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Tuur" data-source="post: 77025662" data-attributes="member: 445885"><p>I'm not good enough a writer to do Christian writing. The problem is in presenting the gospel without it becoming "message fiction." Message fiction tends to use straw man arguments and cardboard characters regardless of what that message may be, religious or secular. That's because the message, in the case of Christian writing, the gospel, is the main point the writer is trying to convey to their audience. A skilled writer can incorporate the message into fiction without the straw man arguments and cardboard characters, and convey the idea with a compelling story.</p><p></p><p>I'm not that good a writer. I've written exactly one Christian story (verses stories where characters were Christian). But it had a quasi-fantasy background, which would have set Christian publication's teeth on edge, and the Christian aspect set secular publications' teeth on edge (known through a personal rejection notice). The only way I could pull that one off was to have a conflicted main character who's personal resolution of his internal conflict also conveyed an aspect of the gospel, and that story came from a clear idea from beginning to end.</p><p></p><p>Everything else I've done could be classified as secular. Some have Christian overtones; some don't. Lately the words have stopped. Maybe due to self-censorship; maybe due to just being tired of what increasingly looks to be futile effort. Not everyone who picks up a golf club will play as well as Tiger Woods; not everyone who writes a sentence will write as well as C.S. Lewis or Stephen King.</p><p></p><p>Years ago, I had hoped to be able to earn a little bit writing when I retired. But as retirement looms with no real progress, that doesn't look like it's going to happen. Not even as a mid-lister.</p><p></p><p>Maybe I just don't see the point in it anymore. It all seems like nothing more than wasted effort.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Tuur, post: 77025662, member: 445885"] I'm not good enough a writer to do Christian writing. The problem is in presenting the gospel without it becoming "message fiction." Message fiction tends to use straw man arguments and cardboard characters regardless of what that message may be, religious or secular. That's because the message, in the case of Christian writing, the gospel, is the main point the writer is trying to convey to their audience. A skilled writer can incorporate the message into fiction without the straw man arguments and cardboard characters, and convey the idea with a compelling story. I'm not that good a writer. I've written exactly one Christian story (verses stories where characters were Christian). But it had a quasi-fantasy background, which would have set Christian publication's teeth on edge, and the Christian aspect set secular publications' teeth on edge (known through a personal rejection notice). The only way I could pull that one off was to have a conflicted main character who's personal resolution of his internal conflict also conveyed an aspect of the gospel, and that story came from a clear idea from beginning to end. Everything else I've done could be classified as secular. Some have Christian overtones; some don't. Lately the words have stopped. Maybe due to self-censorship; maybe due to just being tired of what increasingly looks to be futile effort. Not everyone who picks up a golf club will play as well as Tiger Woods; not everyone who writes a sentence will write as well as C.S. Lewis or Stephen King. Years ago, I had hoped to be able to earn a little bit writing when I retired. But as retirement looms with no real progress, that doesn't look like it's going to happen. Not even as a mid-lister. Maybe I just don't see the point in it anymore. It all seems like nothing more than wasted effort. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Leisure and Society
Hobbies, Interests & Entertainment
The Writers Guild
What Are You Writing?
Top
Bottom