Christian writers should concentrate on telling good stories with flawed characters rather than preaching at their audience. In fact, the whole concept of 'Christian Publishing' needs to be redefined to cross over the main stream. After all, what's the use of preaching to choir?
Some books and authors have done this successfully. The Left Behind series by Jenkins and LayHaye. C.S. Lewis Chronicles of Narnia. J.R.R. Tolkien Lord of the Rings. The Love Inspired lines by Harlequin.
Yet, not all of the above is really 'great' writing. Despite its popularity, the Left Behind books have several plot problems, like our heroes being in a bunker in San Diego and all the coastal cities being flooded by the rising oceans, and card board characters. The Love Inspired lines are clean romances, yet most are not very well written and very good writers have a hard time getting their work accepted. Tolkien and Lewis are fun reads and great stories, but their style is archaic and somewhat alien to the modern readers.
So where are the new Christian writers who are very good and being published? Some are with Christian Publishing Houses, yet more and more are moving out into the secular world and getting their work accepted, even with Christian messages and characters.
Why is this happening? A combination of constraints placed on them by the CBA and God moving in ways we've not seen in a long, long while. The days ahead are exciting for Christian authors. Take advantage of the new doors being opened and don't be afraid to submit to a secular publisher.
After all, isn't the idea to reach out to the unsaved?
Some books and authors have done this successfully. The Left Behind series by Jenkins and LayHaye. C.S. Lewis Chronicles of Narnia. J.R.R. Tolkien Lord of the Rings. The Love Inspired lines by Harlequin.
Yet, not all of the above is really 'great' writing. Despite its popularity, the Left Behind books have several plot problems, like our heroes being in a bunker in San Diego and all the coastal cities being flooded by the rising oceans, and card board characters. The Love Inspired lines are clean romances, yet most are not very well written and very good writers have a hard time getting their work accepted. Tolkien and Lewis are fun reads and great stories, but their style is archaic and somewhat alien to the modern readers.
So where are the new Christian writers who are very good and being published? Some are with Christian Publishing Houses, yet more and more are moving out into the secular world and getting their work accepted, even with Christian messages and characters.
Why is this happening? A combination of constraints placed on them by the CBA and God moving in ways we've not seen in a long, long while. The days ahead are exciting for Christian authors. Take advantage of the new doors being opened and don't be afraid to submit to a secular publisher.
After all, isn't the idea to reach out to the unsaved?
No comments:
Post a Comment