Monday, February 24, 2014

What is Christian Fiction—Is it Alive and Well? Part Two

by Elva Cobb Martin

Can We Define Christian Fiction–in more ways than one?

Novelist and sought after conference leader Ron Benrey in his Complete Idiot’s Guide for Writing ChristianFiction lists a spiritual content spectrum for Christian fiction.

At the high end: The Conversion Scene—you tell a story that shows conversion.
The Middle Ground: Show Jesus at Work—in the lives of your characters or theme.
At the very Least: You show progress in a lead character’s Christian walk.
     
A few years ago literary agent Karen Ball did a three-part blog and survey on “What Makes a Christian Book Christian?” She posted the results as follows:
  • Written from a Christian worldview.
  • Story offers hope.
  • Core of the story shows importance of faith in Christ.

Worldview is often defined as the core values that determine a person’s outlook on life and, for a writer, how and what they write.

Christy award-winning author and mentor, Rosey Dow, in her novel-writing course, says worldview can be determined by the answers to three brief questions:
  1. How did we get here and who are we?
  2. What went wrong?
  3. What can fix it?

The short answers from a Christian world view would be:
  1. God created the world and made us in His image.
  2. Adam and Eve sinned and brought condemnation upon all mankind.
  3. Sin must be punished but God loved mankind so much He sent Jesus Christ as our substitute to take our punishment so we could be forgiven.

The World’s Other Views
I think it's significant as a writer to understand the basic non-Christian worldviews that some of our characters/villains may need to exemplify.

I’ve ran across a text in Proverbs (1:22) where worldviews other than God’s POV are described as three types of non-Christians. We see these worldviews played out in multiplied popular novels, movies, and television programs, as well as life in general and in politics.

“How long will you who are SIMPLE love your simple ways? and SCORNERS delight in their scorning, and FOOLS hate knowledge?”

A) The simple naively think they can live any way they want without negative            consequences.

B) The scorners are the defiant and cynical freethinkers who see no place for God in their philosophies of life.

C) Fools is a term the Bible uses for those who reject the idea that there is a divine being and that such a being, if he does exist, has any interest in the affairs of humankind.

In many powerful stories we see a contrast of characters who have a Christian/loving worldview with characters who embody, overcome, or suffer defeat with a secular/selfish worldview. Scarlet O’Hara and Melanie in Gone with the Wind come to mind. The contrast is what makes the story and the characters unforgettable.

How would you define Christian fiction? How important is worldview? What stories, books, movies, television programs come to your mind that exemplify various worldviews? We look forward to your comments.


Next Time Part 3: How Alive or Well Is Christian Fiction?
If you missed Part One, Is it Alive and Well, Click Here.

Elva Cobb Martin is president of the South Carolina Chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is a former school teacher and a graduate of Anderson University and Erskine College. Decision, Charisma, and Home Life have published her articles. She is currently polishing her second novel, an historical inspirational romance. A mother finally promoted to grandmother, Elva and her husband Dwayne, and a mini-dachshund Lucy reside in Anderson, South Carolina. Connect with her on her web site www.elvamartin.com, her blog at  http://carolinaromancewithelvamartin.blogspot.com on Twitter @Elvacobbmartin and on Facebook.

Monday, February 17, 2014

What is Christian Fiction—Is it Alive & Well? Part One

by Elva Cobb Martin

As a writer or reader of Christian fiction, what do you look for in a book from a Christian publisher or Christian author?
What do you hope to see?
What do you definitely NOT want to see?
What is Christian fiction?

This month Colleen Coble, award-winning author and CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers and her friends at Harper Collins sent out a fiction survey asking similar questions.

Publishers, editors, agents, and writers are asking these questions anew today as the Christian fiction traditional publishing industry struggles to prosper or even, in some cases, to survive.

As a writer, I'm sure you’ve heard “Every CBA agency and publishing house has a slightly different idea of what’s okay and what’s not, so study their guidelines.” Does this prove a problem for you even after you research guidelines? If so, you're among quite a few for whom it does.

Do you have a bucket list of things you would like to do in Christian fiction you write or what you would like to see in Christian fiction you read? What about a list of what you do not want to write or read?” We’d love for you to share your comments as we continue with this series. 

Part 2:  Can We Define Christian Fiction—in more ways than one?  

Part 3:  How Alive or Well is Christian Fiction?

Elva Cobb Martin is president of the South Carolina Chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is a former school teacher and a graduate of Anderson University and Erskine College. Decision, Charisma, and Home Life have published her articles. She is currently polishing her second novel, an historical inspirational romance. A mother finally promoted to grandmother, Elva and her husband Dwayne, and a mini-dachshund Lucy reside in Anderson, South Carolina. Connect with her on her web site www.elvamartin.com, her blog at  http://carolinaromancewithelvamartin.blogspot.com on Twitter @Elvacobbmartin and on Facebook.