Christian fiction

[moredetails.livejournal.com]

Hi, community.

Someone just joined this community which made me feel that I should contribute to making it a bit more active.

So here's something....I often hear Christians (me included) complaining about Christian fiction. I know what my own complaints are - often it's cheesy, portraying Christianity in a shallow way, and it seems there is a required ministry message that is almost always poorly written. Still, I read it. I like knowing the character is probably going to approach things from a Christian perspective.

I guess what I'm wondering is what would be the "right" way to write Christian fiction for those of you who don't like it? I often wonder how I would incorporate faith if I wrote a book. Sure, I can write a character who isn't Christian at all, but as a Christian it would be tempting to write from a perspective that I know and live. But how do I do that in a way that doesn't just seem silly? How does one write that in a way that can be appreciated by Christians and nonChristians alike? Does it always have to be allegory?

I suppose I'm also wondering if you have read any Christian fiction that you think was well done. If so, why do you say that?

Comments

[eattheolives.livejournal.com]

Since I'm one of those critics of Christian literature, I guess I should speak up. :) The problem that I have with most of it is that it's simply not very well written. It makes me ashamed because, as Christians, we should be producing higher quality work than the world. I think a lot of badly-written books get published just because they are "Christian" than because of any particular artistic merit. And like the book "Inklings" that I read a few months back - almost all the positive reviews I read of it didn't talk about the characterization or plot or writing (which were all frankly TERRIBLE), but instead raved about how great it was to read a book where the main characters were dedicated to remaining pure until marriage. Well, that's great. But should that alone excuse the fact that it was horrible writing? Why should we settle for the books of such low quality?

*cough* Okay, my rant is over. :)

But I do have some Christian fiction that I think is better quality than most. Jan Karon is good - she's very good at working her main character's faith into the books in a totally natural, non-preachy way. And both Bodie Thoene and BJ Hoff have written very well researched historical books, although I haven't read them since I was a teenager, so I wonder what I would think of the writing if I were to go back and read them again now. :) But I remember them as being very good. C.S. Lewis is, of course, amazing in both skill and content. George MacDonald is quite good for classic Christian literature, although he greatly benefits from Michael Phillip's editing. I know there are others, but right now my mind is going blank!

[augustine.livejournal.com]

I know there are others, but right now my mind is going blank!

G.K. Chesterton. :-)

[moredetails.livejournal.com]

Oh thanks, I was hoping you'd respond!

To your first paragraph: well said.

Although there's a lot of bad writing that is nonChristian, too, so apparently there's always going to be a publisher for almost any quality of writing. :P

I have only read part of one Jan Karon book and didn't like it. Not that the writing was bad or anything, I just have my reasons. :) But you're right that it didn't seem preachy from what I read.

Thanks for responding!