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

[chestnutcurls.livejournal.com]

Well, this is my experience as someone who has tried to write regular fiction from a Christian perspective. I took a creative writing class my last semester in college, and the other people in class were always commenting (but not in a mean way) about how "innocent" and young-seeming my characters were. I didn't set out to write a Christian story, I just wrote what seemed normal and natural to me. That's how I'm approaching my NaNo story and any other writing that I do in the future. I think it's possible to write Christian, or at least moral, fiction without beating people over the head with a literary altar call. You can show people going to church and living cleanly without delving into the hows and whys at every turn. I try to let my life be my witness, so there's no reason why I can't write the same way. Then again, I may be wrong. I haven't had enough experience to really know.

[moredetails.livejournal.com]

I think that's a good approach and good information. You're right. I'll use that thinking if I ever would write down some story!

[chestnutcurls.livejournal.com]

DO IT!!!

[moredetails.livejournal.com]

Haha.. it should be my 2009 goal. I've been such a procrastinator!