I am a devout Christian writer, but I do not write Christian fiction.
Christ isn’t something in my life, He’s everything. This has been central to me for a long time, though I have undergone a kind of spiritual rediscovery lately, seeking to explore God and godliness in a deeper, more meaningful way.
My Bible occupies the same shelf as some really bad@$$ fantasy because where else would it be?
Second only to Christianity and my immediate clan is—you guessed it—books. I take in words like air, each story another breath. Fantasy literature just fits something in me like nothing else (cheesy as it sounds) and I can’t imagine being without it. Whether reading or writing, epic fantasy in particular is almost as much a part of me as my faith.
If you’re looking for it, one can spot Christian themes in Janir and Haddie’s stories. The religious system in the Argetallam Saga is not-so subtly based off Christianity and it’s implied that Janir is fairly devout. Over in Fanged Princess, Haddie plainly wears a cross as her quintessential accessory while it’s hinted her late boyfriend introduced her to the church. Then there’s the briefly mentioned “wall of crosses” in the Falkner house, but it’s still not Christian fiction.
Christian fiction involves far more open discussion, directly addressing God or His incarnation in the story as well as His ways. My books don’t do that. I write about faith in a lightly infused versus readily visible manner. As the title says, fiction written by a Christian, but still not Christian fiction.
My reasons for not writing Christian fiction are at once simple and complicated. For one thing, I don’t want my stories to be stuffed into the subgenre avoided by so many, even by the likes of my cousin who grew up a missionary. While I still incorporate religion as subtext, making it central would offer a whole new set of challenges—getting the teachings of Scripture straight whilst not being heavy handed, for one thing.
In truth, I started writing because it was fun and that’s still why I do it. All the same, before sitting down to work on a story, I pray and ask that what I write will be pleasing in God’s eyes, but most of all that His will be done. I believe it is possible to write godly fiction without it being Christian Fiction and in the end that is what I strive for.
Inkspelled Faery 
Very good post! I feel like it’s sometimes hard to decide how much Christianity to put into a story, and as a Christian writer, it’s hard to decide if you should mention God or only hint at him. Great post, thanks so much for sharing!
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The struggle is real, as they say. I often contemplate the balance between being unashamed of my faith while not coming across as legalistic. Something we all must learn! 🙂
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Absolutely!
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Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
GOOD JUDGMENT ON HER PART. I AM A CHRISTIAN…BUT DO WRITE CHRISTIAN POETRY, NOT EXCLUSIVELY.
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Thank you! I don’t see why Christians should be limited to writing about strictly “Christian things.”
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They aren’t. But as Scripture says, “the time is short” and many in ministry want to do strictly ministry. I can’t love people without attracting them first. I also believe that faith is not limited to church, but obedience to God is lifelong and a whole-life process. Which gets me in trouble with those who don’t want Christianity in the public sphere,,,but allow almost anything else in!
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As an agnostic my only thought is this. If you have religion in your book I’d like to know before I start a book. If I’m reading a fantasy novel and all of the sudden characters start getting religious I get frustrated. I don’t get frustrated because I’m not religious or because I hate religion or anything (I don’t), I just want to make that clear.
The reason I get frustrated is because I feel like I was misled and feel like the author tricked me. Like “Oh you thought you were reading just a normal book, but nu uh it’s really about how Bob is going to become a Christian.:” If a book has Christian themes in it, great! Just let me know before I start the book.
I hope that didn’t come off as rude or anything. 🙂
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Nah, you don’t sound rude. 🙂 I do understand wanting to know what you’re getting into beforehand. Like I said, undertones that you have to look for–that’s how we roll. 😉
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Nice post.
I wrote a trilogy titled “The Chosen One of Allivar.” I provided an author’s note to explain that the first nine chapters of book one were devoted to establishing my mythical universe. I kept many themes similar to old testament stories to connect Judaeo-christian readers, but that is as far as I went. There is no Christ figure in the story, but it is difficult to find those that want to read it, I suppose from a fear it is a religious story. Oh well, the loyal fans I have are waiting on the next two series in my mythology comprising nine stories, followed by the remaining seven stories. When completed it will be nineteen stories in all.
Keep writing what you want to read.
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Exactly! Write what you want to read or what’s the point?
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Such a great post! Makes a very good point.
P.S. That is SUCH A BEAUTIFUL BOOKSHELF
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Thank you and it is, no? ❤ The product of excessive book shop scrounging and fulfilled Christmas wishlists.
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Reblogged this on Read, Write, Laugh, DANCE and commented:
Amen! This perfectly describes my views on why I don’t write ‘Christian Fiction’.
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