Comments on: Write in a Genre or not? http://rightwriting.wordpress.com/2006/07/26/write-in-a-genre-or-not/ The Place for How-To-Write Insight Sat, 07 Jul 2007 13:51:00 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: C.J. Darlington http://rightwriting.wordpress.com/2006/07/26/write-in-a-genre-or-not/#comment-1055 C.J. Darlington Fri, 28 Jul 2006 16:35:00 +0000 http://rightwriting.wordpress.com/2006/07/26/write-in-a-genre-or-not/#comment-1055 I answered my own question. Realms is going to continue. Sorry to have hinted otherwise without facts. I answered my own question. Realms is going to continue. Sorry to have hinted otherwise without facts.

]]> By: C.J. Darlington http://rightwriting.wordpress.com/2006/07/26/write-in-a-genre-or-not/#comment-1054 C.J. Darlington Fri, 28 Jul 2006 14:12:00 +0000 http://rightwriting.wordpress.com/2006/07/26/write-in-a-genre-or-not/#comment-1054 I'd highly recommend The Personifid Project by R.E. Bartlett to anyone looking for sci-fi in the CBA. It's published by Realms, but I think Realms might've shut its doors recently? I’d highly recommend The Personifid Project by R.E. Bartlett to anyone looking for sci-fi in the CBA. It’s published by Realms, but I think Realms might’ve shut its doors recently?

]]> By: michelleu http://rightwriting.wordpress.com/2006/07/26/write-in-a-genre-or-not/#comment-1052 michelleu Thu, 27 Jul 2006 14:02:00 +0000 http://rightwriting.wordpress.com/2006/07/26/write-in-a-genre-or-not/#comment-1052 I'd like to add another comment, however, on why it may be important for the industry to figure this out and soon. <br/><br/>The kids who do read are being raised on fantasy; some might argue this is part of growing up in a post-modern world which focuses on everything vaguely spiritual and skirts away from declaring anything true. As writers, we need to be paying attention to this trend because these are the adult customers of tomorrow. We need to be honing our writing so we can present truth accurately in a story they are likely to read.<br/><br/>I suspect fantasy makes us nervous because we worship the Creator--who already has put together a unique, amazing world, and called it good. And as Christians trained to read their Bibles as truth, I think we may feel uncomfortable trying to unhinge our brains to grasp something out of the ordinary that is not the Bible. But we believe the miracles happened, don't we? That's a suspension of logical belief. <br/><br/>I've rambled long enough, but this topic comes up a lot in my world. I think they're playing Lord of the Rings music now . . . :-) I’d like to add another comment, however, on why it may be important for the industry to figure this out and soon.

The kids who do read are being raised on fantasy; some might argue this is part of growing up in a post-modern world which focuses on everything vaguely spiritual and skirts away from declaring anything true. As writers, we need to be paying attention to this trend because these are the adult customers of tomorrow. We need to be honing our writing so we can present truth accurately in a story they are likely to read.

I suspect fantasy makes us nervous because we worship the Creator–who already has put together a unique, amazing world, and called it good. And as Christians trained to read their Bibles as truth, I think we may feel uncomfortable trying to unhinge our brains to grasp something out of the ordinary that is not the Bible. But we believe the miracles happened, don’t we? That’s a suspension of logical belief.

I’ve rambled long enough, but this topic comes up a lot in my world. I think they’re playing Lord of the Rings music now . . . :-)

]]> By: michelleu http://rightwriting.wordpress.com/2006/07/26/write-in-a-genre-or-not/#comment-1051 michelleu Thu, 27 Jul 2006 13:49:00 +0000 http://rightwriting.wordpress.com/2006/07/26/write-in-a-genre-or-not/#comment-1051 My nuclear engineer husband is a long time science fiction fan, but claims everything he reads has become fantasy--apparently modern science now has disproved most of the scientific underpinings of the genre(unlikely to be life on other planets, time doesn't work right, power problems--I have a degree in English, I can't follow this).<br/><br/>All of my children have loved fantasy and bookstores recognize this. (Harry Potter is established reading world-wide. We could find hardly anything else in New Zealand several years ago, including excellent NZ children's books I could get in the US library.) <br/><br/>Christian publishers, apparently, haven't figured out how or if they're even interested in the genre. We know it sells, I suspect we just don't know how to package it in a way that gives glory to God and doesn't become pseudo-occultic.<br/><br/>(I've read one of Randy's Landon Snow books and it didn't have any problems publishers rightfully might worry about when publishing fantasy. Good job, Randy.)<br/><br/>Whose fantasy has worked in the CBA/ICRA market? L'Engle, Lewis, Peretti? My kids like Stephen Lawhead, but beyond that, I don't know. It seems to me if you're writing fantasy (which in the secular market has lots of sexual overtones), you need to present your proposal in a way that emphasizes the Biblical truth of the story's underpinings with fantasy aspects only in the setting. <br/><br/>Wait, I hear Darth Vader's musical march coming down the hall, the children must be waking up . . . My nuclear engineer husband is a long time science fiction fan, but claims everything he reads has become fantasy–apparently modern science now has disproved most of the scientific underpinings of the genre(unlikely to be life on other planets, time doesn’t work right, power problems–I have a degree in English, I can’t follow this).

All of my children have loved fantasy and bookstores recognize this. (Harry Potter is established reading world-wide. We could find hardly anything else in New Zealand several years ago, including excellent NZ children’s books I could get in the US library.)

Christian publishers, apparently, haven’t figured out how or if they’re even interested in the genre. We know it sells, I suspect we just don’t know how to package it in a way that gives glory to God and doesn’t become pseudo-occultic.

(I’ve read one of Randy’s Landon Snow books and it didn’t have any problems publishers rightfully might worry about when publishing fantasy. Good job, Randy.)

Whose fantasy has worked in the CBA/ICRA market? L’Engle, Lewis, Peretti? My kids like Stephen Lawhead, but beyond that, I don’t know. It seems to me if you’re writing fantasy (which in the secular market has lots of sexual overtones), you need to present your proposal in a way that emphasizes the Biblical truth of the story’s underpinings with fantasy aspects only in the setting.

Wait, I hear Darth Vader’s musical march coming down the hall, the children must be waking up . . .

]]> By: Douglas V. Gibbs http://rightwriting.wordpress.com/2006/07/26/write-in-a-genre-or-not/#comment-1050 Douglas V. Gibbs Thu, 27 Jul 2006 00:37:00 +0000 http://rightwriting.wordpress.com/2006/07/26/write-in-a-genre-or-not/#comment-1050 Writing in a genre and sticking to that genre is exactly true - - and though I am a Christian I recognize the limitations in that market as you stated, so I write more mainstream - - but the comment you made that I most agree with is that a writer must not only be a voracious reader, but read what he or she is writing. A SciFi thriller won't come out very well if the writer is reading a romance novel. Of course, for new writers, the thought that comes to mind is simple this, as well: re-write, re-write, re-write. . . Writing in a genre and sticking to that genre is exactly true – - and though I am a Christian I recognize the limitations in that market as you stated, so I write more mainstream – - but the comment you made that I most agree with is that a writer must not only be a voracious reader, but read what he or she is writing. A SciFi thriller won’t come out very well if the writer is reading a romance novel. Of course, for new writers, the thought that comes to mind is simple this, as well: re-write, re-write, re-write. . .

]]> By: Ronald E. Gollner http://rightwriting.wordpress.com/2006/07/26/write-in-a-genre-or-not/#comment-1049 Ronald E. Gollner Wed, 26 Jul 2006 23:04:00 +0000 http://rightwriting.wordpress.com/2006/07/26/write-in-a-genre-or-not/#comment-1049 I used to love writing Science Fiction until I figured out that real life is far more compelling than any fantasy I could ever hope to contrive. I used to love writing Science Fiction until I figured out that real life is far more compelling than any fantasy I could ever hope to contrive.

]]> By: Heather http://rightwriting.wordpress.com/2006/07/26/write-in-a-genre-or-not/#comment-1048 Heather Wed, 26 Jul 2006 19:23:00 +0000 http://rightwriting.wordpress.com/2006/07/26/write-in-a-genre-or-not/#comment-1048 I thought I was completely opposed to sci-fi. A date once told me that he grew up on Star Trek. That nearly closed the deal for me. (Now he's my husband.) But then I remember my ongoing love of Narnia and L'Engle, and I find myself addicted to TV shows such as Lost and Eureka. When I stumbled across the Christian sci-fi space, my first reaction was, "huh?" L'Engle's advice rings, though, that imagination and fantasy are gifts and part of the imago dei. (I'm sure she said something to that affect.) I thought I was completely opposed to sci-fi. A date once told me that he grew up on Star Trek. That nearly closed the deal for me. (Now he’s my husband.) But then I remember my ongoing love of Narnia and L’Engle, and I find myself addicted to TV shows such as Lost and Eureka. When I stumbled across the Christian sci-fi space, my first reaction was, “huh?” L’Engle’s advice rings, though, that imagination and fantasy are gifts and part of the imago dei. (I’m sure she said something to that affect.)

]]> By: Jude http://rightwriting.wordpress.com/2006/07/26/write-in-a-genre-or-not/#comment-1047 Jude Wed, 26 Jul 2006 19:11:00 +0000 http://rightwriting.wordpress.com/2006/07/26/write-in-a-genre-or-not/#comment-1047 A really interesting post. Some useful tips here- thanks A really interesting post. Some useful tips here- thanks

]]> By: R. K. Mortenson http://rightwriting.wordpress.com/2006/07/26/write-in-a-genre-or-not/#comment-1046 R. K. Mortenson Wed, 26 Jul 2006 17:29:00 +0000 http://rightwriting.wordpress.com/2006/07/26/write-in-a-genre-or-not/#comment-1046 This one's right up my alley! (I get Publisher's Weekly but haven't seen this article yet; my issue often arrives late.)<br/><br/>My Landon Snow books are often compared to Harry Potter, as are just about any fantasy series for kids these days. I always steer the comparison toward where it belongs: with Alice in Wonderland and the Chronicles of Narnia, because these were my inspirations for Landon (primarily Alice, incidentally, at least for The Auctor's Riddle, book 1). (I began writing about Landon in 1994, well before anyone had heard of Harry P., other than Ms. Rowling of course.)<br/><br/>Landon Snow books are middle grade fantasy with biblical themes. At first I was somewhat reluctant to point out the biblical theme aspect. I thought such an overt Christian reference might turn people off. What's been delightfully surprising, however, especially at non-CBA stores, is that the great majority of people respond positively when they hear this. A couple days ago you wrote about niches. The explicit Bible references (Landon receives an ancient Bible for his birthday in book 1, and Scripture passages determine the theme for each fantasy adventure that ensues) are what make Landon Snow books stand out. Not only is there no sorcery, but there's an obvious--a literal Bible pre-text--for each tale. As more people hear about the books, the more they're catching on. (Book 3 is due out in October, and it's the best one yet!)<br/><br/>All right. I'll stop. Sorry to take up so much comment space. But the mention of children's fantasy wakes me up in the morning! And (again in) the early afternoon! This one’s right up my alley! (I get Publisher’s Weekly but haven’t seen this article yet; my issue often arrives late.)

My Landon Snow books are often compared to Harry Potter, as are just about any fantasy series for kids these days. I always steer the comparison toward where it belongs: with Alice in Wonderland and the Chronicles of Narnia, because these were my inspirations for Landon (primarily Alice, incidentally, at least for The Auctor’s Riddle, book 1). (I began writing about Landon in 1994, well before anyone had heard of Harry P., other than Ms. Rowling of course.)

Landon Snow books are middle grade fantasy with biblical themes. At first I was somewhat reluctant to point out the biblical theme aspect. I thought such an overt Christian reference might turn people off. What’s been delightfully surprising, however, especially at non-CBA stores, is that the great majority of people respond positively when they hear this. A couple days ago you wrote about niches. The explicit Bible references (Landon receives an ancient Bible for his birthday in book 1, and Scripture passages determine the theme for each fantasy adventure that ensues) are what make Landon Snow books stand out. Not only is there no sorcery, but there’s an obvious–a literal Bible pre-text–for each tale. As more people hear about the books, the more they’re catching on. (Book 3 is due out in October, and it’s the best one yet!)

All right. I’ll stop. Sorry to take up so much comment space. But the mention of children’s fantasy wakes me up in the morning! And (again in) the early afternoon!

]]>