Regarding Writing to non Christians...

[LamarT]

I am just begininning to write with the intent to publish. My desire is to write fiction with the desire to reach non Christians. The question I have is what genre to pursue. I had thought about the idea of writing toward the fantasy readers... elves, dragons, etc... but wasn't sure. I have read this genre in my earlier days and have written some in it (though never attempted publication). Is there anyone currently with a work in progress, or who has recently been published in this area that can advise me.

I wouldn't mind working together with someone on a piece, just to get some experience and pointers. Of course, with me being married, that would need to be a male... :-)

Thanx in advance for any suggestions...

[Phy]

I am just begininning to write with the intent to publish. My desire is to write fiction with the desire to reach non Christians. The question I have is what genre to pursue. I had thought about the idea of writing toward the fantasy readers... elves, dragons, etc... but wasn't sure.

I highly suggest reading "Elantris" by Brandon Sanderson. It is a one-shot book (not a trilogy, or worse) and is blessedly devoid of elves and dwarves and unicorns. It is an altogether original fantasy and talks about themes of corruption, redemption, and cleansing. Highly recommended.

I wouldn't mind working together with someone on a piece, just to get some experience and pointers. Of course, with me being married, that would need to be a male... :-)

Why? Unless you're looking for somebody to work with in person from your area (and I admit that may be a different thing depending on the details,) the Internet is no respecter of gender.

I work closely with author L. S. King (a Christian woman a couple of years my elder) and director / author Paul Christian Glenn (a Christian man a couple of years my junior) for my 'zine. We are co-creators and each has strengths, weaknesses, and idiosyncratic foibles. We put in long hours of creative back-and forth between two or three of us. Everything we do is online and gender isn't a factor.

Of course, my computer is in my Dining Room, literally in the center of house, and that by design. Anybody can look over my shoulder at any hour of the day or night. They might think me a geek or be bored by what I find interesting, but such is the life of a sci-fi geek / writer / editor.

[DrRita]

Personally I'd like to see some really good writing in contemporary fiction which is not preachy but sensitive to the non-Christian reader. I work with a lot of non-Christians in my screenwriting pursuits and believe me, if it's well written and can present Christianity in a way that appeals to the secular heart and is relatable . . . you will have an audience! Those who don't know the Lord really desire to see a Christianity (or religion) that is practical and real. A lot of Christians turn to fantasy/sci-fi to reach non-believers (which is fine, I'm a fan and a fantasy writer) but some really good contemporary fiction would be a great.

[righter1]

My biggest suggestion for you to be write what you love and what you know. If you're a reader of the genre you write for, I think it'll show through with the care you put your characters and plot together, and will make it more likely for you to sell. (This is coming from one of the unpublished masses, of course.) If your heart's in fantasy, but you think all you can sell is romance, you may have a hard time.

I admire your desire to reach non-Christians--that's my goal, too, to write for the secular market. My characters are mainly Christians, though in order to hook an agent and publisher, I've intentionally kept that part low-key in my WIP. I figure after I get a book deal (if that happens!) I can make it more of a part of my next book. :) I also want to put a different spin on how the secular world sees Christians--we're NOT PERFECT!

On the working together thing, have you considered a critique group? We have public and private here, and I personally belong to one locally that I love. In a non-Christian one, you do have to put up with more 'secular' stuff than here (I don't want to guess how many sex scenes I've had to read and critique!) but the experience is well worth it. Even if you are ribbed for being the only Christian in the group, you learn to get a thicker skin.

Anyway, that's my nickel's worth. And, BTW, welcome to CW! You'll love it here!

[RickBailey]

Write from your heart.

Wow, I have not heard that one before.

But, it is true write from your heart and Write what you are passionate about.

I can not remember the name of the movie, but it was a fantasy about a lion who die for his people and came back to life. This movie had a lot of similarities to Christs walk, Death and resurrection. The person or persons involved in the move seem to know something about Christ. So, keep an open mind and write.

When your heart is in it for Jesus, and it is to bring glory to his name, he will bless you.

[Phy]

Write from your heart.

Wow, I have not heard that one before.

But, it is true write from your heart and Write what you are passionate about.

I can not remember the name of the movie, but it was a fantasy about a lion who die for his people and came back to life. This movie had a lot of similarities to Christs walk, Death and resurrection. The person or persons involved in the move seem to know something about Christ. So, keep an open mind and write.

When your heart is in it for Jesus, and it is to bring glory to his name, he will bless you.

I'd amend that to write what God puts in your heart to be passionate about - a subtle but distinct difference.

And while I (personally) didn't care for the film version, (we've just talked about this elsewhere recently), I believe you're talking about C. S. Lewis' "Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe". The book was amazing. ;)

[Ransom v. Unman]

Personally I'd like to see some really good writing in contemporary fiction which is not preachy but sensitive to the non-Christian reader. I work with a lot of non-Christians in my screenwriting pursuits and believe me, if it's well written and can present Christianity in a way that appeals to the secular heart and is relatable . . . you will have an audience! Those who don't know the Lord really desire to see a Christianity (or religion) that is practical and real. A lot of Christians turn to fantasy/sci-fi to reach non-believers (which is fine, I'm a fan and a fantasy writer) but some really good contemporary fiction would be a great.

I definitely second this advice, but in general also echo that writing what you feel passionate about, and writing what God has given you a talent to write. If you write sci-fi/fantasy well, and you can see an avenue for expressing God's goodness in it, go for it! Pray, write, and sow the seed (i.e. submit to publishers ;))

However, don't just pigeonhole yourself to one kind of story. Like Rita said, there is a great part of the literary population that is both open and unreached. Go where the Lord directs, and write with gusto!

Blessing be on you mate!

[writeaway]

Well, I've written two full-length Christian fantasy novels with amazing themes, characters and subtle christian themes woven through. At the Mt. Hermon's conference, I was dissed across the board. No fantasy. No way.

I am now going to focus all my effort on getting picked up by mainstream publishers, hoping that my future success, and that of many other Christian writers writing fantasy may finally give the loud clear message to the CBA--that fantasy is a huge market and one of the best ways to point people to God without hitting them over the head with a 5-pound Bible. If your main objective is to get published, forget fantasy. If your main objective is to write what God has set afire in your heart, write that. I am still wondering why he is doing that with me, but onto book # 3. I will keep intrepidly moving forward...Susanne

[Phy]

Go, Susanne, go, Susanne!

[jacks girl]

If Fantasy is what you want to write then go with that, but I think you will be more successful if you dive into something that really really interests you. I wouldn't be very good if i, so to say, stuck my finger in the air to see which way the wind was blowing and what i thought was popular right now. i have to write what is in my heart and mind and that is Romance Historical at times.

I think it's okay to dabble out of our chosen genres now and again but I stick with what I know and what i'm best at. I hope this helps.

[Newera]

When you say "Write Fiction to reach non-christians", do you mean sharing the salvation message. If yes, you could write stories/drama woven round our day to day experience and show how God can step in to resolve challenges.

This is practical and would help the reader relate to your story.

In addition, you could pray for inspiration from God on what to write

[wgjones3]

I'd say write what you can and figure out what you write best.

[Phy]

When you say "Write Fiction to reach non-christians", do you mean sharing the salvation message. If yes, you could write stories/drama woven round our day to day experience and show how God can step in to resolve challenges.

This is practical and would help the reader relate to your story.

In addition, you could pray for inspiration from God on what to write

I struggle with this. As the non-believers I know aren't interested in reading what they take to be sales-tracts from Christians, what they /need/ to read and what they /want/ to read are two different things. Therefore, the question becomes, how are we able to be winsome without being (frankly) obnoxious.

I think the answer is in writing from inspiration instead of from agenda. LOTR captured imaginations and yet still didn't come across too strong as a tract written to proselytize. The truth overflowed from the situations, from the plot, from the characters and the story.

I think I'd suggest getting right with God, staying right with God, and allowing His Spirit to overflow into everything we do, even the off-beat things we're interested in. If we keep our eyes on him, the writing will come, and will be authentic, and may surprise you. If we write from agenda (or, indeed, from chasing a particular market), what you get may be very different that what you may be capable of.

[mcmacin]

What a great thread! It's encouraging to hear the opinon that there's a market for salvation messages (subtle) in the secular arena and AMEN to showing that Christians aren't perfect. You've described my WIP without knowing a thing about it and I, for one, thank you all for the encouragement.

[Phy]

What a great thread! It's encouraging to hear the opinon that there's a market for salvation messages (subtle) in the secular arena and AMEN to showing that Christians aren't perfect. You've described my WIP without knowing a thing about it and I, for one, thank you all for the encouragement.

To be clear, I'm not advocating including the 'salvation message' in any form in writing to the secular audience. I advocate accurately representing God, responsibly relating truth, and otherwise showing moral consequence and reward for decisions and actions.

I don't think we need the 'salvation' sales pitch. I think we're better off letting people draw their own conclusions and letting the Holy Spirit draw them to God through Christ. Charles Spurgeon didn't believe in the altar call (trusting the power of a Godly message and the prompting of the Spirit to bring the lost forward). I don't think we need them either in straight secular fiction. Tolkien concentrated on characters and his story and the allegory spilled out as part of the 'overflowing cup' thing (which is why, I think, more people don't run screaming from the 'message' in LOTR - it has no overt agenda; the fact that Christians recognize all these scriptural truths speaks more to his genuine love for God than his clever sales mastery).

In other words, the more overt the salvation message, the less likely we are to catch the fish. The more organic the writing, the more likely that God can use some element there to get past 'religion' barriers and resonate in a reader's heart and mind.

As always, I'd suggest praying about all this and follows God's lead in this regard. What works for me (and where my own personal mission is) may be quite different for everyone else.

[righter1]

To be clear, I'm not advocating including the 'salvation message' in any form in writing to the secular audience. I advocate accurately representing God, responsibly relating truth, and otherwise showing moral consequence and reward for decisions and actions...


I think you've summed this up well, Phy. I, at least, can say a hearty "Amen" to everything you said, and I'd imagine those of us who are writing for the secular marketplace will agree!