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Thank you for your input. I agree with using the same God and Holy Spirit; my issue is more how to portay Jesus. I don’t agree with neglecting the death and resurrection, as that is what redeems us.
Now, while my tale isn’t about the death and resurrection, if I want it to have Christianity, at some point the “Jesus figure” would’ve had to come to the world, die, and rise again, even if it’s just part of the world’s history. That part I can’t copy and paste because it deals with the physical world. How do I explain that God came to a fantasy world as a mortal and sacrificed Himself?
Again, that event isn’t the focus, and the story takes place after it. The focus is walking with the Holy Spirit, and the wonder, joy, peace, and strength He brings that nothing else can. But part of that means knowing who you are in Christ–a son or daughter saved by His blood.
I hope I’m making sense here. One thing I have decided on though is that God IS in there, because what world, no matter how fantastic, can be complete without Him?
Oh, that’s cool! Seven years is quite some time. How have you been finding it here?
Don’t worry about Afrikaans; I basically said that I can’t speak it well (and I’ve been here my whole life!). I learned only enough to get through school. My family is mostly English.
@kristianne-hassman Woohoo, another South African! And a writer of fantasy and historical fiction. Awesome! I write mainly fantasy, but I’m often inspired by our world’s history, which I think is just so interesting.
Ek’s ook van Suid Afrika, en my Afrikaans is so sleg soos ‘n pantoffel(?), want ek’s uitlink Engels. Wat van jy?
@naiya-dyani thanks for remembering. Now we can begin taking over the world–uh, I mean, these forums.@phoenix
For what it’s worth, my daily goal is 1,000. With full-time work, other responsibilities, and exercising (which also helps having a clearer mind for creative work, I might add), I have neither the time nor the energy for more. On some days I squeeze in 1,500 or more, but then others I barely do 500. So don’t feel bad about that. Start small, but start consistent, as others have said.
Also, I think of all the advice given here, @the-inkspiller ‘s should be taken the most seriously. When you walk with God in intimacy (NOT trying to be “good enough”, but simply enjoying that gift freely given), things change drastically, even writing. I have experienced this.
Good luck out there. You’ve got this!
@phoenix
This might sound abstract or even cheesy, but it’s what helped me in such a time, so hear me out. For me, the key to overcoming these obstacles is . . . LOVE! (This doesn’t just apply to writing, but I’ll explain it in a writing context.)
When you fan the flames of love for something, and embrace that love, then your focus will shift from yourself (“I don’t feel like it”, “I’m a failure”, “I can’t do this”, etc.) to the thing itself. If you love the act of writing, then focus on that, and apply yourself to having fun with it. If you love the story you want to tell, then dream of it, get lost in it until you can’t help but sit and let it flow from your heart. If your love is for your readers or the message you want to change their lives, then think of them and let your desire to touch their hearts be your strength.
Let your love burn fiercer than your doubts and weaknesses, brighter than fear and self-consciousness. Do this by thinking about what you love, praying over these things, and drawing nearer to He who’s the perfect source of love.
I hope this makes sense, and I hope you find what works for YOU. Best wishes!
That makes sense, yes. Unless it doesn’t and I just think I understand…
Hmm, maybe that “nuh uh” feeling is good, like humility? Either way, you’ll figure it out. Maybe.
Those all sound very cool, but you got me at archery. I love it! Always used to do compound bows, but the bells and whistles make it too easy. This year I moved on to a Hungarian horsebow and have been loving the “instinctive” approach. My dream is to have the horse to go with it. One day. 🙂
Hello there!
I get the “wide and picky taste” thing, though to me that comes in different forms. I love classical/orchestral pieces, but also love the heavier, more symphonic, metal genres (though I am very careful when it comes to lyrics). It may seem like two extremes, but they’re really not that different. Every other type of music tends to be…dull….for me.
Genesis sounds futuristic. A worthy ride, no doubt!
A socially-anxious extrovert? That’s different. But hey, each person has their unique, wonderful personality, so enjoy being you! I’m an introvert, but I care deeply for people and friendships, so I’m making an effort to break out of my shell. It’s scary at first, but it feels good.
I only ever read one romance novel, and it was a bore. I get what you’re saying though; romance itself is dreamy. I also believe romantic love is deeper than many acknowledge; it’s not just a warm, giddy experience, but beautiful and powerful. Those sweet notes and sunset picnics are strong enough to set the heart alight. They are moments where two souls touch and experience the raw wonder of life. Anyway, I’m probably not making much sense, so I’ll just stop.
Hmm, a question. There are so many, but let’s go with this one. What non-writing-related activity, hobby, or outing do you find fun?
@deeprun
And someone’s read the Space Trilogy! I haven’t reached That Hideous Strength yet; I just finished Out of the Silent Planet and started Perelandra. So far, so good.
@naiya-dyani Y E S! Don’t listen to those reviews saying that The Wingfeather Saga is just for children. Kids do love it, but the depth and messages it holds for adults are amazing.
If Tolkien’s Middle Earth works count as Christian, though, then I’d probably go with The Children of Hurin. It’s tragic but so beautiful!
Ted Dekker’s Circle Series is also a powerful fantasy story, with a sprinkle of modern-day thriller.
Or if you like quick reads, Chuck Black’s Knights of Arrethtrae series is entertaining, despite the questionable amount of “telling” instead of “showing.”
@phoenix
When a story leans more towards young adult or teenage characters and themes, fewer older adults will enjoy it. Similarly, complicated and mature characters and themes may bore teenagers.
However, I would say that fiction doesn’t always have an age. There are works that can be equally enjoyed by both young and old readers. Take Lord of the Rings for example; I enjoyed it at 16 and I’ll enjoy it at 60.
Thanks; it helps to get feedback like this. I reached a point where I was utterly stumped, not for lack of ideas, but doubt as to whether they were good ideas.
As for the pagan gods being demons, I actually have something similar in the section I’m on. The “gods” show a religious group that the Dreamer will be their downfall, so they try to stop him. The demons aren’t actually shown, just communicated with, but I guess if they’re already in there, I might as well make them a more powerful opposition.
I haven’t heard of Beloved Country, but I’ll definitely give it a look. I’ve been needing something new to read. 🙂
@deeprun Who needs geography when you can write your own world? And yes, I think I shall do that. Maybe I should take some time first getting a feel for the community as I’ve only just joined.
@daeus-lamb Good idea. I hadn’t noticed the “users online” section!@daeus-lamb Thank you for the detailed reply. It helps a lot.
But I think it’s a shame if we can’t also write books that focus on the greatest of all stories (the gospel) without butchering the very art that comes from the one who wrote the gospel into living history. We ought to be able to handle this.
This is a good point. From a writing perspective, Jesus’ life story is amazing–the perfect hero stands strong and fearless, teaching, leading, working wonders. He faces temptation, rejection, betrayal. Falsely accused, He is put to death. But that’s just the climax, not the end. He overcomes what no man could; He conquers death and sin. He, our Father-King whose breath ignited the stars and birthed our universe, won the victory for us, all for love’s sake. What story can be greater? No writer can do it perfect justice, but the potential is there.
Fantasy fiction is supposed to point to the truth. Like a metaphor, it’s not meant to be taken 1027% literally.
True. Jesus’s parables are an example of this, aren’t they? His stories were sometimes vague or cryptic, but held powerful truths for those willing to look deeper.
We could use more stories like that. I did something kinda similar in my novellette God of Manna.
Ooo, I need to give your novellette a read!
But on the other hand, Taylor is right–you can have a positive impact on your readers even without sharing an explicitly Christian worldview.
True. Even secular fiction can have positive messages; it often has in the past (not so much recently though, from what I’ve read/watched). But what I’ve not seen much of is fantasy that hints at the raw potency of God’s love and wonder. There are stories depicting the Gospel effectively (Chuck Black’s Kingdom Series for example, even though it “tells” rather than “shows” waaay too much), but they end there. They don’t show how a character, once walking with God, sees His beauty in life, despite the mundane or darkness. They don’t show the Spirit’s personal intimacy. Nothing in life is as exciting or fun!
I don’t know, maybe I’m wrong. Maybe there’s a good reason we don’t see such stories.
That was a shotgun-effect post. I just spewed a bunch of ideas everywhere. 😛
Oh, I appreciate your shotgun-spray post! Here, let me respond with one of my own.
May I share a brief overview of what I’ve been writing to give you a better understanding? Please, do be critical of my ideas.
It’s a story about a family living in a village in a northern kingdom (with influences from Germanic and Celtic tribes and Norse religion). Despite their simple lives, the family is happy.
Then an empire invades (think Rome’s Northern Frontier campaigns). The village is raided, but while the villagers are being taken as slaves, aid comes. The mother and father are among those rescued, while their son and daughter are taken to the slave ships.
The two POV’s are the father and son (though I might change it to the daughter’s for more of a different perspective). The father’s story is one of war. With his wife by his side (their strong love is the only romance in the story), he is determined to do whatever it takes to help his people turn the tides. Victory in war, he believes, is his only chance of seeing his children again.
The son’s story is less adventurous, more dramatic. He and his sister are now slaves. They struggle with the hardships of cruelty, including despair and depression. Escape attempts fail.
Now, here’s where God and the fantasy elements come in: both father and son (or daughter?) are the prophesied “Dreamers.” Dreams reveal to the father how the gods’ thrones are empty (his people’s rites and faith in their false deities will not bring victory). His dreams call him to find aid beyond their forests, leading him and his wife on a journey that, while tainted with battle and terror, reveals how vast and beautiful the world is. Overwhelmed by the masterful creation, yet convinced that his gods are false and incapable of such art, he comes to find “God” through these dreams (of the “Lion-Lamb”).
The son’s dreams are more related to what he’s experiencing (in fact, I could drop his dreams entirely; this will make the father more unique). While he experiences life’s pain, the Voice in his dreams whispers of true freedom. He arrives to find an empire that, despite its wealth and glory, is enraptured in its sinful ways and drunk on pleasure, yet discontent and unfulfilled. He questions life’s purpose. Still the dreams insist there is more than the world, more than the mundane; there are joy and destiny to be found.
He finds it either through dreams, like his father (in which case the “Christ’s” death and resurrection have already occurred, and he’s converted to this new religion much like many Muslims, Islams, Buddhists, etc. that don’t know of Jesus yet encounter Him through visions), or through meeting a living character that will be “Christ” in the final stages of ministry (in which case he will witness the physical miracles, death and resurrection).
From there, both their journeys continue (though I won’t flood you with the remainder of the story). Salvation is not the end; it is the turning point, where the son experiences the Spirit’s presence and starts living a new life, even as a slave. A life that maybe, just maybe, will affect an empire. The father finds a living God to draw strength from, and though he still endures battle (now with appreciation for mercy), a new fire guides him.
Is it necessary for them to encounter God at all? Well, I’m not sure a boy enslaved could find any such hope and peace but in God. I’m not sure any man in the father’s position could face the terror rushing at him with a positive heart unless he knew the victory is already won.
Anyway, I’m still in my first draft, so these ideas aren’t set in stone. My plan was to write a trilogy, but I’ve been considering dropping the son’s POV and structuring the story into a single novel, which could easily remove the whole salvation story. It’ll then just be a father fighting for his children, which I guess can still hold a good message.
Wow, these comments really don’t have length limits, huh?
(This is a repost. Either I accidentally deleted it the first time, or something weird happened.)@naiya-dyani @deeprun Australia’s time zone is 9 hours ahead of mine, while New Zealand’s is 11 hours ahead. What would work is Western European time zones. For example, UK is only 2 hours behind.
Alternatively (and perhaps this would be better) I should look for critique partners/groups that don’t have sessions but rather pass a piece around for each person to work through at their own time, or something like that.
Thanks for the advice though!
I’m in the same boat, but two things bother me:
- I can’t do physical writing conferences. I live in a small South African town far away from such lofty things, and there’s nothing in my local community (I’ve investigated). Though I’d prefer physical meetups, I recognize my solution HAS to be an online one. But this poses a new problem: time zones. Most Christian fiction writers I come across are in the US. That’s 7-12 hours behind SAST.
- As I haven’t been able to interact much with other writers, giving and receiving critique, I have no clue how “good” I am. What bothers me about this is, can I actually support a fellow writer? What if I give feedback that’s wrong?
