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@calidris

(Also I actually did get your post that SE ate so I’ll be replying to that too, so y’all who didn’t see it can read along XD)

I actually agree with Cathy here – idk why but Cal always seemed just straight up gay to me?

Honestly you two realized it before me so you might even be correct XD

Either way, it’s certainly going to be interesting seeing her interactions with Malcolm.  I think it’s going to be awfully hard to write, but the potential here is so good!  And it’s a really grounded, realistic struggle/trial for Malcolm, at least especially for Christians in modern America.  It’s something I think we’re all going to be confronted by, or have already been confronted by, and I think seeing Christian characters work out these issues in a truthful, loving manner will be really encouraging!

Exactly! I really love that because of this story I can explore it from both perspectives, instead of just one or the other. I feel bad for both of them because it’s so hard for both of them, but I think they’ll be able to make it work out! Plus Malcolm is such a great person, I look forward to seeing how he deals with it.

There there, they’ll we’ll suffer together

Do you see how that isn’t comforting 😭

I’ve noticed that the inclusion of touchy subjects has made me turn to Him more concerning my writing, I guess since I feel like there’s more chances to “mess up.”  But isn’t that the case with all writing?  I think that because there’s some sins and issues in writing that are seen as “worse” (in our cases, writing about homosexuality), we’re more sensitive and more concerned with getting it “right” in God’s eyes.  But it occurred to me, it’s something that we should be mindful of when writing, period.  When I’m writing “safe” fiction, I think I feel less of a need to include God and ask him what His will and His perspective is, and imo that’s a dangerous slope (at least for me), because it’s ridiculously easy to slip into a habit of leaving Him out completely.  I’m not saying that “safe” fiction is bad, but I am saying that it’s a good practice, as Christians, to seek God’s will regarding all aspects of our craft, not just the potentially touchy or “scandalous” parts.

That’s an excellent point, and something I’ve noticed in myself too! It’s almost too easy to push Him to the side when you’re writing about something you feel confident in. Which happens irl too, let’s be honest XD However, now I’ve noticed this, I’m making more of an effort to tell Him about all of my writing and ask for help with that too, not just when I’m struggling with it!

Ok so incoming Haikyuu rant, but one of the things I loved about this series was how it portrayed one of the comedic relief characters – Bokuto – and his utter simplicity of mind.  He’s extremely unintelligent, but the narrative never made fun of him or disrespected him at all, and he has amazing character development and a fantastic arc throughout the series.  The author was able to play his supreme lack of intelligence for comedy (and it really was funny XD) while never reducing him down to his IQ or forcing him into the “comic relief” box.  And that just made me realize, unintelligent characters are really, REALLY disrespected a lot in media.  Again, it’s one of those little things that might seem really innocuous, but the message being portrayed is really harmful.

YES!! That was so beautifully done, and being fair to your characters is an important, but really hard part of writing.

For example, I’ve been thinking about how I want to develop Cal, and it wouldn’t be fair to her to have her character arc be getting rid of her attraction. I would never do that to a character with trauma, so why did it occur to me to do it with Cal? It wouldn’t be fair to her as a character, just like it would be unfair to her to reduce her down to just that. She was a character before I discovered that about her, and even though it impacts her in a major way, she should still be a character without it!

Or, how a lot of the casual violence in fantasy and sci-fi actually really does cheapen the inherent value and worth of life (something I’ve personally become more sensitive to as I’ve grown in my faith).  Or, how a lot of seemingly clean and wholesome Christian romance novels portray a prosperity gospel in which God rewards a woman’s faith with a handsome guy (which…talk about objectifying).  I think that messages come across in a lot of these smaller issues, and so we still have to be on guard even when we’re not dealing with touchy subjects.

Oof, the romance novels are something I’ve noticed too, I just haven’t been able to articulate it! It’s… frustrating to say the least. Obviously, giving a character a happily ever after with a partner and a family is absolutely not a bad thing to write. You definitely have a point! It’s something I haven’t really thought about… That’s really fascinating!

Sorry about the rambling XD  I think what I’m trying to say is, talking to God about writing is so important, and even though I tend to ask Him more about the really controversial, hard stuff, I should be lifting all of it up to Him!  Not that I’m good at it – it’s something that I really want to improve in and practice more!

Nope, I appreciate the ramble! It was fun to read and very thought-provoking!

*DRUMROLL*

Bastopher

I’ll have you all know I had no hand in this.

You’re all welcome

I did and I’m very proud of it XD I couldn’t have done it alone but I definitely helped XD