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@anne_the_noob14 I was just about to say homeschoolers would take over the world, and then you beat me to it. xD

Chorkneys are giant ride-able birds from the Wingfeather Saga. I definitely would recommend reading them. Definitely. Just ask @j-a-penrose how often I bring them up during the guild lessons. 😛

@obrian-of-the-surface-world

I’d say what drives me to write is, first, that as stewards, it is our responsibility to invest in the resources, talents, and opportunities each of us are given as individuals. Because I believe God has given me a talent for writing, I want to use it for His glory to the best of my abilities. Second, I believe good writing can change lives. Much of non-Christian fiction is pointless and shallow, and in much of Christian fiction the theme and message are pounded into the reader’s head instead of skillfully woven in. I’ve read very few books that were labeled as Christian fiction that I thought were true works of art. I don’t think fiction is meant to teach and provide answers as much as it is to cause readers to ask questions and move them to seek answers. Good fiction can point us towards truth when it paints a message of beauty and hope while realistically portraying the darkness (something Christian fiction often squanders, diminishing the effect of the story). Another powerful thing good fiction can do is remind us of something we already believe and cause us to think about it a different way. For example, I’d been taught about selfishness for years, but when I read a well-written story where the protagonist struggled with it, I began to realize some ways I had been thinking selfishly—ways that I never though of as selfish when reading God’s word or hearing it taught. When the protagonist overcame his flaw in the end, I was encouraged and moved towards changing my attitudes about things. Preachy stories don’t touch my heart. They just flow through my head and register as something I’ve already learned. I want to write the kind of story that is heart-changing and masterfully done, and if God changes one life through my work, I believe every effort will be worth it.

I’m a huge fan of fantasy as well, and I’m thrilled that nowadays there seems to be an explosion of Christians who are writing it! I also enjoy weaving elements of the mystery genre into my stories.

As a high schooler, I’m curious—what is it like coming back to writing now that you are older? Several people have looked down upon my decision to focus on a career in writing because they think I’ll only be successful until I’m thirty. (Which I think is quite ridiculous, since many of the greatest authors ever were at least over forty when they published their greatest works.) They seem to think that once I reach a certain age, I’ll no longer have an audience. Have you ever felt like you have trouble getting people interested in your work just because you’re older?

Also, I saw on your profile that you’ve read Animal Farm! I’m glad to meet someone else who has read and enjoyed it, because it is such a powerful work of literature and I rarely hear anyone mention it. It is definitely one that will stick with me for a long time.