i said i wouldn't talk about this here

But I'm going to talk about fiction. Ack!

I read a lot of ranting posts about the poor quality of Christian fiction out there, the mediocrity of CBA, and Christian art in general.

For the most part, I agree. But I place the blame at a different, more philosophical level than writers. Although, I will admit that if we don't hone our craft, or even care to, we are guilty. If any artist thinks they've arrived, not only are they wrong, but they've cut themselves off at the knees. At the end of the day, I hate every book I've just written. A few years after publication I can go back and think, "Well, maybe it isn't completely awful."

The reason for CBA's lack of quality is simply this: they get away with it. Not only that, they make big bucks. Why is that? Consider these points:

1) The Alternative-Entertainment-Form Christian Reader. Some Christians are scared to venture out of the safe fortress walls of American Commercial/Cultural Christendom. They believe that if they read a cussword, they are sullied. They cannot see beyond the face-value of a story. They couldn't read a book like Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius and find the redemption if it bit them in the hiney! Therefore, incapable of digesting fiction as an artform, they approach it as a learning experience, seeking to utilize it as a form of devotion (which certainly it can be), but most probably deeming fiction in general less spiritual and uplifting than something by Max Lucado, less practical in their faith walk than a book by Rick Warren or Bill Hybels. IOW--if it's going to be an indulgence, it had darn sight better be pristine and not "a waste of time", which leads into the next point of why art is seen as a waste of time.

2) The Last Century. More like beginning with the Reformation, Christian art holds little respect. Unless it's some weird picture of Jesus placing a healing hand on the Liberty Bell. Oh, my gosh, go to CBA and try to fully digest the weirdness in the prints that are popular these days. I doubt if you can! Something else kind of interesting to chew on, and a thought for another day: Remember "The Seeker Movement", and worshipping in something that, God forbid, doesn't look like a church? Hopefully, all that is going away. Consider what Sacred Space means? In your heart and in the church and in the church building? What place does creativity hold in the very physical elements where we worship?

3) The Gatekeepers on the bookstore level. Not all bookstore owners, but those who see themselves as the mavens. Some readers who complain so loudly--the bookstores step to. They're many, they're mean, they're ready to kick my butt or the butt of anybody they think is stepping over their line. Unless it's making money, like Benny Hinn, or somebody. God help us if the words "damn" and "hell" appear in a book. But freaky doctrine? Hey, no prob. And they take this gatekeeper stuff very seriously. Unfortunately, I doubt they've engaged the culture in years, or perhaps they believe the Testamints blurb on the CBA floor, "Changing the world, one piece at a time" can apply to them, except not just candy, but necklaces, plaques, quilts and snow globes. Now, there are some bookstore owners that really want to challenge and provoke the complacent church, whose true desire is to bring people to a deeper understanding of God. Bravo to them. Spread the virus to the others now! I think a lot of the problem is that, not having enough time and staff, they take the blowbags' word on matters because they can't read the stuff for themselves. Hey! If you have time, why not offer to read stuff for your local bookstore so they actually know what's going on in-between the pages? Become a maven yourself!

4) The Undemanding Reader. A friend of mine in publishing once told me it's all out of their control, what makes it and what doesn't. That's true. His metaphor, "It's like throwing gobs of wet toilet paper up against the wall and seeing what sticks, then putting your money behind that one." Oh, sheesh! So "what sticks" isn't always "what's good." Bummer, but there it is!

5) 80% of Christians never set foot in a Christian bookstore. Here's the biggest reason, I believe. They're busy reading good ABA fiction. How in heaven's name do we get to them with the good stuff?

6) I don't know one Christian fiction writer who thinks he/she is part of the mediocre problem or isn't writing realistic fiction.

There are novelists who are doing a great job in CBA. And things are changing and improving. Bottom line, it's easy to armchair quarterback those struggling in a relatively new genre of literature. Please remember that Christian fiction hasn't existed all that long. We're all still finding our way, unfortunately, for a lot of us, one book at a time, and in print! When I read my first seven or eight novels, I just want to hurl!

Discombobulated post, I guess. Apologies. Would love your thoughts.

grace,

lisa