Nervous foray into the world of Christian fiction

camlin · Feb 7, 2009

After much soul-searching, I realized that some of my stuff might be well-suited for a Christian fiction market. I'm very big on subtle, but inspiring, themes, I don't need swear words in my manuscript and I don't usually use sex in my works.

I've done some research on the Christian fiction marketplace and have read numerous books in the genre. However, I'm still nervous about writing within the "guidelines" of Christian writing. Are there any strict guidelines I should know about other than those I listed above (no swearing, minimal sex and no drugs)? What about unspoken guidelines?

My WIP is about a twenty-something woman in New York who has a disfiguring accident. She rehabilitates her soul and her body at the same time. It isn't a romance, it's more of the conflict of learning how to love God and to recognize the many ways God shows His Love, even when it hurts.

Here's my question, in my research of the genre, I noticed a fair amount of historical fiction, Amish fiction, fiction aimed towards women 35 and older, but not much aimed for the 20 something market. Am I missing something? Is there a whole section of literature out there that my trips to the library, Borders, Amazon and my church library just aren't showing? Or, is it because young people who leave home tend to fall away from their religious upbringing for a few years and just aren't interested?

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. I'm so glad I found this section here on AW.

Guffy · Feb 7, 2009

I'm no expert but from what I've seen there is a big whole in this market. I know that a lot people say that if there is an audience then there will be the venue but I don't think that is true. I believe that the Christ market in general is under served and the market for twenty somethings is woefully under served. That being said I think the the current offerings in religious fiction will not appeal to most people in this age group. I think it is a good area to try to fill.

Gravity · Feb 7, 2009

camlin said:
After much soul-searching, I realized that some of my stuff might be well-suited for a Christian fiction market. I'm very big on subtle, but inspiring, themes, I don't need swear words in my manuscript and I don't usually use sex in my works.

I've done some research on the Christian fiction marketplace and have read numerous books in the genre. However, I'm still nervous about writing within the "guidelines" of Christian writing. Are there any strict guidelines I should know about other than those I listed above (no swearing, minimal sex and no drugs)? What about unspoken guidelines?

My WIP is about a twenty-something woman in New York who has a disfiguring accident. She rehabilitates her soul and her body at the same time. It isn't a romance, it's more of the conflict of learning how to love God and to recognize the many ways God shows His Love, even when it hurts.

Here's my question, in my research of the genre, I noticed a fair amount of historical fiction, Amish fiction, fiction aimed towards women 35 and older, but not much aimed for the 20 something market. Am I missing something? Is there a whole section of literature out there that my trips to the library, Borders, Amazon and my church library just aren't showing? Or, is it because young people who leave home tend to fall away from their religious upbringing for a few years and just aren't interested?

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. I'm so glad I found this section here on AW.

You're coming into the CBA, Camlin, and I'm leaving them just as fast as my hairy legs can take me.

Blessings on your journey!

camlin · Feb 7, 2009

Thanks for the advice, both of you.

Gravity, may I ask why your hairy legs are moving so quickly? If thar' be warnin's I'd like to know before I head in that general direction.

JustDave · Feb 7, 2009

I have no idea what the nature of your idea is, but if you write for a general audience and it is good and palatable, the Christian market will catch wind of it and read it. If it is that subtle although spiritual in nature, it will not matter. Dean Koontz comes to mind.

I am just saying, be careful about marginalizing yourself. There are how many billions in the world? What percentage are potential reading audience of something printed in this media capital of the world? The odds favor that your audience will find you. All you have to do is write well enough a compelling enough story that will create chatter among friends.

Mud Dauber · Feb 7, 2009

camlin said:
Here's my question, in my research of the genre, I noticed a fair amount of historical fiction, Amish fiction, fiction aimed towards women 35 and older, but not much aimed for the 20 something market. Am I missing something? Is there a whole section of literature out there that my trips to the library, Borders, Amazon and my church library just aren't showing? Or, is it because young people who leave home tend to fall away from their religious upbringing for a few years and just aren't interested?

I never noticed it, but now that I think about all the Christian fiction I've read, you're right! Most of it's been geared to my age (ahem, 35 and older

). I don't have the answer to your publishing questions, but if I had to guess, I'd say you're theory is right on. Usually women are more sure of themselves as they get older, and I find that it's no different when it comes to faith. Life experience and depending on God go hand in hand.

It sounds like you've covered all the bases as far as research goes, but I'll throw out an author I recently discovered: Susan Meissner, whose book I just finished, because she incorporated all the themes you mentioned in your OP: subtle, inspiring, no swearing (I think), and no sex in her latest novel: The Shape of Mercy. And the MC was a 20 something college kid. (Great storyline about the Salem Witch Trials, btw.) I plucked it off the new releases shelf at my library, and I had no idea it was Christian fiction. So how's that for subtlety?

Good luck with your foray into publishing. I agree with the others who've recommended you write your story from your heart.

Deb Kinnard · Feb 7, 2009

Keep in mind that the Christian fiction market is a lot more than just the few CBA publishers. Christian fic is one of the few markets out there that is growing (or was, last time I looked before the economy tanked). The number of publishers who'll look at a story that rides the edges is growing, too.

If you read some Christian fic and cannot imagine your stuff fitting in those publishers, probably it'd be best to put those houses on your B list and query others. You cannot break into these houses hoping they will take something edgy or different. I have personal experience to support this opinion. Many of these houses say they want something different, something they haven't seen before, but they don't really. Even the agents say so. You cannot convince them by saying your stuff will find a readership in a certain market. If it's a readership they are not interested to serve, they simply will not accept that it's out there. Quality should change their minds, but it doesn't seem to work that way.

Instead, I've gone the small press route with modest success so far.

camlin · Feb 8, 2009

Mud -- thanks! I'll hunt that book down and see what I can figure out about this little niche. I'm stunned that there isn't anything for young women. I went to secular colleges on the West Coast and I knew tons and tons of women my age who were quite faithful and college wasn't going to change that.

Deb -- thanks for the warning and the suggestion. When this little baby is ready for submission, I'll be sure to keep your suggestion (and your success) in mind.

windyrdg · Feb 11, 2009

In regards to guidelines, you've hit the biggees. However, there may be unwritten rules about doctrinal issues. Somewhere I read some guidelines that concluded by saying at the end of the book everyone must be a member of a Bible believing church.

Phrases like that crack me up. Is there such a thing as a Christian non-Bible believing church? I realize it's code for a church that thinks and teaches just exactly what we believe, but this type of thinking is what holds back the CBA market.

A quote from Agent Rachelle Gardner's blog: "Parents are still buying mainstream fiction for their kids, and no wonder. I have a hard time finding any Christian middle-grade fiction my kids will read. It is often too Pollyanna-ish, not to mention having badly out-of-date cover design and titles. When I do buy it, my kids leave it on the shelf in favor of mainstream books that are far more appealing."

I'll second what Deb said about them not wanting anything but what they're already publishing. Change the names, locales and occupationsof your MC and you can publish the same book over and over.

camlin · Feb 13, 2009

Thanks Windy,

That pretty much reflects what I've seen in my research. Pretty much the same "Christy" story, just different names and places.

I already know I'm going to have issues -- I plan on setting my story in a city. I think I can do it, I mean, Christians do live in places other than present-day rural America and 1870's America. Oh, and we aren't all Amish.

Thanks for all your advice.

Deb Kinnard · Feb 17, 2009

windyrdg said:
...there may be unwritten rules about doctrinal issues. Somewhere I read some guidelines that concluded by saying at the end of the book everyone must be a member of a Bible believing church. Phrases like that crack me up. Is there such a thing as a Christian non-Bible believing church? I realize it's code for a church that thinks and teaches just exactly what we believe, but this type of thinking is what holds back the CBA market.

Windy, IMO this is spot-on. There ARE unwritten rules about doctrinal issues. I once had an agent tell me not to bother writing anything set in the middle ages (my personal favorite era) because the Christians would of necessity be Catholic.

I guess I got this glassy eyed look, because he then explained to me why this is a no-no. Catholics, if they appear at all, should not be overtly so and should be "redeemed" by the end of the book. Ideally, characters must be Protestant! And not too kooky, either.

I read the "kooky" part to mean: not Pentecostal. Which I am.

The entire conversation offended me. I could have lit into him about how the Church was carefully preserved for more than a millenium by devoted (Catholic!) Christians scribbling away in monasteries, etc. I could have pointed out many things. I didn't. Maybe I wimped. I don't know. But I didn't think it possible in that short space, to change his mind.

My experience. But you can count on one hand the number of mainstream Christian fic books that even have the C-word somewhere in the text.

Brutal Mustang · Feb 17, 2009

Guffy said:
I'm no expert but from what I've seen there is a big whole in this market.

Honestly, feels like there is a big hole in the church period right now, towards single 20 and 30 somethings.

When I was a teen, there where so many books, programs and activities available. For my married-with-kids friends, there are so many books, programs, and activities available. For me? Not much. And I'm not talking about just one church here.

windyrdg · Feb 19, 2009

Deb: I hear what you're saying. The anti-Catholic bias is alive and well in the CBA.

I'm writing Biblical fiction and I try to walk a fine doctrinal line. A lot of the early church practices can come across as too "Catholic" to suit some of editors. By the same token, I'm not going to try and warp first century life into something it wasn't. Fortunately my MC's are Jews who converted to The Way of Yeshua...I'm counting on that giving me a little leeway.

I agree about the Middle Ages. In some respects (disallowing central heating, running water, automobiles, the internet, etc.) I've often thought it would have been a wonderful time to be alive. But then, maybe that's just looking back through rose colored glasses. I once heard a speaker comment that the people living through the Dark Ages, didn't find them dark at all. I'm sure that's true.

camlin · Feb 24, 2009

I'm not brave enough to even present the "C" word in my works. I think I've done my research. Everyone is generically protestant, faithful, and a hint evangelical. Maybe one day, when I'm stronger, I can try a Catholic who doesn't need to be converted, but that day isn't today for me.

I feel a little guilty about that, but I knew what I was getting into when I decided to try to write something for this genre.

Thanks for all the insight. I do appreciate it.

Shamrockgreen · Mar 7, 2009

windyrdg said:
In regards to guidelines, you've hit the biggees. However, there may be unwritten rules about doctrinal issues. Somewhere I read some guidelines that concluded by saying at the end of the book everyone must be a member of a Bible believing church.

Phrases like that crack me up. Is there such a thing as a Christian non-Bible believing church? I realize it's code for a church that thinks and teaches just exactly what we believe, but this type of thinking is what holds back the CBA market.

A quote from Agent Rachelle Gardner's blog: "Parents are still buying mainstream fiction for their kids, and no wonder. I have a hard time finding any Christian middle-grade fiction my kids will read. It is often too Pollyanna-ish, not to mention having badly out-of-date cover design and titles. When I do buy it, my kids leave it on the shelf in favor of mainstream books that are far more appealing."

I'll second what Deb said about them not wanting anything but what they're already publishing. Change the names, locales and occupationsof your MC and you can publish the same book over and over.

True enough, there is a huge gap in the Christian fiction market for YA. I have a 12 year old son, in the past 9 months he has read all the Warrior series by Erin Hunter, all the Alex Rider series, Percy Jackson & the Olympians, Aretmis Fowl series and now we have run out of books....so I started him on the Redwall series. I am so thrilled to have a reader and I wish there was more in the Christian marketplace for him to read but there is not. He is not into the sports stories for boys, though he did read the Fudge series by Judy Blume but his reading level has bloomed this past year. Thank goodness my husband has read enough sf/fantasy that he can suggest the next series that does not contain very mature themes.

Christian publishers and agents need to sit down and have a big huge pow-wow, they are missing a huge market. Our $ are tight like most everyone else now a days, however if your kids are readers and you are a reader, you give up pizza nite for shopping at the local bookstore. Parents don't quit buying books for their kids, adult readers give up other things but not the books.

camlin · Mar 7, 2009

Shamrockgreen! Thank you, I so totally needed to hear that!

I just had a heated argument with my husband (who pretty much just reads non-fiction) that the Christian fiction market is hungry for stories that are more than "Amish", "WWII soldier goes to war, comes back and lives a happy life", or "Left Behind".

My husband just told me that my MC is unrelatable to Christians (she's a filmmaker) and the plot is too complex for the genre. What can I say, I asked for his opinion.

Your post gives me hope, Shamrockgreen. Thanks!

Shamrockgreen · Mar 9, 2009

camlin said:
Shamrockgreen! Thank you, I so totally needed to hear that!

I just had a heated argument with my husband (who pretty much just reads non-fiction) that the Christian fiction market is hungry for stories that are more than "Amish", "WWII soldier goes to war, comes back and lives a happy life", or "Left Behind".

My husband just told me that my MC is unrelatable to Christians (she's a filmmaker) and the plot is too complex for the genre. What can I say, I asked for his opinion.

Your post gives me hope, Shamrockgreen. Thanks!

Ummm, has your husband seen Fireproof?? If you go to moviebytes.com there are many contest for christian screenwriters and flimmakers. I think Christian books miss the point, we all were not born saved. And the road we travel as Christians, some get the easy one, and some get the hard one and some keep getting thumped by the Big Guy cause they aren't getting it right. Being a Christian is not a doctrine, it is being saved and learning to do the right thing, not the good thing. God cares about right, not good.

Some people are lucky, they grew up in strong homes of faith, they never questioned what they were taught, they married someone similar and their life is their own little world bubble of happiness. Some of us had to kick and claw our way out of the pit of despair to the light. I personally like those stories better, they are real, hard, emotional and I think most Christians appreciate them as they know someone who has gone through struggles or they themselves have. Why do you think Joyce Meyer has such a huge following? If you have never heard her testimony it is a must, but she has struggled and made it, and she still struggles the thing that makes her unique is that she is transparent. Our pastor preaches about this all the time. I think that is what every person of faith should strive for..transparency, in our lives, in our relationships, in our writing.

PS don't argue with your husband.....debate....

and never leave any debate on a sour note.

L.Jones · Mar 10, 2009

Oh please. Get into a real bookstore and take a look at the breadth of Christian fiction. There are loads of people writing lots of interesting things - have y'all read Lisa Samson? (Embrace Me - When a "lizard woman," a self-mutilating preacher, a tattooed monk, and a sleazy lobbyist find themselves in the same North Carolina town one winter, their lives are edging precariously close to disaster . . . and improbably close to grace.)
Her books are always unique.

Or Angela Hunt? (The Face, about a woman born without facial features)

Or Brandilyn Collins for suspense

those are just off the top of my head. Really, if you are interested in reading or writing Christian works, or anything, get out of the main aisles, get out of your own preconceived notions, do some research. The market has grown.

And yes, I am often surprised at how much Amish stuff is out there, and sure lots of women's fiction and romance (which I write) and lots of stuff with stipulations (and you are kidding yourself if you don't think secular writing won't have it's own restrictions and expectations that you won't always like). The ultimate goal of these writer's boards is to learn, the best way to learn is to get out into the market place and read, read, read, educate yourself, know what's out there - if you really believe what's being said here, you will be surprised.

annie jones

III · Mar 10, 2009

L.Jones said:
have y'all read Lisa Samson? (Embrace Me - When a "lizard woman," a self-mutilating preacher, a tattooed monk, and a sleazy lobbyist find themselves in the same North Carolina town one winter, their lives are edging precariously close to disaster . . . and improbably close to grace.)
Her books are always unique.

It's rare for a book description to send me running to the book store but I think I'm gonna have to make a side trip on the way home tonight. I just hope B&N has it in stock. Of course I'm in the middle of reading three different novels right now so this will just muddy the waters further, but it sounds too good to resist. Thanks for the recommendation.

Calla Lily · Mar 10, 2009

III said:
It's rare for a book description to send me running to the book store but I think I'm gonna have to make a side trip on the way home tonight. I just hope B&N has it in stock. Of course I'm in the middle of reading three different novels right now so this will just muddy the waters further, but it sounds too good to resist. Thanks for the recommendation.

*cough* You could go read my review of Embrace Me on BuddyHollywood.com. *cough*

Red.Ink.Rain · Mar 16, 2009

Deb Kinnard said:
Windy, IMO this is spot-on. There ARE unwritten rules about doctrinal issues. I once had an agent tell me not to bother writing anything set in the middle ages (my personal favorite era) because the Christians would of necessity be Catholic.

I guess I got this glassy eyed look, because he then explained to me why this is a no-no. Catholics, if they appear at all, should not be overtly so and should be "redeemed" by the end of the book. Ideally, characters must be Protestant! And not too kooky, either.

I read the "kooky" part to mean: not Pentecostal. Which I am.

The entire conversation offended me. I could have lit into him about how the Church was carefully preserved for more than a millenium by devoted (Catholic!) Christians scribbling away in monasteries, etc. I could have pointed out many things. I didn't. Maybe I wimped. I don't know. But I didn't think it possible in that short space, to change his mind.

My experience. But you can count on one hand the number of mainstream Christian fic books that even have the C-word somewhere in the text.

That makes me sort of sick. This is why I don't think I'll ever be writing for the Christian market. All those limitations frustrate me.

If you have a Christian fiction piece that goes outside the lines a little, I'd recommend querying Jan Dennis. He is the literary agent for Ted Dekker, Frank Peretti, Donita Paul - lots of Christian writers who broke the rules with their books.

Red.Ink.Rain · Mar 16, 2009

Shamrockgreen said:
True enough, there is a huge gap in the Christian fiction market for YA. I have a 12 year old son, in the past 9 months he has read all the Warrior series by Erin Hunter, all the Alex Rider series, Percy Jackson & the Olympians, Aretmis Fowl series and now we have run out of books....so I started him on the Redwall series. I am so thrilled to have a reader and I wish there was more in the Christian marketplace for him to read but there is not. He is not into the sports stories for boys, though he did read the Fudge series by Judy Blume but his reading level has bloomed this past year. Thank goodness my husband has read enough sf/fantasy that he can suggest the next series that does not contain very mature themes.

Christian publishers and agents need to sit down and have a big huge pow-wow, they are missing a huge market. Our $ are tight like most everyone else now a days, however if your kids are readers and you are a reader, you give up pizza nite for shopping at the local bookstore. Parents don't quit buying books for their kids, adult readers give up other things but not the books.

Your son might like the "Dragons in our Midst" series by Bryan Davis. Great fantasy series that combines Arthurian legends and Biblical ideas and mixes them all together in a modern day setting.

My sister loved them when she was his age.

swpauthor · Mar 16, 2009

Deb Kinnard said:
Windy, IMO this is spot-on. There ARE unwritten rules about doctrinal issues. I once had an agent tell me not to bother writing anything set in the middle ages (my personal favorite era) because the Christians would of necessity be Catholic.

I guess I got this glassy eyed look, because he then explained to me why this is a no-no. Catholics, if they appear at all, should not be overtly so and should be "redeemed" by the end of the book. Ideally, characters must be Protestant! And not too kooky, either.

I read the "kooky" part to mean: not Pentecostal. Which I am.

The entire conversation offended me. I could have lit into him about how the Church was carefully preserved for more than a millenium by devoted (Catholic!) Christians scribbling away in monasteries, etc. I could have pointed out many things. I didn't. Maybe I wimped. I don't know. But I didn't think it possible in that short space, to change his mind.

My experience. But you can count on one hand the number of mainstream Christian fic books that even have the C-word somewhere in the text.

Wow, I get so riled when I hear about stuff like this. My advice is, don't let one narrow-minded person dictate the story that God gave you the inspiration to write! God isn't as grey as some people have imagined, I suspect. With a whole spectrum of colors in the Universe, I imagine there might be room for some creativity in allowing REAL fallible humans not end up one person's idea of "perfect" by the end of the novel (this side of heaven)!

Deb Kinnard · Mar 21, 2009

Heavens, no! I didn't. That glassy-eyed look didn't stay very long. I guess I'm that sort of person who takes such pronouncements as a challenge. I sat down & re-wrote a time travel romance that takes place in 14th century Cornwall, where they were decidedly Catholic.

And sold it.

Shamrockgreen · Mar 21, 2009

Deb Kinnard said:
Heavens, no! I didn't. That glassy-eyed look didn't stay very long. I guess I'm that sort of person who takes such pronouncements as a challenge. I sat down & re-wrote a time travel romance that takes place in 14th century Cornwall, where they were decidedly Catholic.

And sold it.

The Christian market place seems to forget that everyone who was a Christian was Catholic until Martin Luther nailed his thesis on a door. The Christian world has been Catholic much longer than not.

Nervous foray into the world of Christian fiction

camlin

Guffy

still writing

Gravity

Seen 'em come, seen 'em go

camlin

JustDave

Mud Dauber

writing on the wall

Deb Kinnard

camlin

windyrdg

New kid, be gentle!

camlin

Deb Kinnard

Brutal Mustang

Loves interplanetary chaos.

windyrdg

New kid, be gentle!

camlin

Shamrockgreen

A day on the skeet range helps the frustration

camlin

Shamrockgreen

A day on the skeet range helps the frustration

L.Jones

III

rockin the suburbs

Calla Lily

On hiatus

Red.Ink.Rain

Not your kid brother's YA

Red.Ink.Rain

Not your kid brother's YA

swpauthor

Deb Kinnard

Shamrockgreen

A day on the skeet range helps the frustration