ned
04-24-2007, 06:50 PM
G'morning writers. I'm starting my career here by breaking two (unwritten) rules. I posted a question without an intro, now I'm posting an introduction here rather than in the newbie section.
Excuse me, please! Last night, after finding this site and registering, I didn't have the energy to write an intro. I was up 'til forever with a headache and thought I'd better wait with this. Second, I prefer to introduce myself here only because I doubt I'll be elsewhere very often. I've been wanting a place like this for a while. I've tried a couple of Christian Writer forums on Yahoo, but was never satisfied with the types of conversations there.
Ned's been my nickname since high school. I am not a boy, however. If it matters to anyone, there it is.
I'm a history fanatic. My focus has always been on Napoleonic/Regency, depending on which country I'm writing in. I lived in England for ten years, where I found most of my inspiration and where I researched many of the locations for my fiction. I hope to live there again one day.
I started writing secular novels that were more character-driven than the average Napoleonic novel. After finishing three novels, I couldn't see the point of it all. I knew I loved to write, but needed more than a good story to justify the way I spent my time. After several years (I regret) of resisting, I knew I had to write Christian/Inspirational fiction. I think for many of us, it's a struggle. We must weigh the facts: Christian fiction doesn't pay as well as secular, and there aren't as many best selling authors in the genre. The chances of success seem smaller. Still, I couldn't do anything else. I don't want to be ashamed of what I've written.
Finally, I've finished a novel that I think is worth reading--worth trying to sell. It's finished and I'm going to spend the summer trying to find an agent. Meanwhile, I've got a draft of its sequel, as well as a draft of one that takes place in the years before this one.
I'm here because I can't find any support locally for this kind of work. I've tried other on-line forums, even Writer's Net, but the negative, anti-religious atmosphere makes it an uncomfortable place to ask questions.
I don't blame non-Christians for their attitude. One of my greatest complaints about Christian fiction in general is the lack of quality in the writing, particularly in novels that are written for the female readers. I can best describe it as "Harlequin Romance with Sunday School Teachers."
My goal, or my fantasy, is to see Christian fiction grow into a respected genre. There are some excellent writers being published now, but most of those are male-oriented. It frustrates me when I see how many awesome books are being written, books that anyone can enjoy, while the Christian market seems to be in this rut that's lasted for twenty years or more. Are publishers so afraid to do other than what's already been done?
What I write is what I'd like to read: good fiction with an inspirational theme. What I dislike are novels that tone things down for a supposedly less-wordly audience. Christians, like most humans, are painfully aware of the evil in the world. If anything, they are more aware. Why, then, must fiction for a Christian audience be so weak? Why the mild themes, the passive characters, the lack of verisimilitude? Christians, historically, are anything but weak, passive people. It doesn't make sense to assume that Christian readers can't handle the truth. Perhaps there are those who isolate themselves from the world, insulating themselves, using their churches for all socializing, having only friends who attend that church, and never expanding themselves outside that comfortable place.
I don't write for comfortable Christians. And I don't know if that means I'll never be published. Whatever the case, I write honestly.
Thanks for listening; I hope this doesn't offend anyone. That's not my intention. It's just my opinion.
Kindest regards to all,
ned
Excuse me, please! Last night, after finding this site and registering, I didn't have the energy to write an intro. I was up 'til forever with a headache and thought I'd better wait with this. Second, I prefer to introduce myself here only because I doubt I'll be elsewhere very often. I've been wanting a place like this for a while. I've tried a couple of Christian Writer forums on Yahoo, but was never satisfied with the types of conversations there.
Ned's been my nickname since high school. I am not a boy, however. If it matters to anyone, there it is.
I'm a history fanatic. My focus has always been on Napoleonic/Regency, depending on which country I'm writing in. I lived in England for ten years, where I found most of my inspiration and where I researched many of the locations for my fiction. I hope to live there again one day.
I started writing secular novels that were more character-driven than the average Napoleonic novel. After finishing three novels, I couldn't see the point of it all. I knew I loved to write, but needed more than a good story to justify the way I spent my time. After several years (I regret) of resisting, I knew I had to write Christian/Inspirational fiction. I think for many of us, it's a struggle. We must weigh the facts: Christian fiction doesn't pay as well as secular, and there aren't as many best selling authors in the genre. The chances of success seem smaller. Still, I couldn't do anything else. I don't want to be ashamed of what I've written.
Finally, I've finished a novel that I think is worth reading--worth trying to sell. It's finished and I'm going to spend the summer trying to find an agent. Meanwhile, I've got a draft of its sequel, as well as a draft of one that takes place in the years before this one.
I'm here because I can't find any support locally for this kind of work. I've tried other on-line forums, even Writer's Net, but the negative, anti-religious atmosphere makes it an uncomfortable place to ask questions.
I don't blame non-Christians for their attitude. One of my greatest complaints about Christian fiction in general is the lack of quality in the writing, particularly in novels that are written for the female readers. I can best describe it as "Harlequin Romance with Sunday School Teachers."
My goal, or my fantasy, is to see Christian fiction grow into a respected genre. There are some excellent writers being published now, but most of those are male-oriented. It frustrates me when I see how many awesome books are being written, books that anyone can enjoy, while the Christian market seems to be in this rut that's lasted for twenty years or more. Are publishers so afraid to do other than what's already been done?
What I write is what I'd like to read: good fiction with an inspirational theme. What I dislike are novels that tone things down for a supposedly less-wordly audience. Christians, like most humans, are painfully aware of the evil in the world. If anything, they are more aware. Why, then, must fiction for a Christian audience be so weak? Why the mild themes, the passive characters, the lack of verisimilitude? Christians, historically, are anything but weak, passive people. It doesn't make sense to assume that Christian readers can't handle the truth. Perhaps there are those who isolate themselves from the world, insulating themselves, using their churches for all socializing, having only friends who attend that church, and never expanding themselves outside that comfortable place.
I don't write for comfortable Christians. And I don't know if that means I'll never be published. Whatever the case, I write honestly.
Thanks for listening; I hope this doesn't offend anyone. That's not my intention. It's just my opinion.
Kindest regards to all,
ned