Deborah Gyapong at
The Master Artist discusses the Christy Award Ceremony. She posed a question that I have read discussed about in other round about ways throughout the faith fiction community:
What is the correct focus for faith fiction? Escapism or Reality?"
The challenge he[Andy Croch] gave, one that spread a thoughtful silence across the room, was that Christian novelists are not called to write stories that offer those reality exits. Instead... Christian novelists are called to portray reality in all its strangeness and beauty. To help readers find meaning and hope within reality rather than escape from it.
So now I have a few questions:
(1) When doesn't a christian fiction novel show sort of realism? (2)Are there any examples I can read through to buttress Crouch's statement? (3) Is this an argument against a particular genre-like sci fi, which I actually find quite real at times.
I live in the Atlanta area. I grew up between Bufort, South Carolina, Valdosta, Georgia and Avon Park, Florida, between a swamp water hog farm, Marine base housing and the Florida orange groves. I'm Black with Geechee and Cherokee roots, Missionary Baptist and AME. Yet, it isn't hard for me to believe that someone living in Omaha, Nebraska would not relate to my very different worldview. Because what I write about has universality-mostly in theme and conflict.
(3)How do you bring realism into your work?
