Why Fiction Matters: Post Secret

Writers question me often about their storylines. Is it predictable, or relevant, or publishable? My answer is that's between you and God. But I ran across an interesting blog today-PostSecrets. PostSecrets is a travelling art exhibition whereby people take postcards and makes collages out of them with the content of the college being a secret that they have been hiding and want to be released. It is a popular blog. A huge undertaking and a powerful must see.
Warning: PostSecrets isn't for every one. No children. Some things will disturb you. But it is a sorrowful indication of what people are longing for. If you look real carefully and think about the secrets you once carried before you met Christ, then you know what they need. Wouldn't it be Christian to write a story addressing similiar pangs?

Dee

SORMAG's Blog: ONLINE CONFERENCE - 10/23-29/05

Shades of Romance hosts its annual online writer's conference for 10/23-29. It is free. 50 authors and four editors will be participating.

A Christian Fiction highlight...

Day One – October 23, 2005 --Writing For The Lord

PANEL: Christian Anthologies
Dena Dyer, Mary Griffith, Sabra Robinson, Jacquelin Thomas

PANEL: Breaking Into The Christian Market
Mary Griffith, Stacy Hawkins Adams, Jacquelin Thomas, Cheri Paris Edwards

WORKSHOP: Fresh Ideas - Deartra Boone

DISCUSSION: How do we get our faith-based books to the big screen?

hopefully, Christian Fiction Blog will contribute on Christian Marketing and Media. We'll see. Hope to see you there.

Soul Food and Full Tilt

This morning I received chapter one of Creston Mapes, second novel, Full Tilt, to include in this month's Celebration of Christian Fiction. (Oct. 18) It is eery, relevant, real and Soulful.

What does that mean, Dee--a Soulful work?

Christian Fiction doesn't have a set in stone definition, but like air and God it is important to our life. It is felt in a place we cannot see or feel, but know on the inside. Soul Food.

Monday, Marina and I spoke about works that are faith based, but not soulful. Characters interact in a christian counter culture, but they move around the world like robots. They're simulated. They meet the criteria for safe reading, but they don't minister to the soul. They're not relevant, real, important to our generation, or our purposes.

Not soulful. Not Soulfood.

This week I am a few scenes short of my first draft. However, I have already prayed and received The Holy Spirits response on what direction the second draft must take--a simple approach so that Christ can shine through the pages. Soulful. But I must admit that I would like to clean it up, spunk it up and send it to a publisher I know will take it like it is right now.

American Poverty if not grounded by the Word will make someone like me go mad. I am not rich, or middle class anymore. Not single, but a parent. Not straddling the fence, but wearing the full armor of God. And it sucks rocks sometimes. Lately, most times...

Continue to pray for my longsuffering, my patience, and my faith. Creston, you put it down on Full Tilt. More blessings to ya!

Writing to see what the end's gon' be,
Dee

CBA Bestsellers List: October

Ranking Title Author/Publisher
1 (7) Just Above a Whisper Lori Wick, Harvest House, p
2 (12) Fame Karen Kingsbury, Tyndale, p
3 (25) The Revelation Beverly Lewis, Bethany House, p
4 (26) One Tuesday Morning Karen Kingsbury, Zondervan, p
5 (28) Monster Frank Peretti, WestBow (Nelson), c
6 (32) Redeeming Love Francine Rivers, Multnomah, p
7 (40) Moonlight on the Millpond Lori Wick, Harvest House, p
8 (43) Unforgotten Kristen Heitzmann, Bethany House, p
9 (47) The Ezekiel Option Joel Rosenberg, Tyndale, c
10 Breaker's Reef Terri Blackstock, Zondervan, p
11 Beyond Tuesday Morning Karen Kingsbury, Zondervan, p
12 A Bride Most Begrudging Deeanne Gist, Bethany House, p
13 The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe C. S. Lewis, Zondervan, p
14 The Screwtape Letters C.S. Lewis, HarperCollins/Zondervan, p
15 Redemption Gary Smalley & Karen Kingsbury, Tyndale, p
16 Reunion Karen Kingsbury & Gary Smalley, Tyndale, p
17 Oceans Apart Karen Kingsbury, Zondervan, p
18 Remember Karen Kingsbury & Gary Smalley, Tyndale, p
19 The Atonement Child Francine Rivers, Tyndale, p
20 Return Karen Kingsbury & Gary Smalley, Tyndale, p

Numbers in ( ) denote Top 50 placement. / p designates paper; c, cloth

This list is based on actual sales in Christian retail stores in the United States and Canada during August, using STATS as the source for data collection. All rights reserved. Distribution and copyright ©2005 CBA and Evangelical Christian Publishers Association.