The Terror Of Light
Mark Carver, Feb 24, 2016
When I watch “Sunshine,” I get an inkling of how terrifying God’s righteousness would be to our frail eyes and souls.
4 Ways Readers Can Encourage Authors
Zac Totah, Feb 23, 2016
If you read fiction, this post is for you. I’m a book-lover and I’m guessing you are, too. I’m also an author (before you ask the inevitable question, I haven’t been published—not officially anyway). Being both an avid reader and […]
Jesus Vs. The Punisher
Zach Bartels, Feb 19, 2016
The Punisher isn’t a Christ-figure, but all his comic reinventions remind me of our fake Jesus versions.
A Grown-Up’s Guide To Delighting In Fairy Tales Like ‘Cinderella’: Excerpt
E. Stephen Burnett, Feb 18, 2016
Christians do not believe in eternal servitude for important social causes, but an eternal royal ball with pageantry, beauty, honor, and adventure.
Why Do We Suspend Disbelief For Stories?
Zac Totah, Feb 16, 2016
Are we stupid and illogical if we enjoy stories that aren’t real? Think about it for a minute. Any time we engage in a story, whether a movie or a book, we’re letting our logic walls down. Fiction, by its […]
We Have A Winner – 2016 Winter Writing Challenge
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Feb 15, 2016
Special thanks to all of you who participated: the entrants for sharing their stories with us, the visitors who commented and gave YES votes for finalists, and those who voted in the poll to select the winner.
Curse Of The Promise-Breakers
E. Stephen Burnett, Feb 11, 2016
Great stories show the doom of breaking vows even for “good” reasons, and the beauty of those who fulfill their oaths.
Who Ya Gonna Call?
Mark Carver, Feb 10, 2016
There is a noticeable contrast in Van Helsing’s methods and beliefs compared to more recent hunters.
Why Do We Root For The Underdog?
Zac Totah, Feb 9, 2016
Everyone loves an underdog. A couple days ago, a rather large sporting event took place, pitting my hometown Denver Broncos against the almost unstoppable Carolina Panthers. Denver was the clear underdog. How could they stop Carolina? In this story, the […]
2016 Winter Writing Challenge Finalists
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Feb 8, 2016
All that’s left is to select the winner. Choose from these entries and vote in the poll at the end of this post for one entry you think is best.
Once Upon A Time: If We Tune In
Shannon McDermott, Feb 3, 2016
A concise yet biased summary of the last half-season of Once Upon A Time.
Why Are Superhero Stories So Popular
Zac Totah, Feb 2, 2016
Superhero movies are all the rage in the entertainment industry these days. From blockbusters like The Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy to lesser-known films such as Ant-Man, superheroes have stormed in and taken over Hollywood. Ten years ago, such […]
Christian Fantasy And Magic
Nathan Lumbatis, Jan 29, 2016
If we are writing Christian fantasy, and our goal is to reflect something of God’s truth through our craft, shouldn’t we take a page out of the Holy Spirit’s playbook and portray the power of God as it actually is—amazing, miraculous, magical?
C. S. Lewis: Don’t Chase Fandom Thrills For Their Own Sake
E. Stephen Burnett, Jan 27, 2016
C. S. Lewis: “Let the thrill go—let it die away … and you will find you are living in a world of new thrills all the time.”
Engaging Entertainment With Intention
Zac Totah, Jan 26, 2016
What’s the worst thing you’ve ever read or watched? By worst I don’t mean something of bad quality or poor execution. I mean forms of entertainment with questionable content. The topic of what counts as questionable (i.e. “we should avoid […]
2016 Spec Faith Winter Writing Challenge
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Jan 25, 2016
For the last several years, Spec Faith has held a winter writing contest, a type of writing exercise, with rewards. There’s feedback from other Spec Faith visitors and there’s the potential for a $25 gift card from either Amazon or B&N.
Reading Fantasy
Jennette Mbewe, Jan 22, 2016
Some might think fantasy is pure escapism, but in reality, it helps us deal with the darkness in our own lives, inside and out.
The Best-Worst Cliches
Shannon McDermott, Jan 20, 2016
Today, we are going to talk about cliches in fiction, or at least one special subset of them: those that annoy us.
The Gray Areas Of Fiction
Zac Totah, Jan 19, 2016
Once upon a time, stories enjoyed a simpler existence. Literature from centuries past dwelled in the bucolic—if overly idealistic—fields of clear moral standards, objectivity regarding what was right and wrong, and clearly drawn lines between the hero and the villain. […]
Christian Speculative Fiction Awards Aplenty
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Jan 18, 2016
This explosion of contests open to or designed for Christian speculative fiction is an encouraging sign, I believe.
Fantasy: An Indispensable Way To Understand Ourselves
Brent King, Jan 15, 2016
Fantasy is the outcome of our contemplation on basic life questions: Why and how are we different from other animals? What is death and why? With fantasy, our minds use complex metaphors to bridge the gap across the unknown in order to broaden and inform what we do know.
The Silver Chair Movie Should Follow These Four Signs
E. Stephen Burnett, Jan 14, 2016
“The Silver Chair” can follow four signs to restart (not reboot) “The Chronicles of Narnia” film series.
Eat Right and Exorcise
Mark Carver, Jan 13, 2016
What if a Christian author took that bold step and blended the obscene with the holy (and wrote an awesome story too)? What would be people’s reactions?
The Problem With Superhero Movies
Zac Totah, Jan 12, 2016
I’m a huge Marvel fan, so it’s an understatement to say I love superhero movies. Despite my abounding enthusiasm, I’ve begun to grow wary of such movies. Not due to lack of execution or general boredom, but because of what the […]
My Take: The Force Awakens
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Jan 11, 2016
There’s an interesting nod to behavior psychology, too, and the strength of the human will—both for good and for ill. The idea seems to be that “training” can only be successful to a certain degree, but ultimately the person has the final say about what they will or won’t do.
Fiction Friday – Oath Of The Brotherhood
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Jan 8, 2016
In a kingdom where the Old Ways hold fast and a man’s worth lies entirely in his skill with the sword, Conor Mac Nir is a scholar, a musician, and a follower of the forbidden Balian faith: problematic for any man, but disastrous for the son of the king.
Pretense or Reality
Shannon McDermott, Jan 6, 2016
Last week I came across an article titled, “Are Droids Slaves?” The droids in question were the droids of Star Wars, and the answer was so unequivocally Yes I wondered why they bothered with the diffident headline.
Why Do We Relate To Epic Journeys?
Zac Totah, Jan 5, 2016
You’ve been on a journey. So have I. So has everyone through the history of the world. In fact, you’re on one right now. It might not be literal, such as traveling through Europe or flying cross-country on a business […]
A Fresh Start And Change
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Jan 4, 2016
One reason fiction is so powerful is because of the change these characters make. They show readers that change is possible, that trials can bring strength, that hope resides on the other side of conflict because of the growth it brings.
A Hopeful Future
Mark Carver, Dec 30, 2015
Understanding God’s creation can be a profound act of worship, and creating in order to engage our imaginations and benefit humanity is something to be celebrated. Science is not a threat to the Christian worldview, since God is the author of all truth. Anything that is discovered will lead to Him, and anything invented reflects the creativity inherent in all humans being made in His image.
