Speculative Politics 2: Perspectives From Marc Schooley
Marc Schooley, Oct 14, 2012
Author Marc Schooley explains why he believes the Church has over-entangled itself in politics. Yet he agrees much with his fellow Marcher Lord Press author Kerry Nietz’s perspective about how stories and authors touch on politics.
Ministered To By The Secular Market
Alton Gansky, Oct 12, 2012
Novelist Alton Gansky: When I rattled off my favorite novelists during an interview, I wondered: why didn’t I have a longer list of Christian authors? This demanded some inner noodling. So noodle I did.
Reading Is Worship 7: More Than A Story
E. Stephen Burnett, Oct 11, 2012
Do you suspect that claiming a story must have higher “purpose” somehow cheapens its quality? Or do you agree this actually makes stories more truthful and beautiful?
So You Say You Want A Revolution?
John Otte, Oct 10, 2012
We’re about a month into the new fall schedule on TV. My socks have not been blown off by “Revolution.” Then the characters meet Hollywood Christian Cliche #126, the fire-and-brimstone street preacher.
Oz Four Ways – Wicked: The Life and Times Of The Wicked Witch Of The West
Fred Warren, Oct 9, 2012
This isn’t your grandfather’s Oz, not by a long shot.
Check For Chips
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Oct 8, 2012
My real question is this, can great writing and compelling stories really be marginalized?
And The Winner Is
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Oct 8, 2012
The winner of the Spec Faith Fall Writer Challenge is
Eugene Black
Congratulations!Speculative Politics 1: Perspectives From Kerry Nietz
Kerry Nietz, Oct 7, 2012
Politics are necessary in life and fiction, yet how should they inform stories and authors’ profiles? DarkTrench Saga author Kerry Nietz begins our new Speculative Politics series.
Christian Versus Secular Novels
Sue Dent, Oct 5, 2012
Never Ceese author Sue Dent: When I started out in publishing I’d never once heard the market divided up into the two very specific categories of Christian and Secular. Genres, yes, but not Christian or Secular.
Reading Is Worship 6: Curing Weirdness-Idolatry
E. Stephen Burnett, Oct 4, 2012
How can we fight inclinations to idolize “being weird” for its own sake? We must see fantasy “weirdness” as normal in the Bible (and even in our culture), ask God to help us reach out to critics, and remember why we love fantastic stories.
‘Changing The Future; It’s Called Marriage,’ Part 2
E. Stephen Burnett, Oct 3, 2012
In Doctor Who, some people hated Rory’s and Amy’s relationship. Maybe people dislike seeing a stable relationship. Maybe, similar to the Doctor himself, they can’t stand committed, heroic, happy endings to a love story.
‘Changing The Future; It’s Called Marriage,’ Part 1
E. Stephen Burnett, Oct 2, 2012
After Doctor Who’s midseason finale, you may owe the British sci-fi series’ writers an apology if you believe the program pushed other agendas besides love, sacrifice, and God-given marriage.
Fall Writer Challenge Finalists
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Oct 1, 2012
In no special order, the finalist entries are re-posted below. After reading (or reviewing) them, vote in the poll to determine who will win this year’s Fall Writer Challenge.
Last Day To Pick Fall Writer Challenge Finalists
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Sep 30, 2012
We need to pick the finalists. There are some very close races. Be sure you add your voice (in reality, what counts is your thumb up) to the decision so that we can include the three entries readers prefer.
What’s Wrong With A Little ‘Ha Ha’?
Ted Kluck, Sep 28, 2012
Author Ted Kluck on graciously spoofing “dispensensational” theology in general and “Left Behind” in particular, Tebow-mania, and whether Christians can Biblically spoof at all.
Reading Is Worship 5: Identifying Weirdness-Idolatry
E. Stephen Burnett, Sep 27, 2012
Brothers and sisters: loving speculative stories is not about you. Or us. Or the genre. Or, especially, Being Weird. That’s especially vital to recall after last weekend’s controversy over cosplay at the ACFW awards banquet.
So . . .
John Otte, Sep 26, 2012
Whoops! After recent fiction writers’ conference busyness, I got nothin’. Sorry. Instead I’ll turn it around on all of you: what are you reading right now and is it any good?
Now It’s The Readers’ Turn
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Sep 24, 2012
This early stage is to determine the top three entries which will be included in next week’s poll, so visitors may hit the thumbs-up button on as many of the entries as they wish. You might ask yourself if you’d like to keep reading. If yes, then that entry might deserve a thumbs up.
Share Your Crazy Conference Stories
E. Stephen Burnett, Sep 21, 2012
Here at Speculative Faith, we’re reader-centric. But for those who have attended writers’ conferences such as ACFW, what crazy stories might you share?
‘The Hobbit’ Story Group 1: An Unexpected Party
E. Stephen Burnett, Sep 20, 2012
One great way to explore “The Hobbit” is by reading it yourself. Yet if reading stories is worship, we should also read and discuss this classic together.
‘Hobbit’ Film Hopes: An Unexpected Journey
E. Stephen Burnett, Sep 20, 2012
Much has changed since my last “The Hobbit” update after the teaser released in December. Now with the new trailer’s release, what are your thoughts, hopes, and predictions for “The Hobbit” film series?
‘Doctor Who’: When Justice Seasons ‘Mercy’
E. Stephen Burnett, Sep 19, 2012
The “Doctor Who” episode “A Town Called Mercy” asked viewers to wrestle with the question: who decides who lives or dies? The answer is hidden in plain sight.
Oz Four Ways: The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz
Fred Warren, Sep 18, 2012
Your tour guide, Miss Dorothy Gale, is a no-nonsense Kansas farm girl whose honesty and politeness will charm you and smooth over any minor bumps you might encounter during your trip along the Yellow Brick Road.
Fall Writer Challenge
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Sep 17, 2012
By way of reminder, here’s the way this particular challenge works: I’ll give a first line, and those who wish to accept the challenge will write what comes next–in 100 to 200 words, putting those in the comments section of this post. Readers will give thumbs up to the ones they like the most
Circle Of Life
Grace Bridges, Sep 14, 2012
I hold onto my experiences, mentally filing them away. And when I write about a character in the same situation, I pull them out of my heart and mind, and live them all over again: osmosis from reality into fiction and then to the soul of a reader, the grand circle of literary life.
Reading Is Worship 4: Craft-Idolatry
E. Stephen Burnett, Sep 13, 2012
Before discussing industry changes, editors, and manuscript proposals, we must love God’s Story and great stories more than their craft. Otherwise we may be vulnerable to other story-related idolatries.
Oz, Four Ways: Introduction
Fred Warren, Sep 11, 2012
Why? Because, because, because, because, because…
Mayhem And Its Meaning
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Sep 10, 2012
Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy might be the benchmark for grand battles, notably in the battle of Helm’s Deep in The Two Towers, the Battle of the Pelennor Fields and the Battle of Bywater in The Return of the King.
