Five Reasons You Should Write Contemporary Fiction
Matt Mikalatos, Aug 5, 2011
I love speculative fiction. The first movie I remember seeing (at about age three or four) was the movie Them. I had a Darth Vader poster looming over my bed, and glow-in-the-dark vampire teeth on my bedside table. The first […]
‘Harry Potter’ and The Issues Beyond Fiction, Part 5
E. Stephen Burnett, Aug 4, 2011
Five more ways “Harry Potter” helps us learn to discern: how did at least two Biblical saints handle actual bad stuff? And what about the “someone else used it to sin” objection, or “weaker brothers,” or personal preferences?
The Elephant In The Room
Fred Warren, Aug 2, 2011
“I have an elephant.” “You’re kidding.” “No, he’s a real, live, honest-to-goodness elephant. Big ears, prehensile trunk, skinny tail, everything. He’s two tons of fun!”
Speculating About The Known
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Aug 1, 2011
Last Friday, on my own blog I discussed truth in fiction. In part I looked at an article by Travis Prinzi at the Rabbit Room (where Andrew Peterson, Pete Peterson, Jonathan Rogers, and others interested in speculative fiction also hang […]
The Spiritual Element
Sarah Sawyer, Jul 29, 2011
I read with interest a recent conversation on the Enchanted Inkpot regarding religion in fantasy novels. Most of the participants in the discussion were not Christians, therefore their responses gave a broader view than often seen in these sorts of […]
‘Harry Potter’ and The Issues Beyond Fiction, Part 4
E. Stephen Burnett, Jul 28, 2011
Another lesson learned from “Harry Potter” discernment: might some Christians only be on alert against bad Things like imaginary “magic,” while practicing their own favorite subtle methods of mysticism supposedly to keep life under control or avoid sin?
Authorship: God’s Inferno
Kaci Hill, Jul 27, 2011
A dear friend of mine, also a writer, sent me a flurry of texts the other day. Our brief conversation went as follows: Friend: I think authors are given an incredibly unique perspective into God’s relationship with us. Especially in […]
I’ve Got Nothing.
Fred Warren, Jul 26, 2011
Inspiration is a funny thing. There are some days when you wake up, ready to rock the world with your insightful insights and witty wit…and there’s nothing there.
Recommendations And What They Mean
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Jul 25, 2011
So what do recommendations mean? I’ll answer with the negative: they do not mean a guarantee that the content will be absolutely safe and free from error — artistic or spiritual. They do not mean the reader can put his critical thinking to bed when diving into books given high praise.
The Struggle: Whom Do You Trust?
Bruce Hennigan, Jul 22, 2011
Bruce Hennigan, author of “The 13th Demon,” explores the perils of self-publishing versus traditional publishing, with help from friend and fellow author A.S. Peterson, author of “The Fiddler’s Gun” and “The Fiddler’s Green.”
‘Harry Potter’ and The Issues Beyond Fiction, Part 3
E. Stephen Burnett, Jul 21, 2011
What are dangers Christians can fall into while they try to discern “Harry Potter”? One: acting as if made-up laws will protect us from sin and save the Church; and two: outsourcing our own discernment to Christian “media shamans.”
Storytelling: Missions and Warfare
E. Stephen Burnett, Jul 20, 2011
I’m currently editing a manuscript about effectively planting churches in other cultures. The author deals a lot with oral cultures, and she points out the power of storytelling: more than preaching a three-point sermon or presenting doctrine in abstract form, […]
Intelligence Designed
Fred Warren, Jul 19, 2011
We’re already at the threshold of theraputic prenatal gene therapy for birth defects. Genetic tweaking for improved intelligence or any number of other characteristics isn’t far behind.
Escaping To Inspiration
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Jul 18, 2011
I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord. Be strong and let your heart take courage. Yes, wait for the Lord. […]
Please Stop Writing Fantasy Novels
Andrew Peterson, Jul 15, 2011
Andrew Peterson: If I loathe most fantasy, why did I write The Wingfeather Saga?
‘Harry Potter’ and The Issues Beyond Fiction, Part 2
E. Stephen Burnett, Jul 14, 2011
Three more reasons why “Harry Potter” issues go beyond questions of fiction witchcraft and wizardry: we might swing wild on our “discernment” views, or accept or shun things based on appearance alone, or have inconsistent expectations of stories.
Job Hunting
Fred Warren, Jul 12, 2011
Time marches on, priorities shift, and old dreams are shelved in the face of new realities. While the final flight of shuttle Atlantis doesn’t mark the end of either NASA or the U.S. space program, it may be a good long while before we send American astronauts into space with the regularity to which we’ve grown accustomed.
Fans Or Community Or Personal Entourages
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Jul 11, 2011
Recently I posted an open letter to readers of Christian fantasy over at Facebook. The article centers on what readers can do to promote the books they like with the ultimate goal to send a message to publishers to put […]
Hutchmoot: There and Back Again
Bruce Hennigan, Jul 8, 2011
Author Bruce Hennigan attended the new Hutchmoot last year, and interviews author A.S. Peterson about this year’s plans. “If you concentrate on telling the best story you can, you won’t be able to keep Christ out of it. He’ll show up.”
‘Harry Potter’ and The Issues Beyond Fiction, Part 1
E. Stephen Burnett, Jul 7, 2011
Does thinking Biblically about “Harry Potter” matter beyond story-discernment practice? At issue are how we define “witchcraft” the Bible forbids, where we believe sin really comes from, and whether we tell the truth even about perceived bad guys.
Character(s) First
E. Stephen Burnett, Jul 6, 2011
I’m usually late in getting to the movies (if I go at all), and so despite the fact that it’s been out for a month, and despite the fact that I’ve been an X-Men fan since being hooked on the […]
You Write Like A Girl
Fred Warren, Jul 5, 2011
We’ve talked a lot here about a perceived feminine domination of Christian fiction in general, but does that extend into Christian speculative fiction–specifically science fiction? Or, is that flavor of literature as much a gentleman’s club for Christian writers as it seems to be for secular writers?
Independence Day
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Jul 4, 2011
Because of the Fourth of July, the USA’s Independence Day, there will be no Spec Faith article today. Feel free to hang out in the library. Just a reminder, this feature is still under construction. We have loaded only a […]
Writing In The Doldrums
Chris Walley, Jul 1, 2011
After his “Lamb Among the Stars” epic series, author Chris Walley shares what may be next, despite personal bouts with discouragement, distraction, and sense of displacement. How do Christian storytellers deal with these?
A Long and Glorious Tradition
E. Stephen Burnett, Jun 30, 2011
If you think speculative stories are (or should) only be a “niche” market, I have a few names: Dante. Bunyan. Visionary fiction’s patron saints, Lewis and Tolkien. Oh, and Psalty the Singing Songbook. Also introducing: the SF Library!
Observations: Eternity’s Student
Kaci Hill, Jun 29, 2011
Happy Wednesday! Well, I’ll tell you what’s happened over the last two weeks. First, I’ve finished off my insanely long Doctor Who series. Second, I had to have my OS reinstalled and I’m still trying to put everything back into […]
The Rowling
Fred Warren, Jun 28, 2011
Once upon an evening weary, as my eyes grew red and bleary, Surfing ‘cross the net for news, an awful, tedious, dreadful chore Suddenly there came a pinging—an alarum gently ringing Some neglected RSS feed that I’d never checked before…
Establishing Trust
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Jun 27, 2011
Yesterday I was reminded of an important principle in relationships — establishing trust. Author and apologist Ravi Zacharias aired an interview on his radio broadcast with his son about a trip he took to India. He’d been invited to discuss […]
Of Distant Places & Daring Sword Fights
Chawna Schroeder, Jun 24, 2011
“Far off places, daring sword fights, magic spells, a prince in disguise…” Belle’s description of her favorite book in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast has been a long-time favorite quote of mine. For me, it captures the essence of stories […]
Imagination: For God’s Glory and Others’ Good, Part 5
E. Stephen Burnett, Jun 23, 2011
More than any Biblical teaching or example, Jesus’ parables prove that imagination can glorify God and bless others. But were they only historical, or allegorical, or to teach moral Values? What may His stories show us about fiction today?
