Is Entertainment A Waste Of Time? Part 3
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Mar 28, 2011
Being a Christian is not a part time occupation. Consequently, when we’re at work, we are Christians. When we’re in the grocery store, we’re Christians. When we’re in our cars on the freeway, we’re Christians. And when we pick up a book or flip on the TV or log into the Internet, we are still Christians.
Guest Blog: Grace Bridges, Part 2
Grace Bridges, Mar 25, 2011
Avenir Eclectia: Adventures in Microfiction by Grace Bridges Imagine a world where writers can hang out and play, using existing characters or creating their own. Imagine how good it feels to finish a complete story in five minutes flat. Imagine […]
Should Visionary Novels Avoid Being Thick?
E. Stephen Burnett, Mar 24, 2011
For you, how long is too long for any sort of book, whether nonfiction, visionary fiction or any other fiction genre? And if you do crack the pages of a thicker novel, what keeps you reading, despite its length?
Observation: A Cut Above Frankenstein
Kaci Hill, Mar 23, 2011
G’morning. My apologies for my scarcity; time’s gotten a bit away from me. There’s a whole stack of topics sitting in my queue–all unwritten. A few notes, but, otherwise, little more than halves of ideas: scraps off to the side, […]
Overheard At The Agora
Fred Warren, Mar 22, 2011
Time: 37 A.D, about three hours past dawn. Place: A village in the countryside, a few furlongs from Rome. Two friends meet in the marketplace…
Is Entertainment A Waste Of Time? Part 2
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Mar 21, 2011
As a result of the discussion generated by last week’s post on this topic, I want to make some general statements. First, I don’t think there is a one-size-fits-all answer to the question, is entertainment a waste of time? In […]
Guest Blogger: Grace Bridges
Grace Bridges, Mar 18, 2011
Often found staring into trees in search of a tui. Mystic wordnerd. Independent friend. Urbanite hermit. Head in clouds. Literary. Beachwalker. Multilingual. Grace Bridges is a sci-fi author (Faith Awakened, 2007; Legendary Space Pilgrims, 2010) and owner of Splashdown Books, […]
The Potential Of Affectionate Parody
E. Stephen Burnett, Mar 17, 2011
Many ways exist to make fun of a story, not all of them hostile. What do you think about affectionate/hostile parody, takeoff and satire? Have I missed something? Is it okay to spoof something we enjoy? What about people we know?
The Character Of God In Speculative Fiction
E. Stephen Burnett, Mar 16, 2011
On Sunday, I noticed more than ever that when we sing about God, we mostly sing romantic songs. Old hymns weren’t like this, so much, but modern praise music is. We worship our loving, gentle, intimate, beautiful, wooing, dancing, serenading […]
Should Authors Critique Others’ Books?
E. Stephen Burnett, Mar 15, 2011
“Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy” (Proverbs 27:6). If Christians are meant to critique one another’s beliefs and actions in love, can’t we also graciously critique one another’s art and novels?
Is Entertainment A Waste Of Time? Part 1
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Mar 14, 2011
How many times did I see my mom shake her head as she clucked her tongue at whatever TV program we kids were watching. The thing was, my dad often was watching too, which put Mom on an island by […]
Making Sport Of End-times Thrillers, With Ted Kluck
Ted Kluck, Mar 11, 2011
Nonfiction/sports/personal/fiction parody author Ted Kluck on spoofing “Left Behind,” evangelical kitsch, Christ-figures, growth as writers, Christian publishing and how most “young restless Reformed” readers aren’t (yet?) into fiction.
$#@£₣! My Christian Fiction Doesn’t Say, Part 3
E. Stephen Burnett, Mar 10, 2011
Two final arguments about Bad Words in Christian fiction: how does one balance “love your weaker brothers in Christ” versus “weaker brothers must become stronger,” and the fact that some self-claimed “weaker brothers” are not genuine?
The Soundtracks Of Other Worlds
E. Stephen Burnett, Mar 8, 2011
Composer Murray Gold’s latest version of the “Doctor Who” theme tune is among my current rotating “playlist” before I delve into novel work. What artists and music do you enjoy, especially if you’re attempting to induce creative energy?
What Gives You Nightmares?
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Mar 7, 2011
Last Friday, our guest blogger, author Wayne Thomas Batson, wrote about fantasy as a vehicle for soul searching. His remarks reminded me of what I read from Anne Rice when she announced her conversion (since revoked) to the Catholic faith. […]
Guest Blog: Wayne Thomas Batson
Wayne Thomas Batson, Mar 4, 2011
Soul Searching Through Fantasy by Wayne Thomas Batson Life’s hard. I don’t care who you are or what tax bracket you’re in, you are going to get hurt. Scripture tells us that, as Christians, we’re not exempt from this broken, […]
$#@£₣! My Christian Fiction Doesn’t Say, Part 2
E. Stephen Burnett, Mar 3, 2011
Is a designated Bad Word always bad, even if it’s used in Fictitious Cussing? Some arguments, both against and for. Against: “Why do we need the cussing?” For: “Cussing helps show the evil in our world.” And what does Scripture say?
Images Of Faith and Fantasy
Rachel Starr Thomson, Mar 2, 2011
I’m curious: what images, illustrators, etc have given shape to your deepest concepts of faith and fantasy?
Writing and World-building Bit By Bit
E. Stephen Burnett, Mar 1, 2011
A finished novel, especially if it’s published, lends credibility and worth to the entire plodding process. But in the middle of the process, especially if the novel isn’t guaranteed fame or publication — isn’t it difficult to see the point?
What’s Wrong With Allegory?
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Feb 28, 2011
Why does allegory seem to get a lot of negative press? Last week the Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy (CSFF) Blog Tour featured The God Hater by Bill Myers. Some reviewers indicated that the allegorical aspects of the story lowered […]
Guest Blog: Donita Paul
Donita K. Paul, Feb 25, 2011
Donita Paul is the author of the popular DragonKeeper Chronicles and her current series, The Chiril Chronicles. In addition she has authored the children’s book The Dragon and the Turtle and the soon to be released The Dragon & the […]
$#@£₣! My Christian Fiction Doesn’t Say, Part 1
E. Stephen Burnett, Feb 24, 2011
Here I hope to represent and discuss both sides of the Fictitious Cussing debate, pros and cons, rebuttals for and against. Why? Because I’m still sorting through it all myself. And last year I thought a little differently than I do today.
Narnia Collides With Real Life
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Feb 21, 2011
C. S. Lewis and his theology; Narnia and its impact on writers, on believers; the movies and the ways they diverged from the books. All of it is interesting to speculative writers, and in particular to Christian speculative writers. But […]
Refuting ‘universalism’ Slanders Of C.S. Lewis, Part 3
E. Stephen Burnett, Feb 17, 2011
Lewis was not a universalist. He was not a closet compromising-with-Satan “pagan” either. He believed the essentials of the faith: that he was a sinner and that Christ, by grace, saved him. That, at the core, makes one a Christian.
Reading Christian Speculative Fiction
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Feb 14, 2011
I suppose first I need to define my terms. Fiction can include short stories available at places like Residential Aliens or Digital Dragon or it can refer to novel-length stories for middle graders, young adults, or adults. The term speculative […]
Guest Blog: Jeff Gerke
Jeff Gerke, Feb 11, 2011
Jeff Gerke has been called the de facto gatekeeper of Christian speculative fiction. After writing his own speculative fiction and spearheading the launch of a fiction imprint dedicated to Christian speculative fiction at a major Christian publishing company, Jeff branched […]
Refuting Universalism Slanders Of C.S. Lewis, Part 2
E. Stephen Burnett, Feb 10, 2011
In C.S. Lewis’s “The Last Battle,” the character Emeth did not at first believe in Aslan, yet still somehow crossed over into paradise. Christians get confused about this. Some use it to reject Lewis as a universalist. Is that a right reading?
Speculating In The Open
E. Stephen Burnett, Feb 9, 2011
In Wednesday’s post, Becky Miller responded to Mike Duran’s guest post (“Is Christian Speculative Fiction an Oxymoron?“) by writing, In fact I’m saying “speculative fiction” is incongruous. Novelists of any strip only “speculate” within the parameters of their belief system, […]
“Christian Speculative Fiction” Is Not An Oxymoron
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Feb 7, 2011
In Friday’s guest post, “Is ‘Christian Speculative Fiction’ an Oxymoron?” debut novelist Mike Duran (if I “got” him correctly 😉 ) hypothesized that a Christian’s theology may get in the way of speculating about our world — that which is […]
Guest Blog: Mike Duran
Mike Duran, Feb 4, 2011
Is “Christian Speculative Fiction” an Oxymoron? By Mike Duran The label “Christian Speculative Fiction” is an oxymoron. At least, that’s one of my going theories. Believers who enjoy speculative fiction often bemoan the lack of such titles in Christian outlets. […]
