The life of a writer makes for a great illustration of the biblical truth—you reap what you sow. I remember when I first started writing seriously. One woman mentored me with a firm pen and kindness. I couldn't thank her enough, but I tried. She said, "Enough of that. If you really want to thank me pass it on. Do the same for others."
This past week I came across information about a Flash Fiction contest. It sounded interesting. Fantasy/Sci-Fi preferred, but not required, and only 100 words or less. So I posted the information on another one of my blog for writers. To my surprised the contest promoter thanked me by email. I also heard from a few aspiring writers letting me know they are submitting stories and how excited they are. Things have progressed from there and along the way I've made a few new friends. I've offered to give a couple of my e-books as prizes.
If you are interested in a flash fiction contest, Sci-fi/Fantasy, only 100 words or less—this is one for you. The contest is being put on my Residential Aliens and submissions will be accepted until Sept. 15. Accepted themes must be G or PG. If you're interested, you can find the details at their website.
Top stories will be featured in a special issue of Residential Alien and first and second place winners will receive a copy of one of my books! What more could you ask for.
Seriously, you can never out give God. I challenge you to try.
8/24/2007
8/22/2007
Why I Support The Lost Genre Guild
Change.
No not pocket change. I’m talking about the change that redirects us in a path that we weren’t headed towards before.
Why are we so scared of change? Particularly Christians. We should be the least to fear change. In the end, we’ll be resting with our reward, so you’d think that we’d fear it the least. Not so.
Did you know that in the next ten years, fifty thousand churches in America will close their doors. Why? Because they fear change. You cannot expect to run a business-in today’s world-like you did in 1960. It’d be destined to fail. However, many churches still operate this way.
Many Christians go by the motto, “If it was good enough for my grandfather, then it is good enough for me.” I’ve heard it a thousand times. But I can’t say that I totally agree with it. They say, “God doesn’t change. His message doesn’t change.” Now this I can totally agree with.
It’s not about changing the message. I don’t want to change the message, just the method.
Changing the method is exactly why I support the Lost Genre Guild. Take a look at the CBA. Not much different then most churches (and Christians). They have all of these rules and guidelines, some I think are good but others I believe they could pitch. The problem is that they don’t leave any room for change.
Now don’t get me wrong, I think CBA is great. I’ve read plenty of good CBA books. However, those books aren’t for everyone. In fact, many that fit under there guidelines will never find their way into an unbeliever.
Say What?
Sure that’s just an assumption, but I’d say it’s fairly accurate. And if that is true, then I’d say that we need to change the method. That’s where Lost Genre Guild comes in. Behold a group of people within the industry that are promoting books that are beyond what CBA will publish.
Think about it. How many people out there read science fiction and fantasy? What about horror novels? Well, if I can use movies for an example since it’s so hard to get accurate book figures. Out of the top fifty all time box office movies, thirty-six are of the three afore mentioned genres.
It seems like to me that promoting these types of stories with a Christian slant would be ideal. Seems like a great way to change up the methods a little bit. Billions of box office dollars tells us that.
I’m not saying that we need to conform to the world. We can’t reach the troubled souls of this world from our churches, we have to go out where they are. Find ways to extend Jesus to them.
Don’t ever let someone tell you that it can’t be done. Just because no one else has done it, doesn’t mean it cant be done.
Remember, all things are possible through Jesus. Your idea can never be too big. Reach for the stars, and above all don’t let the dream killers kill your dreams.
God doesn’t change. His message doesn’t change. The method…it can be revolutionized for the generations to come.
No not pocket change. I’m talking about the change that redirects us in a path that we weren’t headed towards before.
Why are we so scared of change? Particularly Christians. We should be the least to fear change. In the end, we’ll be resting with our reward, so you’d think that we’d fear it the least. Not so.
Did you know that in the next ten years, fifty thousand churches in America will close their doors. Why? Because they fear change. You cannot expect to run a business-in today’s world-like you did in 1960. It’d be destined to fail. However, many churches still operate this way.
Many Christians go by the motto, “If it was good enough for my grandfather, then it is good enough for me.” I’ve heard it a thousand times. But I can’t say that I totally agree with it. They say, “God doesn’t change. His message doesn’t change.” Now this I can totally agree with.
It’s not about changing the message. I don’t want to change the message, just the method.
Changing the method is exactly why I support the Lost Genre Guild. Take a look at the CBA. Not much different then most churches (and Christians). They have all of these rules and guidelines, some I think are good but others I believe they could pitch. The problem is that they don’t leave any room for change.
Now don’t get me wrong, I think CBA is great. I’ve read plenty of good CBA books. However, those books aren’t for everyone. In fact, many that fit under there guidelines will never find their way into an unbeliever.
Say What?
Sure that’s just an assumption, but I’d say it’s fairly accurate. And if that is true, then I’d say that we need to change the method. That’s where Lost Genre Guild comes in. Behold a group of people within the industry that are promoting books that are beyond what CBA will publish.
Think about it. How many people out there read science fiction and fantasy? What about horror novels? Well, if I can use movies for an example since it’s so hard to get accurate book figures. Out of the top fifty all time box office movies, thirty-six are of the three afore mentioned genres.
It seems like to me that promoting these types of stories with a Christian slant would be ideal. Seems like a great way to change up the methods a little bit. Billions of box office dollars tells us that.
I’m not saying that we need to conform to the world. We can’t reach the troubled souls of this world from our churches, we have to go out where they are. Find ways to extend Jesus to them.
Don’t ever let someone tell you that it can’t be done. Just because no one else has done it, doesn’t mean it cant be done.
Remember, all things are possible through Jesus. Your idea can never be too big. Reach for the stars, and above all don’t let the dream killers kill your dreams.
God doesn’t change. His message doesn’t change. The method…it can be revolutionized for the generations to come.
8/20/2007
Adam's StoryBlogging again
Adam's Blog has an Orwellian monologue up entitled, "Your Health is the Government's Business."
I see a lot of potential with this premise. Consider this my official call for the novel version! :)
Yours in Christ,
Andrea Graham
Ask Andrea: Christian Advice and Book Reviews from a Biblical worldview
All For Christ: Shine His light, Believe His word, Live His love.
I see a lot of potential with this premise. Consider this my official call for the novel version! :)
Yours in Christ,
Andrea Graham
Ask Andrea: Christian Advice and Book Reviews from a Biblical worldview
All For Christ: Shine His light, Believe His word, Live His love.
The Kind of Post you Get . . .
. . . when you ask Andrea to post at the last minute.
Recently, the guild had a somewhat sectarian debate on letting God speak in fiction. It doesn't have to be a divisive issue at all, though. To me, the question comes down to this: are we free as authors to write about any subject and include any type of character or are we not?
Some argue we shouldn't allow characters to have conversations with God because "most people don't." Actually, we have no way of knowing that; most people in our culture would never dare to admit to it if they did. Modern prophets (the genuine kind) tend to keep their Source close to the breast, if you know what I mean.
Even if we presume this argument to be true and agree that few, in modern America at least, will have this kind of experience . . . so what? I could have swore the Lost Genre Guild was a group of speculative fiction writers. When have any of us limited ourselves to the here and now, everyday experiences typical of most Americans and the first world? In fact, last I checked, the majority of readers are looking for an escape from the tedium of their normal existence. Certainly it's a challenge. In my experience, the ability to pull off techniques we normally associate with amateurs and make it work is the mark of a true pro.
I see a few factors that will shape this issue in our personal writing:
1) Personal theology. Obviously, someone who believes God doesn't speak anymore isn't likely to portray true prophecy no matter how far "out there" speculatively s/he gets.
2) The character. This is the big one for me. If a character due to their personality and gifts are inclined to interpret God's tugging at our hearts in terms of conversation, then by all means show it as they perceive it. In fiction, however, it is always best to mix things up. In real life, we all have different gifts, experiences with God, and levels of maturity. And the same should hold true in the worlds we create. If everyone in your story is chatting with God regularly, you have a problem just as much as you are any time all your characters all have the exact same gifts and experience with God.
3) Your audience. If you're writing for an audience that will be inspired by a character with such a gifting, who would see it as a taste of what we will have in Heaven, by all means. But there's probably audiences where it wouldn't be appropriate.
4) God. What is He leading you to do? Obviously, we should never presume to say "God said" without His blessing. But remember, whether He has a speaking part or not, as Christians, we are Christ's ambassadors in all things. We should always take care when we write to make sure everything our work has to say is of Him--no matter who says it. We will be held to account for every word we write in His Kingdom.
Recently, the guild had a somewhat sectarian debate on letting God speak in fiction. It doesn't have to be a divisive issue at all, though. To me, the question comes down to this: are we free as authors to write about any subject and include any type of character or are we not?
Some argue we shouldn't allow characters to have conversations with God because "most people don't." Actually, we have no way of knowing that; most people in our culture would never dare to admit to it if they did. Modern prophets (the genuine kind) tend to keep their Source close to the breast, if you know what I mean.
Even if we presume this argument to be true and agree that few, in modern America at least, will have this kind of experience . . . so what? I could have swore the Lost Genre Guild was a group of speculative fiction writers. When have any of us limited ourselves to the here and now, everyday experiences typical of most Americans and the first world? In fact, last I checked, the majority of readers are looking for an escape from the tedium of their normal existence. Certainly it's a challenge. In my experience, the ability to pull off techniques we normally associate with amateurs and make it work is the mark of a true pro.
I see a few factors that will shape this issue in our personal writing:
1) Personal theology. Obviously, someone who believes God doesn't speak anymore isn't likely to portray true prophecy no matter how far "out there" speculatively s/he gets.
2) The character. This is the big one for me. If a character due to their personality and gifts are inclined to interpret God's tugging at our hearts in terms of conversation, then by all means show it as they perceive it. In fiction, however, it is always best to mix things up. In real life, we all have different gifts, experiences with God, and levels of maturity. And the same should hold true in the worlds we create. If everyone in your story is chatting with God regularly, you have a problem just as much as you are any time all your characters all have the exact same gifts and experience with God.
3) Your audience. If you're writing for an audience that will be inspired by a character with such a gifting, who would see it as a taste of what we will have in Heaven, by all means. But there's probably audiences where it wouldn't be appropriate.
4) God. What is He leading you to do? Obviously, we should never presume to say "God said" without His blessing. But remember, whether He has a speaking part or not, as Christians, we are Christ's ambassadors in all things. We should always take care when we write to make sure everything our work has to say is of Him--no matter who says it. We will be held to account for every word we write in His Kingdom.
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