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Helping to Change the World…Word by Word

The Steve Laube Agency

The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World Word by Word

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Home » The Writing Life » Page 82

The Writing Life

Real Life is Edgy

By Dan Balowon October 18, 2016
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A major topic of discussion among writers of all types of Christian books is the issue of how far is too far when showing someone’s life before they surrendered to Christ, and how real you show their journey of sanctification once they exit the broad road.

It’s called the “edge.” A lot of writers want to write with an edge, with real language and situations to make it more like real life. After all, the evil guy in a novel doesn’t say, “Excuse me sir, I feel you are incorrect in your assessment of my mother.”

To explore this issue, I’ll first give a simple “cop-out” answer to why Christian publishing is hesitant about edgy themes, and then I’ll get a little deeper in an attempt to unpack the issue.

The Cop-Out Explanation

Literary agents aren’t to blame since we listen to what publishers tell us and they mostly avoid profanity and sexual situations, which might make a book more “real” in some opinions.

Publishers aren’t to blame since they listen to their distribution channels and other than Amazon, just about every place selling Christian books tells them they want “clean” books. So publishers are off the hook.

Distribution channels (other than Amazon) aren’t to blame because they listen to their customers. Complaints from customers are never related to a lack of profanity and sexual situations. But when a book shows up with a mild profane word in it or a situation deemed inappropriate…the fireworks begin. Retailers want to avoid complaints.

Finally, customers are not to blame, because customers are always right.

The Complicated Explanation

Publishing is not about literary agencies, publishing companies, channels of distribution and customer segments as if they were machinery. It is easy to criticize a machine or industry.

But publishing is about the people who work at literary agencies, publishers, channels of distribution and the people who buy books.

In general, Christians seek to avoid putting things in their minds reminding them of a previous life when Christ held no influence over their life. As they cross over to the new life found as a Christ-follower, they desire to put new things into their minds.

Honorable things. Lovely things.

I recall sending a proposal to an editor on a very difficult theme…the suicide of a loved one. It was a great story of recovery. But the editor declined because it was too close to their personal experience. They simply couldn’t bear to work on a book, which mirrored their own personal pain.

So, was it a publishing company turning it down, or a person?  A person of course, just like it always is. People make decisions, not companies and because people in Christian publishing in general would rather avoid the “edge,” those books with an edge will have difficulty finding a publisher in the Christian market.

In a rather sweeping generality, Christian publishers have a corporate brand, which distinguishes them from the “world” by publishing books, which are not even close to what the world considers appropriate.

Christian publishers are generally pretty conservative, so authors who want to write edgy plots with language and certain situations included for impact and realism are generally going to be frustrated by the lack of interest in their work.

Oh, well, the issue will never be settled in this life, but it is worth a lively discussion.

I recall a debate from almost 40 years ago between two musicians over the issue of what made for good Christian music. It was frustrating to watch as a much-younger version of myself who was seeking a definitive answer to the question.

Now older, I’ve observed how God allows Christians to disagree on certain topics because he knows the true answer lies somewhere between the human viewpoints. The mild tug of war is how he allows his imperfect children to set boundaries in a fallen world where the answer to a particular question needs to be painted in a color neither black or white.

 

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Category: Art, Book Business, Book Proposals, Get Published, The Publishing Life, The Writing LifeTag: Edgy, The Publishing Life

Writing through the Fog      

By Karen Ballon October 12, 2016
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You may have noticed I haven’t had a blog posted here since losing my dear dad a few weeks ago. I want to thank all of you for your kind expressions of sympathy and your encouragement. You blessed me a great deal. God has held me close, granting me wondrous touches of His kindness and peace. Though grief hits me at unexpected times—such as last night, while I was clearing off the kitchen counter …

Read moreWriting through the Fog      
Category: Personal, The Writing LifeTag: The Writing Life, Writers Block

The Writer’s Prayer

By Dan Balowon October 4, 2016
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Mainly because he isn’t around to defend himself, I am going to take issue today with the great Saint Augustine of Hippo.* Intellectually and spiritually I know he would eat my lunch, so I waited sixteen hundred years after his death to be sure it was safe. Also, since Augustine didn’t speak and write in English, but Latin, I assume his writing lost something in the translation. If he were to come …

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Category: The Writing Life, TheologyTag: Prayer, The Writing Life

Not All Opinions Are Valid

By Dan Balowon September 13, 2016
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Today I am opening myself up for criticism from anyone who knows me well and could identify the times I spoke or wrote about something when I had no idea about what I was communicating. The blogger’s curse…to fill space, we venture into uncharted territory. I confess starting to write a post for this agency’s blog and getting halfway through before realizing I had no idea what I was talking about. …

Read moreNot All Opinions Are Valid
Category: The Writing Life, Writing CraftTag: Craft, Qualifications

Book Topics That Will Always Be Needed (Unfortunately)

By Dan Balowon August 30, 2016
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With hundreds of thousands of new books published every year in the U.S., very few are on topics never previously covered. In the Christian publishing world, a quick glimpse back in history will reveal similar patterns of behavior and spiritual need no matter when you decide to stop your time machine. While many things change, some never change…like people. Look to Scripture as the starting point. …

Read moreBook Topics That Will Always Be Needed (Unfortunately)
Category: Creativity, The Writing Life, Writing CraftTag: Book Topics, Creativity

The Accidental Pharisee

By Dan Balowon July 19, 2016
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Anyone who spends even a little time reading the New Testament discovers the only times Jesus got really angry was when he confronted religious people who were so far off the intended track they needed outright and immediate correction or even condemnation. Jesus could judge, after all he was God in the flesh. Those who didn’t know any better were treated with relative kindness, called upon to …

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Category: Career, Communication, The Writing Life, TheologyTag: Career, Communication, The Writing Life

The Dark Side of Silence

By Karen Ballon July 6, 2016
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It took me a long time to be comfortable with silence. I am, in essence, a Golden Retriever crossed with an otter, so I’m all about fun, fun, fun! I gotta play, gotta move, gotta be in the middle of whatever is happening. Whee! Ain’t life a barrel of puppies?? But plunk me down to sit still and be silent? AAAHHHHH! I used to think I was alone in fidgeting when it got too quiet.  As for flat-out …

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Category: Creativity, The Writing LifeTag: Silence, The Writing Life

Inspiration or Perspiration?

By Steve Laubeon June 27, 2016
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Thomas Edison was to have said that “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.” Apparently he made 1,000 failed attempts to invent the light bulb. After accomplishing it he was asked about all the previous failures. Edison replied, “I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps.” The exercise of writing can be somewhat similar. If you …

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Category: Career, Craft, Creativity, Editing, The Writing LifeTag: perseverance, The Writing Life

Writing in the Night

By Karen Ballon June 15, 2016
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Does it seem to any of you that things the last few months or so have been really hard? That there are more people struggling and hurting? As I’ve gone through my dad’s continued health struggles (2 more hospitalizations in the last 3 ½ weeks), my own health frustrations (bursitis on my knee after starting an exercise program of walking on the treadmill. I mean, seriously? I start exercising and …

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Category: The Writing Life, TheologyTag: Discouragement, The Writing Life

The Hardest Part of Being a Writer

By Karen Ballon June 8, 2016
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If there’s anything I hate to do, it’s wait. At the gas station, at the grocery store, at the doctor’s office…it’s wait, wait, wait! Drives me nuts. I want to get going, get things done, move, do something! Not just stand or sit there. If you’ve been at this writing gig for long, you’ve faced that most difficult aspect of writing. The Waiting. You scramble to refine your craft, make your …

Read moreThe Hardest Part of Being a Writer
Category: Book Proposals, The Writing Life, TheologyTag: book proposals, The Writing Life, waiting
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