By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills
Christian fiction writers often hear these questions:
- “Why write fiction when you could be creating nonfiction?”
- “If you feel writing is a ministry, then why are you putting your time and effort into fiction?”
- “A real Christian would be writing something with real sustenance, not fiction.”
- “Isn’t nonfiction how people learn how to live life to its fullest and better themselves?”
I used to swallow my displeasure with those questions and compose a gracious response that sounded like I was playing defense for a losing team.
Not any more. I’m proud of what I do, and I’m not ashamed of my purpose. After years of following my passion for writing story, I’ve learned to term the individual questioning my life’s work as a “low information reader.” They mean well, don’t they? Not necessarily.
How many abused women have purchased books about how to prevent a beating? Did those women reach for information on a retailer’s shelf about abused victim’s legal rights, counseling, or finding courage amid pain?
How many victims of human trafficking have found freedom by asking their captor to buy them a book about overcoming trust issues or how to escape an inappropriate relationship?
How many addictions have been resolved by forcing the sufferer to read a book about drug abuse?
How many marriages have been saved because a woman shoved a counseling book into her husband’s face?
How many relationships have survived because a man insisted his wife read books about how to cook, clean, childcare, etc?
I think you get the picture. It’s unlikely any of the above examples found solace, peace, answers, escape, or courage in a nonfiction book because they were either too frightened to be found reading it, or they simply weren’t interested. But that victim could read a novel about abuse, human trafficking, an addiction, or a failing marriage and learn how someone changed and grew into a better person.
A novel provides hope and inspires the reader to seek a better life. A novel is a non-threatening environment that offers sound solutions to real problems. The abuser, the captor, the addicted person, or the unfaithful spouse will not feel exposed when their victims are engaged in reading a novel. The writer plants the seeds of change and subtlety challenges the reader to grow beyond their world.
If the suggestion of using story to encourage a better life sounds familiar, then you’ve read your Bible. Jesus used stories to convict, teach, and comfort the people to whom He ministered. He orchestrated teachable moments relative to the culture of His day while entertaining the listeners. I believe story will be a means of helping people until this present earth ceases to exist.
I challenge those who love story to explore the themes in characters’ lives. Within the pages of an exceptional story, a reader finds grace and truth.
What issues have you seen addressed in novels? What would you like to see?
Comments 11
DiAnn, Your comments are “right on!” I sincerely want my novel to reach out and give hope to those struggling with the heartbreak we encounter in our complicated lives and turn heartbreak into joy. Thank you for encouraging us.
Thanks, Ginny, so glad I was able to confirm your feelings. Write-on!
I totally agree, DiAnn. Using real-life issues in novels and walking the reader through the heroine’s experiences into a life of freedom is beautiful. Even more so if the reader finds Jesus through your story.
Loretta, which is a big factor why you and I write fiction. 🙂
Reading fiction means I can imagine myself in one (or more) of the character’s place(s). It’s fulfilling a secret fantasy to be a ____ (fill in the blank). It’s knowing Right will always triumph over Wrong, Good will always defeat Evil, the girl and boy will always Live Happily Ever After.
“Real life” rarely ends up that way. Too many times things don’t work out, there isn’t a happy ending. Life is messy, painful, disappointing, full of unhappiness. People let us down, lie to us, can’t/don’t meet our expectations. Many times, we don’t meet our own self-appointed goals.
With fiction, the rules change. We know there will be a satisfying end. Evildoers will suffer and be defeated. Heroes and heroines will win the prize of victory, usually after a life-or-death fight. Cinderella gets her Prince Charming. For some of us, fiction is the only escape we have from lives which are nowhere near where we thought we’d be. Fiction can be the lone bright, enjoyable spot in a dark, dismal day.
To those who write fiction, keep writing! You have no idea how important your stories are. At times, the words you type out on a keyboard, scribble on college-rule notebook paper, mean the world to a reader. So, thank you for your imagination. You are appreciated.
To DiAnn Mills: you are an AMAZING woman of God!! Not only as an author, a co-/director of conferences, a mentor to up-and-coming authors, but as a friend, an example of Christ. Thank you for you!
Jann, thank you for your gift of insight
Hi DiAnn,
I’m glad to know that I’m not the only one who has heard that question. My brain always focuses on Jesus’s parables. But…there’s that little thread…that wondered if what I was writing was creative enough or serious enough to relay God’s message. I never think such thoughts for very long. Some of the first Christian novels that I read (years ago) were written by Jeanette Oke. They changed my life and gave me such hope. To be able to reach the heart of one person would justify my efforts. You are amazing, DiAnn, both as an author and a person. Thank you so very much for your encouragement.
Rebecca, I’m thanking you for your encouragement and support. I love story – words – how people survive tragedies, victories, and defeats.
You should be proud of what you do Ms. DiAnn. You are an amazing writer, and I love to read your work ma’am. Christian fiction, in my not so humble opinion, serves an important place in our world. It gives readers that opportunity for a vicarious experience that takes them away from “the real world” without all of the garbage and filth so much fiction contains these days. I suspect that some readers of Christian fiction gain valuable life lessons they can apply to their journey in faith through this writing. It’s both entertaining and uplifting! Thank you for doing what you do ma’am. God’s blessings.
J.D., your name should have been Barnabas – the Encourager. Thanks!