Okay, so I've got the tiniest idea of what I would do with a Christian fantasy novel with angels and demons, and spiritual warfare, of course. But I'm scared to try it.
I've read Frank Perretti's book, "This Present Darkness" and it didn't bother me in any way, (I'll explain in a minute), and I thought he did a wonderful job of portraying the angels and demons. But I'm scared that I might seriously mess up those characters if I tried to write them. I would hate to have it turn out terrible, and feel ashamed of it in front of God. I don't want to write something that doesn't feel like it would really happen with an angel. Plus, I don't want to just take God's helpers and all of the spiritual forces of the world and just make it sacreligious, or anything. I don't want to come off wrong. Perretti didn't seem like he did that, but I'm scared that with the story written, I might look back and worry that I had written something I wouldn't want God or my mother to know about.
So what do I do? Do I leap and try it? Do I play it safe, and just stick to non-spiritual stories? I don't know. I can't figure out what to do.
Now, just so you are aware, I am not all incredibly attached to my tiny story idea, it's just a little plot that started blooming in my head. But I am fairly certain that, if I decided to, I could leave it behind and never look back for any serious amount of time.
So anyway, I'm nervous about trying. Not sure it's my place to write about. Not sure I could do it. Qui sait?
*~*Laura*~*
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Writers are dreamers with good grammar skills.
Psalm 55:22a "Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you."
Right now I'm mostly worried about surviving November! (It's my first year!)
112,245 / 50,000
Mar 19, 2008 - 09 24
It really comes down to how you feel about it, because God's going to love you no matter what you decide to do. And there are so many depictions of angels in stories and such, that it is hard to determine what the 'standard' is. Also, as this is a fantasy there is some freedom there. I think you should give it a shot. You're never going to know if you don't try. If you like it, that's great. If you don't, then don't continue with the story.
50,088 / 50,000
Mar 19, 2008 - 18 05
I don't altogether understand the Christian god, who seems to be One Weird Dude...but if you're having the thoughts and they're wrong thoughts, haven't you already sinned? Or conversely, if you're not sure the novel will come out "right", don't you have to write it first to know? If it turns out to be terrifyingly sacrilegious when you're done, can't you just say "whoopsie" and delete it after apologizing suitably to God and your mother? What kind of god would hold it against you if you--despite your obvious good intentions--couldn't get it "right"?
67,583 / 50,000
Mar 22, 2008 - 10 44
Thanks both of you. : ) I guess you're both right. I might just have to try it to see how it works out. Then if it's terrible, I'll apologize to God and delete the whole thing.
I won't try it just yet, since I'm currently 44k into a new story, but I may have to try it soon sometime. At least a few pages, just to get a feel for what it would be like.
Thanks again!
*~*Laura*~*
51,333 / 50,000
Mar 23, 2008 - 13 52
Hey, Laura, this past year was my first year too, and though I didn't have a story idea like yours for this past November, I've had story ideas that involved angels and demons before. I've also read Perretti's books, and they are very good. But I agree with the others' comments: if the idea is growing within you, then I think you should write it. I don't think you're going to do anything that would put angels or God in a bad light, and besides, how do you know that He didn't give you this idea in the first place? And if He did give you the idea, then I think He will also help you write it the correct way.
Why don't you pray and ask for the Lord's guidance before you begin, and then begin. Then continue to pray as you write, asking for the Lord to lead you. I believe He will bless your writing and you will watch a fantastic story develop, right before your eyes!
Blessings to you,
Nonny
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Apr 1, 2008 - 09 22
I struggled with the same thing concerning an idea for a story I was thinking of writing. The main problem, I think, is that the Bible gives us only a little information about the spiritual realm. The scarcity of info means we have very little to base things like "fights" and "winning/losing" on, regarding angels and demons. There are a couple of things we know - e.g. Jesus' authority is final, and absolute - but so much that we don't know. It appears from the books of Daniel and Revelation that angels do fight demons, and can be resisted by them, but we don't know the nature of that fight. Is it Frank Peretti-esque, with swords and humming wings? If so, what happens when an angel/demon is struck? They obviously don't "die", so...? We simply don't know.
Like you, I was hesitant about writing about something of which we have so little knowledge. Frank Peretti devised a neat but, I believe, unbiblical system for angelic "weakness" (lack of "prayer cover") which he used to good effect for dramatic purposes, but I was uncomfortable with doing the same for myself. So I ended up putting the idea aside.
However, I have actually written a Frank Peretti-esque short story with a fight between an angel and a demon, and was comfortable doing so. I do believe the idea was given to me by the Lord, and that He blessed my writing. Perhaps He has used it in one or more of my reader's lives, or perhaps it was simply the blessing of writing it. :-) My story is about a sceptic of the supernatural who encounters more than he bargained for when he attends a friend's séance, and was written with a purpose - to show that the dangers of meddling with the occult can be very real. There's nothing about "prayer cover" or anything like that - it's simply good vs evil, and good triumphs... :-) If you're interested in reading it, you can go to the website on my profile.
In answer to your question, I would advise praying about it, and waiting. If you feel the Lord giving you the go-ahead (He knows your heart, and your struggle!) then by all means see how it turns out. But if you're uncomfortable about it, at any point, then stop.
Hope that helps.
Regards, KimHua