Christian Lit

I kind of am. It'll be a fantasy, but it will be completely God-honoring, with no "good" magic or superpowers. Kind of like the Chronicles of Narnia, but completely different as far as plot and theme.

im not specifically writing christian lit but i always at some point incorporate belief into the plot. i often write loosely based on experiences and a lot of my experiences involve a ministry like atmosphere. i'm debating about whether or not to talk about differences in worship styles in my story; mostly the trends i've seen and how argument splinters christian unity from both ends.

I'm planning on writing a Christian Lit, but I already know that it will be quite difficult to accomplish, because there is no real plot yet. Just a very small idea that keeps coming back. Which is one of the reasons why I decided to write about is. So now I have to work it out.

... sort of? I'm a Christian myself, but I came up with most of the ideas for this particular story when my spirituality was more nebulous, and carries a lot of themes from when I was more Pagan. It involves several characters in various stages of their spiritual journeys, meeting on a bus and learning from each other through conversations on a multitude of topics.

We'll see how it turns out though. I plan to make this story as much a glory to God as is in my power.

By the way, MusicalMe, that sounds like a very interesting story. I may want to read it if you're ever willing to share.

- Serena

Sounds interesting, SR Castells! I added you as a writing buddy if that's ok.

And I'll be posting my novel as I go here: http://musicalmenano.livejournal.com

2008 - Finding the Words (epic fail)
2009 - Doxology (I can do this!)

I think I am. The idea I have so far is that a 24 year old woman is in a really desperate state and feeling entirely alone in the world. She only had one friend since middle school. After losing the baby that her and the friend were going to have her friend ends up committing suicide. Although she has family she lives too far away for her to keep in touch with them. As she is essentially alone in the world she plummets into a depression. One night she wanders around the city in the middle of the night in pouring rain. As she begins to cross a street an oncoming car careens toward her. Miraculously someone knocks her out of the way. Then begins her spiritual journey.

The end is still a bit sketchy though. I'm not sure if I'm going to focus on the spirituality of it as much as I think I will.

May Ecanus be with you!

Sorry for the double post my internet crapped out.

May Ecanus be with you!

Fun ideas all around, everybody. Despite that sketchy end, sounds like you've got a lot fleshed out already, starblack--good work!

I've never read much Christian fiction, I won't lie...I was planning on doing something akin to "Blue Like Jazz," which I know isn't really a novel as much as it is a memoir (but, then again, it's becoming a movie soon and it does indeed have some sort of novel-like qualities within!) but we'll see what happens.

Have a wonderful October, everyone--I don't know about you, but I'm chomping at the bit to start already! [Or maybe that's just because I'm not thrilled about writing a couple papers for classes due before November 1]

--Mike

"Don't think about what you're writing. The writing should tell you what you're thinking."

Another Christian lit writer here. :) Working on book #5, aiming for a Jodi Picoult-type feel.

Alison Strobel ~ stories that make you think

Hey, same boat with me!
I'm attempting to write a Christian novel too. I don't want to reveal too much at the moment, since I'm still working on the plot, but I have a good feeling about it.
Nice to know I'm not alone here! Hope you guys do great this year! :)

Mine is an analogous romance fiction, blatantly and unapologetically Christian themes, but I don't anticipate putting Scripture in there and God's name will not appear on it; however I said this about my thriller/psychological horror novel I wrote last year and about half way through broke down and started using God, Jesus, Bible, Holy Spirit, and such words directly.

The story is about our walk with God and how much He Loves us, but it's all analogously demonstrated through the story of two young newly weds who are happily married for a year now and various things crop up that challenge their marriage. It was inspired by a conversation with a friend and me reading Hinds Feet On High Places by Hannah Hurnard.

2009: No Title Yet
2008: Took A Break
2007: Deadkeepers (36,000+)
2006: Untitled (4,500)

Yup, Christian Lit! Mine's about a group of teens that either choose to or are forced by parents to attend a church group type thing. All of them are in different places with their relationships with God, ranging from 'I want to change my name and move out of the country to escape the embarrassment of being seen at Church' to completely devoted to Him. Anyway, the first half or so is just trying to reconcile the world today (Specifically high school) with religion, because that's a problem I face a lot and I feel like I can write about it because of that experience. And then in the second half, I think someone's going to die and really test everyone's faith...

I don't know. Basically, I'm just doing this because I feel like, well, I might not be the best writer ever (I really don't even think I'm very good), but I want to use whatever talent I have for God.

And I realize that sounds incredibly corny, but too bad, that's how I feel. :P

Nano '08: The Forest (Complete!)
NaNo '09: Venture

In any event, I'm about to embark on my first Christian Novel myself. Last year I ended up with a fantasy thing quite unexpectedly though, so I guess I'll see where it goes, but I have done more planning for this one. It's basically a book about three women, all unbelievers, and their stories about coming to a faith in Jesus and God. My main purpose for it right now is to address some of things that make people unbelievers. Each woman has her own story. Two of the women are really old though, and their stories are going to be told through snail mail from the past. XD Anywho, best of luck everyone on your stories, and may God bless! <3

That sounds really interesting and powerful, Casidhe! I'd definitely be willing to read that if I saw it on a shelf at a bookstore. :)

I myself have been entertaining the idea of writing a Christian Lit novel but I'm a bit hesitant; I'm not sure if I want my themes to be blatantly Christian or if I want it more of an unspoken undertone to the whole novel. I tend to lean towards the latter if only because I worry I might send the wrong Christian messages across inadvertently. Religion seems to be a delicate subject on a whole and so many interpretations could spell trouble for my novel. :/

I'm loving the ideas I've heard so far from everyone, though, and wish you all good luck! ^_^

NaNo'07: Entwined (Won!)
NaNo'08: The Musician's Muse (Won!)
NaNo'09: If Time Permits (Here's to hoping!)

I'm guessing it's all right to post on more than one genre forum, as that what i feel is the best plan. I'm totally new to this, but it seemed like a way to make life more interesting!!
My basic plot at the moment is about a charactor who walks through a magical/ mystical wood (think some thinks you'd get in a stand word combined with fairies/ trolls etc). As she walks through the woods to deal with each challenge she is transported back to meet a charactor from history, they might be famous Christians but more likely contemporaries of the famous person (think the groom who looked after Luthers' horse etc) who will through that period in church history help the person through the challenge.
I'm guessing therefor that it's part fantasy, part history and part Christian lit, but we'll see where it goes, but i feel that it will need quiet a lot of research pre Nov 1st.

I have no clue on spelling and grammer (i have dyslexia) please be nice to me, when/ if you point out mistakes!

The first year, I wrote a semi-Christian lit, with the intention of it being Christian... and completed the novel. (Plot-holes and stuff galore of course, but that's expected!). The last two years, I had nothing Christian related, and BOMBED hugely... wonder if God's trying to tell me something?

Haha, this year, is going to be a challenge as far as actually doing Nano though, because I'm currently working on writing a non-fiction book for young adult Christian women. But I intend to work my hardest to do Nano as well.

I'm not sure what the book is going to be about this year. I've discovered that when I try to plan my nano, it just goes horribly wrong. It's going to be Christian Lit for sure, and I think I'm going to start by spending the next month developing the main character, who I think is going to be a 20 something girl, very similar to me. I'm hoping I'll be able to creatively tell my own journey, and if not, then an amazing journey that will make for a captivating book. So for now, I'm just going to challenge myself to get to know the character, and then on day one, I'll just start writing whatever pops into my head :)

I gotta say though; it's really encouraging to see how many other Christian writers there are on here. There's not many (possibly none) in my region, and it gets discouraging sometimes.

:)

~*Oh, let me warn you, sisters in Jerusalem,
by the gazelles, yes, by all the wild deer:
Don't excite love, don't stir it up,
until the time is ripe—and you're ready*~

I've been a Christian for years, but have always written straight fantasy. I just found Nano last year and wrote out of my comfort zone (it was fantasy, but I wrote with virtually no planning or anything else that I usually do!). This year I'm venturing out of my comfort zone a little further by changing genre - I'm doing a Christian romance. I'm excited (I got the idea during Nano last year - just when you're sick of the current project and look for shiny newcomers!;), but nervous. I've never tried to write romance or write a book that encapsulates Christianity.

Sounds great, AuntPol. Best of luck!

2008 - Finding the Words (epic fail)
2009 - Doxology (I can do this!)

But the occult is just a copy of the gifts of God. So you could have miracles happen, things like someone grows a leg etc.

I am going to be writing a kids' book about angels.

Jacki.

2008: 65,000 word win with Black Hole
2009: win with series of books about angels

I'm writing a novel about a young man who leaves the Christian faith but comes back to it later. I haven't put a ton of thought but I'm sure it'll come out as I type and plan ahead in the future.

"Man is more himself, man is more manlike, when joy is the fundamental thing in him, and grief the superficial."
-G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy

I plan on writing Christian lit. That's all I read. I believe the novel can have a powerful impact. I have lots of ideas. I guess i have to choose one, though, I've thought of writing a novel on the Fruit of the Spirit theme using the 9 gifts of the spirit with a chapter that highlights each but the overall story being that of a family in crisis. Each chapter they learn a little about love, joy, etc. Still in thinking stages right now.

I always have the intent of writing and never get right down to it. I'm a journalism person having written nonfiction for years. I find I write much better with a deadline. But writing fiction scares me to death. So why not jump off the cliff?

That's the nice thing about nanowrimo - there is a deadline! Hopefully you'll be able to take it seriously (since there isn't actually anything that happens to you if you miss it!;). I know that winning last year (my first year doing this) was due in great part to having that deadline hanging over me. I couldn't believe I was actually able to write 50,000+ words in one month!

Hi! My name is Eric, I'm from Nashville, TN. I am gonna write Christian Lit, but I'm not sure which story to pursue. Help me pick!

1) A series of anecdotes about different MCs doing charitable/good works for friends or strangers. I will link all of the stories, probably about 10, by making the MCs somehow related to one another through the generations. The stories will work backward through time eventually leading back to the Bible story about the 4 men lowering their friend through the roof to see Christ, told from the perspective of one of the men (the patriarch of the rest of the characters, as we come to find out).

OR

2) An allegory for Christian spiritual warfare set in medieval fantasy. The loyal followers of a deposed king are persecuted for the political stance as they wait for the triumphant return of the king. This is actually (at least) Book 2 of a series I have in my head, but I am not quite ready to work on the 1st book. That's all I can think of at the moment :)

What do ya think?

I vote number one. I think it sounds really interesting and I'd like to see how you make the connections all the way back. but that's just me :)

2008 - Finding the Words (epic fail)
2009 - Doxology (I can do this!)

Yikes, forgot about this forum!

I also vote #1...sounds like a good movie--and can't wait to read through a bunch of the older posts so why don't I do that right now and, through the wonders of technology, keep it all in the same post.

I also agree with what Casidhe said, ClueBadger...sounds like a great frame for a story and you've touched on interesting themes...I like your reasoning too; I'd argue that this experience could only bring you closer to God, not further from Him!

TheTabster - I might be in similar shoes (except I'm the 20-something guy!). I'm tempted to just write my own story, which I know makes me a rebel if I just do a memoir and break the rules a little, but we'll see what happens (my clutch phrase so if I haven't used it already, now I have).

(Edit: apparently, I have used it already)

Fruits of the Spirit is an intriguing idea as well (I can safely say I need to work on all nine!).

And, also, since it's been touched upon already: how many of you out there are planners and how many of you just write anything you can think of off the top of your head? I never planned that much either year--and the downfall to that was I took many unforeseeable diversions in the 30 days...well, not necessarily a downfall. I hit 50,000 words both times but I was only halfway through the narrative since I did so many things along the way and then, come December 1, I had no interest in finishing.

Anything similar happen on your end?

T-minus 25 days everyone...good luck planning! And if you don't plan, good luck waiting for November 1! ;)

--Mike

"Don't think about what you're writing. The writing should tell you what you're thinking."

Mike asked about planning. In non-nano works, I'm a huge planner - it's just my style. I know plenty of writers that don't plan and that's cool for them. Last year I basically did nano like that (seeing as I found out about it about 2 days before it started and all! On Halloween night I was still choosing between several plots!). This year (as I've had a year and all) I've done more planning. I have all my characters (way more than needed, undoubtedly), the map of my fictional CA town and I'm working on an abbreviated plot outline. That's still less planning than I normally do!!

Edit: Eric - I agree with the other two - #1 sounds facinating! I'd love to read all the stories!

I also vote for number 1. I minored in history in college so that's always a great area of interest for me. Plus I like the fact that you trace the lives of these men back in time to the four men who lowered their friend to meet Jesus. That could turn into a really incredible story that you and your audience would love, in my opinion.

"Man is more himself, man is more manlike, when joy is the fundamental thing in him, and grief the superficial."
-G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy

I'm a Christian writer. Both of my novels this year will be from a Christian viewpoint, though not really "Christian" -- the characters won't be overtly religious. The second novel will be a fantasy, but I plan to base the religion on Christianity, of course!

By cowgirlpoet at 2009-10-20

This thread makes me so happy. It's really interesting to hear what all of you are coming up with and I hope we can all keep each other posted throughout November.

I just told my pastor (who is a mystery writer - published and everything) about NaNoWriMo today and he was pretty much geeking out with me. And I've threatened a few of my choir members that if they're mean to me, I'll put them in my novel ;)

2008 - Finding the Words (epic fail)
2009 - Doxology (I can do this!)

EZE, i vote 1, i love novels where different time periods inter-relate through people etc.

I have no clue on spelling and grammer (i have dyslexia) please be nice to me, when/ if you point out mistakes!