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Beauty and Truth 1: Four Sets Of Stories

Of the Christian novels you’ve read, which seem neither beautiful nor truthful, or only one or the other, or both? · E. Stephen Burnett

Rearranging Icons 2: Defining The Debates

What are icons? How have Christians viewed them in Church history, speculative stories, and evangelical art? If you think you or your denomination doesn’t deal with icons, in fiction or in faith practice, think again — and join our conversation. · E. Stephen Burnett

Is Fiction Killing Hope?

As part of our sin or as a result of our sinful hearts, we turn to idols to fill up the longings God alone can assuage. But what happens when we say, in true nihilistic fashion, there is nothing that satisfies or can satisfy. What happens when a society decides there is no hope? · Rebecca LuElla Miller

Please Quit Calling It ‘Weird’

I’m not picking on those who call Christian speculative stories “weird.” But Christianity doesn’t succeed because it’s Weird, but because it’s true. Our speculative stories should have a similar mission. · E. Stephen Burnett

Must Good Characters Be Likeable?

For a good story, must its central character be likeable, or only sympathetic? For Christian stories, that dilemma is more pronounced, because many authors focus on sympathetic non-Christians, rather than more-likeable Christian characters. · E. Stephen Burnett

Done To Death: Who Are We Trying To Reach?

Who is it that actually reads Christian fiction? I’ll give you a hint by re-asking the question: Who is it that actually reads CHRISTIAN fiction? I know, it’s a stumper. · John Otte

Sex In The Story 6: Heroes and Heroines

Amidst belching sitcom dads, raging feminists, over-angsty teen-boy “chosen ones,” or inhuman “warrior princesses,” we find God-glorifying men and women in many stories. Here are a few. · E. Stephen Burnett

Sex In The Story 5: More Male Mythologies

We may always have sex caricatures in stories, and they may balance each other out. But how do we cure stock males, gender-neutrals, bad boys, men-children, faith-based supermen, and Prophesied Heroes™? · E. Stephen Burnett

Dark Is The Stain: The Fast

Just as I’ve learned there’s many ways to fast, so there are many ways to prioritize so as to focus on writing productivity. · Kaci Hill

Sex In The Story 3: Trans-Gender Issues

“The Church is too feministic!” “The Church is too chauvinistic!” Either extreme will affect our real-life thinking, and will infect Christian stories’ characters, replacing them with caricature-icons. · E. Stephen Burnett

Dark Is The Stain: The Song & Dance

Jesus was frustrated because whether he calls his people in a spirit of celebration or comes weeping, they reject him. Christian storytellers can likely relate, when despite their efforts and pleas, they can’t please the audience. · Kaci Hill

Sex In The Story 1: Shooting Up Heroine

Action heroine Black Widow is annoying some fans of the forthcoming “Avengers” film. How come? Is a story’s female character only strong if she is fighting men or bad guys? · E. Stephen Burnett

Magic Realism, Part 4

A writer cannot achieve his purpose. The reader must. So the purpose must be well communicated, then endorsed by readers. So why put a seeming out-of-place event in a story, or even base a story around one? · C.L. Dyck

Lord Of The Fantasies: Beyond The Swordfights

In “The Lord of the Rings” films, elf-maiden Arwen almost joined the fight at Helm’s Deep, and King Aragorn almost dueled the dark lord Sauron. But the movie-makers chose otherwise. How come, and how does this show truly rare heroism? · E. Stephen Burnett

Reviewing In The SF Library

Anyone can submit a novel, likely with a review, using the Speculative Faith Library’s Submit a Novel feature. What other changes could aid the Library? How may grace-and-truth-minded reviewers best evaluate a work of fiction? · E. Stephen Burnett

Beer Goggles

Reality hasn’t changed, of course, but your perceptions have. You may be in for a rude surprise when the goggles come off. · Fred Warren

Lord Of The Fantasies: The Nature Of Men

Changes made from book-Faramir to film-Faramir, from “The Lord of the Rings,” reflect two approaches of showing human nature. Stories should reflect both: our bent toward sin and corruption, and our capacity to do good and act with nobility. · E. Stephen Burnett

The “Alien Work” Of God Part VI

Like I said two week ago, I’m not one to back down from a bad idea. And I have a feeling that this might be a bad idea. We’ll see. Of course, that’s only if this post makes it past […] · John Otte
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