“It's amazing the echo-chamber that Christian writers have created and the degree to which we kowtow to industry reps.” Mike Duran
In the publishing industry (ABA or CBA) “standards” have been established. Most professionals will acknowledge there have always been trends, fads, huge unanticipated successes, and “sure things” which failed miserably. Predicting the tastes of an eclectic reading population is, to use a much over-applied gambling reference, a crap shoot. While it is generally easier to predict the continuing success of a writer who has been established as a “bestseller”, even then a particular book can turn out as a disappointment to that author’s fans. However, if that writer has been successful, most readers of a favorite author are quite forgiving and one failure to excite will not extinguish their hopes for his next effort.
The interesting thing about the publishing industry is its evolvement. Types of books which once were considered a faction of the normal family of book production can disappear. As you know, here at this blog we discuss novels, specifically Christian novels. So from this point forward in the post, I’ll discuss my impressions from CBA.
The quote at the top was given in a response to my Friday post, “Snobbish”, by blogger and writer Mike Duran (“Decompose” http://mikeduran.com/) and is the catalyst for this post.
First of all let me set my ground rules. Contrary to some of our writers who are Christians, I love the Christian publishing industry. I have some disagreements with the selection process and honestly feel there is some much needed room for improvement, but here’s the part which will raise the hackles of the professionals: I think there is some hypocrisy in the ranks of the publishing selection processes. Am I saying it’s intentional, political, prejudicial, ungodly? Well, no. And yes.
I think Christian fiction is a necessity in this world. At its base is the desire to portray and/or demonstrate the Truth in an array of stories and characters from romance to mystery to fantasy to thriller to supernatural. While I am not one of the group which derides “evangelical” fiction, I also expect it to tell stories as variable as the unique experiences of those of us who come out of the world to meet the Lord Jesus Christ and/or to include those touching stories of those who met the Lord at an early age and managed to remain faithful plus all those experiences in between.
While some Christians feel we are limited in our abilities to reach the lost in labeled fiction stuck in Christian bookstores, I do know the industry is attempting to break out of their appointed cubbyholes of “inspirational” fiction in secular bookstores. Certainly there are a number of Christian authors’ novels which should be side by side their secular counterparts especially in the thriller, mystery, military, legal, African American, and some supernatural categories. (And why in the world do AA novels get segregated from other novels in some secular bookstores? I don’t get that.) I still maintain God can use Christian fiction to reach the lost, edify the body, and any and all other purposes He ordains for its use. I don’t think it can be argued that the Christian novel is not a valuable tool when inspired by the Spirit of God and ordained for His selected and purposeful plans. I think it’s unfair and short-sighted to conclude that “Christian”/”evangelical” fiction cannot reach the lost. If that is the case, I find it confusing and in conflict with the Great Commission for our Lord to give different writers/authors stories that include the Gospel, Christians, and the lifestyles of believers. In my own stories there are always examples of worldly people with secular philosophies and lifestyles contrasted to and intersecting with those who are either faithful believers or those searching for something “real” to believe in.
Christianity is the most exciting, thrilling, surprising, wonderful existence we can hope to experience in life on planet earth. Filled with the supernatural born again experience, there is no limit to what the Lord wants to do in our lives provided we are yielded to Him. Having said that, some of my fellow Christians act like we should tone down our faith and walk in silence around unbelievers. I suggest there is nothing toned down about Jesus Christ’s faith and His walk on the planet. Even today He continues to reveal Himself in astounding ways to unbelievers all over this world. Christianity in its fullness is not boring, sometimes trying, sometimes sorrow-filled, sometimes devastating, but always triumphant and the inner joys of walking in the Spirit can produce a victory and hope even in the pits of hell on earth. It goes back to how much of Him do we want? That life-giving power that flows from Him must surround and permeate our stories shedding His love, hope, faith, and, yes, the struggles, trials, and losses, too, but never forgetting the ultimate reward that awaits a Blood-soaked Christian.
So, what’s this gong show all about you ask? Mike Duran used the expression “echo chamber”. Such an appropriate term in reference to the repetition to obey the rules of writing in order to be published, repeated endlessly as critiquing material by both professionals and hopefuls. Mike wrote an excellent piece on the rules of writing over at “Novel Journey” several weeks ago.
Another of the echoes bouncing around in the chamber of publishing horrors is the criticism of self/custom published work and the quality involved. I just bought a new release by an author I enjoy. I’ve read six of his seven previous novels. Just taking into consideration the product without the writing factor, this novel produced by Thomas Nelson has a decent cover design, but it’s a flat finish and barely a cut above a paper cover. The pages are a lesser quality (lighter in weight) than the paper used in my book. The template used puts less words on a page than mine, and the trim size is smaller so the pages for the story number 385, not including the “Reading Group Guide”, an annoying addition I find unnecessary to the novel itself. Full retail puts the book at $14.99, on sale for $11.99. Production-wise, this is not an impressive book, probably cheaper to produce. Which is fine by me. But if you’re speaking of “quality” appearance, not this time.
Regarding “politics” in the industry, I doubt it can be avoided since a form of it appears in almost all businesses. Favors, requests by close associates which pass over one for another based on personal decisions, repayments, perks. We’ve all seen it or done it ourselves in some capacity. Regarding prejudice, some African American authors have faced it firsthand at one publishing house or another. How can that be? Ungodly conduct or decisions? If there is prejudice, then, yes, there is ungodly conduct. Let me be clear here, though: I doubt these situations are the “norm”. Most Christian publishing houses strive to uphold virtuous decision-making processes and many if not most of the personnel involved desire to serve the Lord with integrity.
Now for the writing part of the equation. The ABA doesn’t seem to be as exclusive when it comes to the size of novels. The CBA has various imprints which produce the short novels requiring other specifics in their particular submissions, but the mainstream requests are for 80,000-100,000 word counts, generally topping out at 120,000 words. Except for certain genres and certain authors. So there are exceptions. But it depends on who you are and what kind of novels you write. And I find that just a bit hypocritical because it implies that there are only certain genres and authors who can successfully write and sell a bigger book.
The resounding gong show echoes the same-sounding rules of writing, foisting them upon the pre-published writers with an emphasis they learn to repeat over and over again in response to any writing they read, published or “un”. Once they’re learned, they’re recited ad nauseum when anyone sports a different expression, another kind of voice, a unique style. The same phenomenon applies when addressing self-publishing, often accompanied by that haughty attitude which excludes the possibility of the Lord being able to use something produced less conventionally.
I know this is a long post. For those of you who gutted it out and finished it, I hope you can “hear” what I’m saying. There are all kinds of readers, all kinds of writers, and many, many ways to serve the Lord in writing for Him. There is no room for self-righteous criticism based on things which flex and stretch and can be intangible. Yes, there are rules for submissions. Great. Find those places where you can fit. But don’t assume because someone else doesn’t fit the mold that they are untalented or unworthy of being called a writer or an author. And don’t be so naive as to insist that having a book published by a royalty publisher is the only definition for quality production or for quality writing. Because it simply isn’t true.
Father, help us to approach all we do in humility and an attitude of service to you with obedience as our inspiration. Let your wonderful variety flow through us in unique ways. Keep us grounded in your righteousness because we possess none of our own. In you we live and breathe and have our being. I cannot touch anyone without you. Thank you for allowing me to serve you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
*Please remember Kristy Dykes and her family at this time.*