tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093187878739089807.post7401064396692343297..comments2023-12-12T02:24:15.920-08:00Comments on Tessa Emily Hall ~ Christ is Write: Why Aren’t There More Teens Reading YA Christian Fiction, & How Can Authors Change That?Tessa Emily Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08625256104634830104noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093187878739089807.post-91140001022325489542015-11-16T07:10:20.453-08:002015-11-16T07:10:20.453-08:00I loved this post. I am a youth pastor and working...I loved this post. I am a youth pastor and working with students you quickly find out what they like and don't like, including in books. Wanting them to have something that presents a Christian worldview without being cheesy was one of the things that pushed me to write the book I had been imagining for a couple years. I also wanted something non-Christians would pick up (you mentioned this too) and not feel preached at but get involved in a story and characters they could relate too while getting a glimpse of the gospel that will hopefully push them to conversations about Jesus. I think its so important for Christians to speak into culture and to do that we can't be preachy or cheesy. Genuine wins. Tabithahttp://tabithacaplinger.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093187878739089807.post-81776846832584940162012-01-08T12:44:29.719-08:002012-01-08T12:44:29.719-08:00Great post.
I want to mention a few things. First...Great post.<br /><br />I want to mention a few things. First of all, the Market Makers (publishers, etc) don't think there IS a market for most YA Christian fiction. I'm an indie writer for this reason. Why don't we, the YA writers, work together to create this market? Support one another until there is a book shelf for us in the major retailers. With the Lord's help, we can be the Market Makers. Why not?<br /><br />Second of all, I think you hit the nail on the head with #4: don't write as if to teach. Write because the story is a part of you. Write because you can't imagine NOT writing it. If it doesn't end up being YA, that's okay. And if it does, awesome!<br /><br />Lastly, don't chase trends. Don't. Unless the story is like a fire within you, don't write what's trendy. Don't write it for the Market. Write it for the Lord. This whole vampire thing won't be as hot thirty years from now, but GOOD books will be. The Hunger Games doesn't have a single vampire. Although I don't like the trilogy, I appreciated that it was well written and shot out from Suzanne Collins' heart, not from the dreams of a bigger bank account.<br /><br />Tessa, I'd love to learn more about your book! I'm checking out your website, but you can find me as well. I write under the name Precarious Yates.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093187878739089807.post-63105698550189500302011-05-02T12:22:20.158-07:002011-05-02T12:22:20.158-07:00Thanks for the tremendous response!
Georgianna, I...Thanks for the tremendous response!<br /><br />Georgianna, I have to agree that media has a huge impact in people's lives. That's why I mostly read Christian fiction and have recently been very picky about which movies, TV shows and music I allow myself to watch/listen to. I like Nicolas Sparks' novels, because although they aren't Christian specifically, they do have good morals as you mentioned. At least some of them do. <br /><br />Claire, although I don't really read much "adult" Christian fiction, I think I know what you're talking about. That's why Christian authors need to really study the genre - what works and what doesn't work, because someone can very easily be turned off from Christianity just by the way an author presents it in their books. <br /><br />Christine, there are many Christians who write clean, good moral fiction. In the book "The Art & Craft Of Writing Christian Fiction" the author, Jeff Gerke, talks about how not every Christian is called to write Christian fiction - because even though it is a very powerful ministry, some Christians should write in the "secular" fiction just for the sake of reaching a different and more broader audience. God can plant the seeds, no matter what genre your book is listed under.<br /><br />K.M. Weiland, it is very frustrating to me how "edgy" YA fiction has become. I've had to stop reading a couple books simply because I couldn't handle all of the cussing and other trash. I think the main problem with CF is that authors aren't sure where their fiction should stand and who the audience is - perfect Christians? Lukewarm Christians? Nonchristians? There needs to be a line between secular fiction and Christian fiction. CF best-selling author Karen Kingsbury does a really good job at doing this.Tessa Emily Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08625256104634830104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093187878739089807.post-15442077187696300592011-04-27T13:08:10.041-07:002011-04-27T13:08:10.041-07:00Very thoughtful - and thought-provoking - post. I ...Very thoughtful - and thought-provoking - post. I read very little YA, but when I do pick one up, I'm invariably surprised to discover how much "edgier" it is than even most adult fiction. It's certainly not something I would want to share with a teenage daughter. But I fully understand the problem with Christian fiction, as well. The overwhelming sentimentality, preachiness, and - dare I say it? - poor writing caused me to stop reading the vast majority of Christian fiction. It's a crying shame too. As the light of the world, Christians should be producing literature that stands head and shoulders above the pack.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13832782604769370695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093187878739089807.post-30377353635611575152011-04-27T09:35:31.199-07:002011-04-27T09:35:31.199-07:00I think your post is absolutely on target.
Like s...I think your post is absolutely on target.<br /><br />Like someone mentioned, media has a lot to do with it. Not just that there is so much to consume, but also that its focus is on what sells, which is not always in line with Christian values. Publishers are in business. They are interested in what sells.<br /><br />My YA novella is not specifically CF, but it leans in that direction. Some of the comments I've received are interesting. My main characters are a 16 YO boy and girl. They have a platonic friendship and the boy goes to Mass, prays, etc. Both of these things were called out as unusual. That says a lot about the current state of YA.Christinenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093187878739089807.post-63925202903402818442011-04-27T09:26:39.157-07:002011-04-27T09:26:39.157-07:00I love your blog. You are such an amazing writer. ...I love your blog. You are such an amazing writer. Keep up the good work!<br />blessings,<br />Kimmi♥ Kimmi's Korner ♥https://www.blogger.com/profile/09407983932006972953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093187878739089807.post-87568841096468859752011-04-27T09:11:38.079-07:002011-04-27T09:11:38.079-07:00I'm all for hybrids. I don't (and haven...I'm all for hybrids. I don't (and haven't ever read much Christian Fiction. Many of the ones I've seen have GOD as a theme, setting, hook, MC, ...<br />The only people who live that way are nuns and monks. Regular people serve God in everyday ways. <br /><br />Also Christian fiction has a way of extolling perfection that can make anyone who's less than perfect (=all of us) feel guilty about having slipped up. Feeling like you're going to burn in hell for who you were or what you did, despite the fac that you've repented and are a different person, is just as likely to drive you away from Christianity as make you a better Christian.Claire Dawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14354840714847021685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093187878739089807.post-50551061890501875532011-04-27T09:05:20.486-07:002011-04-27T09:05:20.486-07:00Media has far more of an impact in peoples lives t...Media has far more of an impact in peoples lives then they think it does. It's amazing how much things like books, tv shows, and movies affect us. Even if YA books had simply some good morals they would be far more acceptable then what's out there. <br /><br />Great post!Georgianna Pennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08879808638594703909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093187878739089807.post-3562810249284126632011-04-27T08:41:41.742-07:002011-04-27T08:41:41.742-07:00I don't think I've ever read any Christian...I don't think I've ever read any Christian YA fiction, but now I'm really curious. I think you make a lot of good points––and they don't just apply to YACF, they also apply to adult CF, which I read a lot of. I think there's been a lot of progress recently to publish Christian novels with real literary merit which plant seeds or share the gospel without being preachy. But there's still a lot of sub-par books to wade through before finding the rare gem in Christian publishing! <br /><br />I hope that authors of CF and YACF take note and start to write better books, and I also hope that publishers will start to think outside the box more and actually publish it!Kate Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15878471739967889253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093187878739089807.post-24914926669006141472011-04-27T08:40:15.957-07:002011-04-27T08:40:15.957-07:00Very thoughtful and well-written post, Tessa. Besi...Very thoughtful and well-written post, Tessa. Besides great YACF, I think we can write general market YA that is clean, compelling, and full of truth. Just another way to plant seeds.<br /><br />~DebbieDebbie Maxwell Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02533418585502995994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093187878739089807.post-19248079366217807662011-04-27T08:27:24.704-07:002011-04-27T08:27:24.704-07:00I love this post and the passion that radiates fro...I love this post and the passion that radiates from it. Also, I couldn't agree with you more, having read some *awful* YACF...We can and we should do better, let's raise the bar :)Rachel Blomhttp://rachelblom.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093187878739089807.post-33667809292899775452011-04-27T08:16:55.955-07:002011-04-27T08:16:55.955-07:00Planting the seed is an admirable reason to write ...Planting the seed is an admirable reason to write YACF. This is a great post Tessa. The story I am currently working on is a YA inspirational short. I know it can be so much better and your post has helped me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093187878739089807.post-19506120552934558812011-04-27T08:06:44.073-07:002011-04-27T08:06:44.073-07:00Wow - this is an amazing post! Makes me want to ri...Wow - this is an amazing post! Makes me want to rise to the challenge and write a book for teens. Excellent tips. I agree with all of them!Katie Gansherthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09150375338556869812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093187878739089807.post-84918490353572464622011-04-27T07:51:50.706-07:002011-04-27T07:51:50.706-07:00Hi, Tessa! It seems Christian Sci Fi is growing, s...Hi, Tessa! It seems Christian Sci Fi is growing, so I'm assuming you mean just straight Fiction. I agree with your points. <br /><br />I think it takes writers who are really in tune with teens to be able to write on their level. While part of me still feels young and I remember a lot of things I went through (couldn't possibly forget), I think it would be difficult to get into that mindset. However, if I weren't in the thick of major revisions and trying to get my first book published, I'd be opening Word right now to see if I can give it a shot. It is a much needed market. <br /><br />I also wonder if a lot of writer's think teens aren't really interested in reading since there's so much media out there. It is a huge need, though. My boys have to do a lot of reading in high school and it concerns me that they don't have a lot of "good" books to choose from. This is definitely a genre that needs attention. <br /><br />Thanks for the great post!Linnette Rochellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07656198587192557526noreply@blogger.com