Preachiness

[torainfor]

I've heard a few complaints lately about "preachiness." Now I'm paranoid that it characterizes my writing--but I don't know what it is. Would anyone happen to have a definition? Examples would also be greatly appreciated.

[scintor]

How "preachy" something is depends on your point of view, but I'll give you my best try for a definition.

How "preachy" a story is how hard and blatent your moral is. It is usually used to complain about christian morals, but can be used for any lesson. I remember the cartoon "Captain Planet." I hated it because it was so preachy about environmentalism. Most episodes of Star Trek are also quite preachy about something or another.

In Christian fiction, you expect the story to have a moral (thus the Christian part.) If the moral is too blantent or seems contrived, then you may be accused of being "preachy."

Scincerely,

[e-mail]

[Caprice]

I agree that the degree of contrivance is a big part of it. I also think it's something like using characters as mouthpieces to do actual preaching when the character is not indeed a preacher and/or when the sermon really does nothing to move the plot along.

Another thing I think people mean when they say "preachiness" is the tendency to make the story itself BECOME a sermon or an altar call. That isn't to say a story can't suggest the gospel, but it shouldn't be a substitute! Now this is a matter of taste, but I do NOT want sermons in my fiction. Tell the story and don't have characters doing monologues or long thought-rants unless it is relevant AND necessary.

I also do not like stories where Christianity is represented as gross oversimplification of real life. The Christians have no problems. They easily lead their unsaved friends to Christ. New Christian's life (which is controlled by a author) becomes *PERFECT* in just about every way. Umm...yuck. (This is probably why I don't like reality-type fiction and prefer spec-fic to begin with). But spec-fic writers can do it too.

[Christian Soldier]

Although he's not a Christian, that I know of, Terry Goodkind does it too. Sometimes 'preachiness' can also refer to over explaining something to the point of being bored. Sci-fi authors tend to do that, especially mathematicians. The important thing is to avoid: 1) making things too easy, and 2) having a sermon in the middle of your work, especially if it doesn't change your story.

My advice is to just write the story and have whoever is reading it for you go through and look for preaching. It makes it easier on you while you're writing since you don't have to worry about it.

[CastleLyons]

Caprice, I'm with you. I can't stand "real-life" novels where the Christian's life is so nonreal. I never liked any of the "soccer mom" novels that sell so well for Christian publishers. Those seem to especially fall prey to this phenomenon.

Whether you're a "real-life" novel author, or a spec-fic author, beware of your characters who become Christians and say, "Oh, wow, I see it now! God sent His Son to earth because He loves us so much. It's like with Abraham...yada yada...and with Joseph...yada yada...and with Daniel...yada yada...ad nauseum.

There's an example for you, torainfor.

[fluke]

One of my main characters is saved at the end of book 1, and that solves some immediate problems. However, hear me carefully, this only helps in the immediate jam. When Book 1 closes, the villains are discussing how to turn up the volume on the companions. Getting saved doesn't make their lives perfect by any means. In fact, it puts huge targets on their foreheads.

[themantheycallcris]

I'm not sure how this will be received, but...

There seems to be a very real problem in the realm of Christian writing. We seem to have lost our focus on why we write. We seem to have displaced the One for whom we claim to write. All things are for God's glory, all things. That includes spec-fic writing. If not, then this board is a joke unto itself.

I do not believe this board is a joke, because I believe it's purpose is good and true. Not Christian fiction for fiction's sake, but Christian fiction for the glory of Christ. For a love offering unto Christ.

So much is spoken by Christian authors against "preachiness" in Christian novels. I can't help but wonder if the real root of that lies in our insecurities. We're so afraid of being looked down upon by the world that we're willing to bash the very purpose of our existance, that is to love God and to bring Him praise. We want to be part of the incrowd, we want to be the "cool" authors. I'm reminded of John 12:42-43 "Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in Him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God."

I completely agree that there isn't very much appeal in a poor story with a forced message. But better a true message with a poor story, then an idle tale that captures the hearts of men. Now sure a truly great story will have an underlying truth. But two things should be considered at this point. One, it by no means negates or diminishes the value of truth plainly spoken. Two, not all stories that capture the hearts of men are truly great. If they are contrary to the Lord, then they are a most horrid thing indeed.

Now I'm not saying that Christian authors are producing anti-christian books. I am saying the effect of their stance is that authors feel ashamed to proclaim the gospel unto all creation (last I checked fiction readers are very much a part of that creation).

There is nothing wrong with out and out Christian preaching in a fiction book. Nothing. Nothing. I can keep saying the word if you need me to... The real problem though, which may possibly be a part of why Christian authors feel the need to speak out against "preachiness", is that a good sermon need not be dressed in a fiction story. There is no need for force a story upon a truth, truth can stand on it's own. But that is the extent of it.

You could have in your hand the preachiest Christian fiction book ever written, and so be holding the best fiction book in history. The secret is simply having an amazing story that fits the message. It doesn't matter how "preachy" you are. It really doesn't. Just make sure you have a great story to go with it, and that the message and story come together in a beautiful harmony. Now there's a work that you can see God smiling down upon!

Please don't take this post as an attack on anyone here. It's not. It is, however, a most intentional full frontal assault on the problem of shaming those who speak the truth bodly. Do not feel like you have some sort of duty to bash preachers. You have a duty to encourage good writing! And you have a duty to encourage good preaching! If the message of Christ is not worthy of being plainly stated in a fictional story, then rest assured that neither is any other message (not even the message of how Joe Fantasy slew the dragon)!

Keep writing good stories, as your love offering to God! Keep preaching every good message that is afforded by the circumstance, for the glory of God! And keep watching for His return, when the good story of man reaches it's triumphant climax.

[dizzyjam]

I think the best way would be to learn from the Master Himself. He would take a supernatural truth, tell a story about it using terms that were understandable, yet still have to explain to His followers how those terms related to the supernatural. I think by following that formula we will succeed in telling stories that appeal to the masses, yet be packed with the stuff that when we reveal it to those in the Body of Christ will cause a reverence to the Eternal One.

Review:

1. Start with a supernatural truth.
2. Tell a story around it that hides that truth.
3. Reveal what it means to them that ask.

Then don't worry about whether your characters are "Christian" enough or not, just tell the story.

Of course, there's always the deal where you tell a good story for the sake of telling a story and the main character just happens to be a Christian and you handle the story realistically without getting into any of the "Christianese" cliches.

Either way, the primary goal should be winning the lost. Entertaining fellow believers is great too, but if we aren't following the Great Commission, it doesn't matter what we do.

David

[torainfor]

Thanks for all the input.

Dizzy, I understand where you're coming from, and I'm all for subtlety, just a couple of thoughts. First, I would be reticent to not expose the source of the message of my story as having been God/the Bible, etc. for the sole reason that I would be afraid to mislead someone into thinking it came from another philosophy. I wouldn't want to be so subtle that it led someone in a different direction, if you understand.

The other thought has been covered in previous threads. Evangelism is the Great Commission, but it is not the sole purpose of Christian fiction, nor the primary purpose of some of it. I'm afraid I tend more toward building up the Body than bringing the Message to the lost.

mantheycall, I suspect some of the attack on "preachiness" may also come from the uncomfortable conviction the reader feels!

CS, good input as usual--"preachiness" isn't solely the realm of Christian authors.

[dizzyjam]

torainfor,

Let me be the first to say you're welcome for the input.

I really wasn't talking about subtlety. I was just saying that the way our Master did things should be the way we do things. In the "Afterword" of a novel the supernatural can be revealed and there is no misleading of the reader. The point isn't to hide behind our story, or be so fearful as to mislead people. Jesus wasn't particularly afraid of misleading people why should we be? And many never got what He said either, even nowadays.

I'm just saying that if we have a spiritual or supernatural point to make, then we should do it the way Jesus did. If we don't, but we still want to tell a story that is worthy of Christ, then just come up with a realistic character that is a Believer and tell an awesome story that realistically portrays whatever is happening and just tell it to the best of your ability and where your ability runs out depend on Him. That's all I'm saying.

Not being subtle, not trying to mislead people. Just telling a great story to the glory of God.

One end could be the focus of evangelism, while the other could be the focus of entertaining our brothers and sisters in the Body. If you feel led toward the latter, then God bless you there and may you be mightily blessed with bestsellers that touch many.

Personally, my stories seem to be coming out like the latter with the touch of evangelism from the former. I'm weird that way.

God bless you,

David

[themantheycallcris]

You know I have to say, I'm always impressed with the way people on this board seem to be able to communicate in a gentler way.

...I know, I know, sounds funny coming from the guy who walks the playground looking for someone to hit with his stick. Sometimes I do feel like things need to be said, and said clearly.

But just the same, the camaraderie here impresses me.

[Caprice]

Oct 22, 2008 18:46:22 GMT -5 themantheycallcris said:

I completely agree that there isn't very much appeal in a poor story with a forced message. But better a true message with a poor story, then an idle tale that captures the hearts of men.

I can agree there, however, we who call ourselves Christian should have a HIGHER standard that says, "Both of these situations are shortcomings. Why should we settle for anything but the BEST?" We should be striving to make Christian literature the BEST it can be, just as an offering to the Lord should be without blemish. We should rightly frown upon any literary flaws which would detract from that offering. It should not be a choice between poor story-great message or great story-poor message. It should be striving to have great story and great message coexist in the best possible way.

If anyone is "insecure", I submit it is authors who are lazy or prideful and take the attitude that they are God's Special Prophet (no particular person in mind here) and therefore think they are somehow above all the standards of good storytelling. If you do not wish to be "confined" by the conventions of literature or fiction, then why not just write non-fiction? If you're a preacher, go right ahead and preach! No cloaking device necessary. Just go ahead and DO IT!

Anyway, that's just my personal opinion. Your milage may vary.

[themantheycallcris]

Caprice,

I think you may have missed my point. The point wasn't to say that a great message justifies a poor story. I even said:

"a good sermon need not be dressed in a fiction story"

My point was that we address the wrong issue. Say we have a story with a lot of message and poor story content. We should never be saying "preach less". From a Bible perspective that's quite counterproductive. It's also a way to tell God that He is unworthy of being in that book. What we should be saying is "make your story better".

We should always look to improve the writing, and never to discourage the message of Christ. If you disagree with that, then we do truly disagree. But I got the impression that there was just a misunderstanding.

[Divides the Waters]

Sometimes I think it's hard to avoid preachiness if your novel has a strong inherent moral or biblical themes. The best way, I suspect, to at least disguise it somewhat is to have a character who is outspoken about his/her views (which also happen to be your own). Think Ian Malcolm in Jurassic Park. This works well with teachers of any capacity.

[Christian Soldier]

The important thing is that if you want to include a sermon please do. Look at the Left Behind saga. A fifth of each book was spent preaching, yet it is still one of the most popular Christian series out there. As long as your readers want/enjoy/put up with it, you're good! Just try to keep it all in character.