I could market my novel to religious publishers or to secular publishers.
However, I would assume that secular readers wouldn't mind a little hanky-panky here and there. What about Christian readers? Does the book have to be squeaky clean?
Also, what about profanity. Is that out with Christian readers, or is it just a reflection of real life?
Thanks for your suggestions.
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50,425 / 50,000
Nov 26, 2008 - 20 04
Not even with married couples?
50,129 / 50,000
Nov 26, 2008 - 21 07
I prefer zero. Or, if a couple is married, kissing might fade to after the fact. The implication is enough. For me, if you're going to get explicit with sex, then it isn't a Christian novel. Christians are not voyeurs.
Logan
50,187 / 50,000
Nov 27, 2008 - 00 25
For the first one, it really depends. There are some novelists (Francine Rivers), for example, which are far more graphic than most Christian romances -- however, those are pretty explicitly Christian and if your book is not, that might make some readers flinch a bit.
Profanity is usually a complete no-no. (Although this isn't always consistent with books considered "classics" -- C.S. Lewis' space trilogy is nearly always okayed, even though it has some very mild profanity in there that would create controversy in more recent Christian novels.)
In general, Christian readers are fairly unreceptive to anything but sortakinda implied sexual activity, and profanity is very, very seldom okay, even if the character is foul-mouthed.
I say all this as a Christian and a reader, surrounded by people who are Christians and are readers. I'm kind of the odd one out -- although my novel has no sex or profanity (it doesn't really pop up at any point) I'm more okay with accepting it in a Christian novel if it is done, as you said, as a reflection of real life. Prurience is more of a problem.
50,425 / 50,000
Nov 27, 2008 - 03 47
Thank you both for well thought-out replies.
50,027 / 50,000
Nov 27, 2008 - 09 33
It's also not just about quantity, but attitude. Even if it happens off-screen, if it's not a married couple, the implied attitude of your book should be "That's not okay" or it's not really a Christian novel. It has to carry Christian values. Does that make sense?
If the characters fool around in an inappropriate situation, part of the novel ought to be about what that does to them. It happens in real life, so it can certainly be addressed in a novel, but unlike a movie where the couple ends up in bed and lives happily ever after, real-life consequences should be seen.
50,425 / 50,000
Nov 28, 2008 - 06 29
Logan
One definition of "voyeur" is, "An obsessive observer of sordid or sensational subjects."
By that definition, aren't all novel readers voyeurs, since we all observe sordid or sensational subjects when we read novels? Is such behavior voyeurism only when it involves sex or does it include observations of murder, theft, lies, gossip, etc.?
52,280 / 50,000
Nov 30, 2008 - 08 19
Logan
I agree with this. Sometimes, with scenes like that, less is more. Leave the rest to the reader. You can imply love, and insert a new chapter or break in the action, but don't go into the details. That's more erotica. With readers, when you leave it up to there imagination but still imply a feeling before the break, sometimes it is more powerful than any words can be. If that is what you are going for, that might help. Same thing with violence
-L.P.
106,874 / 50,000
Dec 2, 2008 - 10 26
I love this answer.
In my WIP, MMC starts out as a complete womanizer. The scene in which he cheats on his girlfriend does not get explicit at all, but it's obvious what happens. Some people in my writers' group actually like this guy, lol, but I think even they got from the context of the book that it's really obvious eventually how he's hurt other people with his behavior, the things he has to do to cover it up to keep his life from spinning out of control, etc.
I also went on to have him have experiences that finally opened his eyes to the fact that not everyone thinks he's a great guy for sleeping around and lying and getting away with this stuff, and have him think more about why this wasn't the greatest way to live.
0 / 50,000
Jan 7, 2009 - 12 42
I'm a Christian novelist. Thought I was doing okay with the content of my novels until I read The Complete Idiots Guide to Writing Chritian Fiction. It goes into everything acceptable and unacceptable in Christian publishing. Basically, no sexual content, no vulgar language, and an assortment of words not accepted. I recommend the book if you are serious about writing Christian fiction.
It's because of the book, and my desire to be published that I am revising all my finished manuscripts, 13 in all. 1 finished, 12 to go. Part of my goals for this year.
Another thought: If you are uncomfortable reading it, don't write it.