Last week, I posted something that got a lot of people talking, both here and elsewhere on the Net. In it, I talked about the difficulties of being sequestered in the Christian marketplace, where, despite what I write about, mainstream readers will rarely find me — and patrons of Christian bookstores might not even be the right audience for what I do.
Around the same time, entirely by coincidence, my friend and fellow novelist Eric Wilson poured out his heart to readers with a post about his own issues with “Christian industry,” which also got a lot of people talking — only in Eric’s case, not all of the response was positive. Some was exceedingly negative, in fact. He boldly asked if it might be time for “Christian Fiction,” as a genre, to die, because it’s more of a hindrance to authors than a help.
This got me thinking about a conversation I had years ago with a friend of mine. When I first met Leo Partible, I decided to interview him for an article, because I was fascinated to learn that he was among a large group of Christians operating inside Hollywood, bold and unashamed of their faith. And none of these Christians were ever victims of “religious profiling,” if you will — aka, Hollywood’s well-known bias against Christians and Christian beliefs. I couldn’t wait to find out how they were getting away with this, and as we talked about Leo’s background, our conversation turned toward the “Christian” industries — Christian Music, Christian Movies, Christian Fiction, etc. — and their impact on society, or lack thereof.
Here’s the relevant part of the interview:
Robin: Do you find that infiltrating culture by being in it is like walking a tightrope?
Leo: You know, I don’t think it should even be a problem. Because I don’t think C.S. Lewis ever had a problem with it, or Tolkien or anybody else. So long as you’re very truthful about who you are and what you believe, then that’s it. I find that people who have a problem talking about their faith, are usually people who don’t know as much about their faith or how to communicate it. C.S. Lewis was able to move between worlds; he would use pagan imagery in stories and then he would use Christian imagery, and no one ever called him on it. Maybe it was a different time and a different world, but even in today’s world, you don’t have people getting mad at Bono for quoting scripture. Because everyone knows that he’s being honest about it.
The problem is that evangelical culture is way too aware of who they are. To the point that they feel like, “I must talk about Jesus now,” every moment of every day. But if you have to do that, then maybe you should question whether or not you really believe in Jesus Christ. Because if you did, you wouldn’t have to force yourself to talk about Christ — it would simply come out of you naturally.
We spend so much time being insular about our subculture. Christian bookstores, Christian t-shirts, Christian bracelets and bumper-stickers and all these things that have been stamped with the “Safe For Us” seal of approval. We’ve been programmed with this mindset for so long, it’s no wonder that some people are made uncomfortable by you working in comic books or Doug Jones acting in movies like Hellboy.
It’s sad for me, because I go to a Christian bookstore and I don’t see Madeleine L’Engle on the shelves. I see probably a quarter of C.S. Lewis’ books. I don’t see Lord of the Rings. I don’t see Anne Lamont or Flannery O’Connor or any of the other great Christian writers. It’s just sad.
Look at Left Behind. I’m not knocking those books, but not every Christian believes in Dispensationalism. That’s one example of some peoples’ opinions within the church; and it might be a valid opinion, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s gospel. Why aren’t the views of people like Anne Lamont and Madeleine L’Engle given equal exposure?
I can tell you why; my first job was at a Christian bookstore. Everything that goes through those stores must first go through a filter. Usually the filter is nothing more than the reputation of the publisher or record label or whoever publishes that product.
And whenever a customer would walk into that store, it went without saying that they knew that everything they would find inside those walls would be “safe” to expose themselves and their children to. The problem with that is that we’re relinquishing all power of discernment when we walk through those doors. We no longer have to take personal responsibility for the quality or accuracy of anything we expose ourselves to, and that terrifies me. You can check your brain and your faith and everything else at the door.
Exactly. You nailed it, exactly. My concern is that these retailers are not taking in all materials created by Christians — they’re taking in stamped and “approved” materials that are very mediocre. If it continues, then teenagers and young adults are not going to go there looking for their spiritual brainfood. They’re going to go looking for materials by Christians that’s outside the Christian bookstores.
Wal-Mart’s already gearing up for that, and other places are, too. If they don’t watch out, these big stores are totally going to take over and the mom and pop stores will diminish in great numbers. Either they’re going to move with where God is taking Christian culture, or they’re going to fade away.
It’s worth noting that this interview took place in 2004.
Oh, and that Christian bookstore that was my first job? It went out of business a couple of years ago.
robin [at] robinparrish [dot] com
GREAT post! Thank you! Being a “new” author, I’ve been thrashed around by reviews–”overly preachy,” “not enough Christianity,” “too raw,” “too much…”
I’ve felt so spun around, I wasn’t sure what to do next. This last weekend, I felt God prodding me to write what He has asked me to write. Not what reviewers are saying I should/shouldn’t write. This post is a great affirmation.
I have never understood the hatred writers express toward the so-called Christian industry. I am a Christian. I am also a film/creative writing student who has made award winning short films and am working on a novel. My editor is secular (he works on the James Bond film franchise and has produced more than 100 films and written more than 40 films). But my work will always be Christian because its made by a Christian-me. I suppose I do not look at things like here’s the Christian industry and here’s the secular industry. I write my stories the way I feel they should be written without regard to a particular Christian or secular industry. I write to touch people, not “industries.”
I understand some writers and creative types are struggling. But, may I say that this is more of a marketing issue as opposed to anything else? The Christian Industry is more concerned with non-fiction works and this is understandable. I get that. But look at James Patterson. Here’s a guy whose business methods are taught at Harvard Business school. Yea, the best business school in the country has classes devoted to James Patterson because his business techniques are masterful. He is the number 1 best selling author of the modern era. His works outsell Stephen King and John Grisham…combined. He has droves of international fans who buy his books in the millions.
The reason so many creative types fail is because they refuse to dig into their logical brain side. You need to be business savvy. You are yourself, a business. You need to learn to market yourself. So many film and fashion and writer types do not understand this. Look at the Blair Witch Project. Weird movie. Tiny budget. $100 million plus profit. All done through word of mouth and cheap internet marketing. If you think you are being cheated out of making a bigger market penetration, then learn how to penetrate the market.
I talk about the writers that I love. Steven James. Robert Liparulo. CS Lewis. Tolkien. Ted Dekker. And I can say that by word of mouth alone I have converted a number of people into fans of these authors. So if you work is good enough, it will speak for itself. And that’s lesson number 2. Your work needs to stand for itself. It’s like that expression, “shut up and play.” Market yourself. Then let your on-the-field play speak volumes.
Furthermore, perhaps we just need to trust God in this. And I don’t mean bending God to do our good pleasure. I mean being broken before him and being willing to submit ourselves over to his will, his plan. I suppose then that would be the 3 keys to expanding one’s “market potential.” 1. Be business savvy. 2. Let your work speak for itself. 3. Cast those cares upon God night and day and be willing to accept whatever answer he gives you…even no.
Edgar Allan Poe made only about $8 off of Raven. He was practically homeless and begging for food when he died in his 40′s. Talent isn’t everything. It’s a mixture of talent + who you know + what you know = your level of success. That’s a motto in the film industry that my emmy award winning film Professor expresses to us. That’s what my producer friends in Hollywood tell me. It’s how the world works.
All this to say you cannot put all this blame on the Christian industry. Seriously. It’s like Adam just pointing at Eve, “It’s her fault, not mine.” We live in a world were few people accept responsibility and accountability. As Christians, we need to be disciplined, accountable, and responsible people. If the Christian industry isn’t working, fine. Then go to the secular industry. Trust God. Wherever God is leading you. We waste too much time complaining and finger pointing and so little time accomplishing things of any worth and value. I know because I am guilty ofg this myself.
I love telling stories. Comics. Movies. Television. Plays. Novels. I don’t care what media format. Maybe I become famous. Maybe I don’t make enough to make it my only career. But I love it. It’s what God made me to do. I will keep doing it until the day I die. And that’s all I have to say on that.
I’ve been following this topic around all week, reading tons of blog comments both for and against compartmentalizing faith against the backdrop of book marketing.
This is–by far–the best one I’ve read.
Well done.
Ronie – I can assure you that BY FAR you are not alone in your feelings.
p.s. i whole heartily agree with eric wilson’s post. it’s a must read.
There’s nothing wrong with writing books directed at Christians, but there’s got to be some kind of balance. As an aspiring author myself, I know that I want to achieve more than to have my books wind up limited to the “Christian” market only. I don’t want to write simply for the purpose of giving people who are already Christians something that’s “okay” to read (though, as I said before, there’s nothing inherently wrong with that). I want to get out side the Christian box and catch the attention of non-believers with story, in the same way that Jesus did. And I feel very strongly that Robin Parrish is already doing just that. The primary complaint I see in Christian reviews of his books is that they’re not “Christian” enough. I find them refreshingly free of the preachiness one finds in – let’s face it – most Christian fiction these days. I LOVED Nightmare, and I hope to see a lot more stories like it from Robin in future.
There’s a simple solution to this: if you’re a Christian author who doesn’t want to be limited to the Christian marketplace … don’t sign with a Christian publishing house.
This is by no means a stab at Robin – I’ve yet to read one of his books, though I followed his career when he wrote about Christian music.
The main problem with Christian publishing (in all its forms) isn’t stigma. The problem is quality.
Sorry, I want to reiterate that I’m not saying there is a quality problem with Robin’s books – I haven’t read any of them.
I was speaking in general terms … the reason many Christian books don’t stand in the general marketplace is that they’re not good enough to stand there.
You know, people who liked “Nightmare” really should get over to christianbook.com and give it some favorable reviews. Right now, it’s got a three-and-a-half star rating it doesn’t deserve. (On Amazon, it has four and a half stars.)