Going forward with my books

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K

Kojikun

Well-known member
#1
Oct 5, 2018
4,658
2,719
113
#1
As you all know I have scruples and I also write and produce games and sometimes these three clash. I recently read on Cbn that there is books being sold on amazon about summoning demons. Now I have not fact checked these claims and Cbn as of late has been over hyping and buying into sensationalism at times and I notice that when it comes to anything pop culture or nerdy they will gladly give the bare minimum amount of info (for video games much of it is very dated and has no effort) and simply say "Its evil trust us!" and most people on the comment section do as apparently they have no concern of fact checking. However if this is true than its definitely a bad thing. When I was young it was Goosebumps and Harry Potter that fell under the conservative guillotine. I enjoy Goosebumps (Harry Potter not so much) but I am careful about which books I share with my nephews. I know there's no ill intent in the books Stine was a fan of Tales of the Crypt and Vault of Horror comics and made more toned down version in Goosebumps. But if what there saying about these new books on demons is true than I feel like I need to do my books even more. If the secular world is going to push garbage Im going to push a counter measure (There was a books series in the 90's called Spinechillers and it was a Christian version of the Goosebumps books) Id like to emulate that concept. I dont do anything without a strong Christian back bone to it but I know I need help as sometimes my writing and artwork are perhaps too much at times. So Im going to have get a second and even third opinion and tone it down when I can. I dont want to cause any sort of stumbling but if there is an untapped media one can share the gospel with I think its a good thing to look into it. Thankfully I am apart of a few Christian developers groups so I can contact people on there.
 
cinder

cinder

Senior Member
#2
Mar 26, 2014
4,328
2,361
113
#2
Kojikun said:
As you all know I have scruples and I also write and produce games and sometimes these three clash. I recently read on Cbn that there is books being sold on amazon about summoning demons. Now I have not fact checked these claims and Cbn as of late has been over hyping and buying into sensationalism at times and I notice that when it comes to anything pop culture or nerdy they will gladly give the bare minimum amount of info (for video games much of it is very dated and has no effort) and simply say "Its evil trust us!" and most people on the comment section do as apparently they have no concern of fact checking. However if this is true than its definitely a bad thing. When I was young it was Goosebumps and Harry Potter that fell under the conservative guillotine. I enjoy Goosebumps (Harry Potter not so much) but I am careful about which books I share with my nephews. I know there's no ill intent in the books Stine was a fan of Tales of the Crypt and Vault of Horror comics and made more toned down version in Goosebumps. But if what there saying about these new books on demons is true than I feel like I need to do my books even more. If the secular world is going to push garbage Im going to push a counter measure (There was a books series in the 90's called Spinechillers and it was a Christian version of the Goosebumps books) Id like to emulate that concept. I dont do anything without a strong Christian back bone to it but I know I need help as sometimes my writing and artwork are perhaps too much at times. So Im going to have get a second and even third opinion and tone it down when I can. I dont want to cause any sort of stumbling but if there is an untapped media one can share the gospel with I think its a good thing to look into it. Thankfully I am apart of a few Christian developers groups so I can contact people on there.
Click to expand...

There're books being sold on amazon about pretty much anything and everything. I think you can even self publish your own e-books on amazon with little to no censorship. There's a whole lot of crappily produced independent stuff on prime video too (as well as some really good independent stuff that I'm glad was recommended to me). It doesn't really prove much except that the internet makes private vices more publicly available.

My test for acceptability of entertainment of most kinds now is not so much who the characters are, but which characters are the heroes.
 
K

Kojikun

Well-known member
#3
Oct 5, 2018
4,658
2,719
113
#3
cinder said:
There're books being sold on amazon about pretty much anything and everything. I think you can even self publish your own e-books on amazon with little to no censorship. There's a whole lot of crappily produced independent stuff on prime video too (as well as some really good independent stuff that I'm glad was recommended to me). It doesn't really prove much except that the internet makes private vices more publicly available.

My test for acceptability of entertainment of most kinds now is not so much who the characters are, but which characters are the heroes.
Click to expand...
yup Cbn makes a mountain out of a molehill a lot. Its hard to tell what is or isnt true its going to get to the point where we can't buy anything without indirectly supporting something awful. Its always been that way but the internet makes it easier to find out. There are plenty of great christian books on it im sure, if they didn't allow Christians to publish that would be a different story. I dont know just a bunch of people in the comment section saying how appalling it was and they will never shop amazon again and then they support corrupt politicians with out any doubts or questions asked. Hypocrisy at its finest.
 
T

Tinuviel

Member
#4
Nov 20, 2019
48
56
18
#4
Go for it, @Kojikun. The only thing I would caution, is that you do it well. Many Christians, in their zeal to produce Christian-friendly media to counteract the worldly garbage that is on the market, slap it together and do a poor job. to quote Christian fiction writer Bodie Thoene:

"Christians cannot afford to be satisfied with anything second-rate. For too long we have made allowances for less than superior quality, comforting ourselves with the thought that if something was "Done in a good cause," then a less stringent measure of performance could be applied. For this reason a world of unbelievers have come to associate Christianity with mediocrity. If God is leading you to glorify Him through the written word, then He is also leading you to practice and polish."

Edit, edit, and edit again! Get opinions, pay for opinions, and edit some more. It's an exciting process! I'm rooting for you!
 
laughingheart

laughingheart

Senior Member
#5
Sep 21, 2016
1,709
1,668
113
#5
Kojikun said:
As you all know I have scruples and I also write and produce games and sometimes these three clash. I recently read on Cbn that there is books being sold on amazon about summoning demons. Now I have not fact checked these claims and Cbn as of late has been over hyping and buying into sensationalism at times and I notice that when it comes to anything pop culture or nerdy they will gladly give the bare minimum amount of info (for video games much of it is very dated and has no effort) and simply say "Its evil trust us!" and most people on the comment section do as apparently they have no concern of fact checking. However if this is true than its definitely a bad thing. When I was young it was Goosebumps and Harry Potter that fell under the conservative guillotine. I enjoy Goosebumps (Harry Potter not so much) but I am careful about which books I share with my nephews. I know there's no ill intent in the books Stine was a fan of Tales of the Crypt and Vault of Horror comics and made more toned down version in Goosebumps. But if what there saying about these new books on demons is true than I feel like I need to do my books even more. If the secular world is going to push garbage Im going to push a counter measure (There was a books series in the 90's called Spinechillers and it was a Christian version of the Goosebumps books) Id like to emulate that concept. I dont do anything without a strong Christian back bone to it but I know I need help as sometimes my writing and artwork are perhaps too much at times. So Im going to have get a second and even third opinion and tone it down when I can. I dont want to cause any sort of stumbling but if there is an untapped media one can share the gospel with I think its a good thing to look into it. Thankfully I am apart of a few Christian developers groups so I can contact people on there.
Click to expand...
The first drafts of stories and books is us throwing out all of our ideas on a page/screen, just to get it out. After that is when we get to work crafting and molding it. We refine the concept and do the hard work of editing. Once we have gone as far as we can we involve beta readers. Sometimes you will find other writers who will do a swap with you. You read for them and they read for you. When it comes to editing there are concept and development editors and others that do line by line grammar and sentence structure types a editing. Don't worry about trying to edit as your write. That sabotages the writing process. Toss whatever you like against the wall, figuratively speaking, and step back. You might even put it in a drawer for a few days or a week or more. When you are ready you take it out, see what advances the story and get rid of the rest. It is work but don't panic if it seems like a dog's breakfast at first. That is pretty normal. Deep breath and best of luck.
 
Subhumanoidal

Subhumanoidal

Well-known member
#6
Sep 17, 2018
3,672
2,890
113
#6
I used to be a fan of Frank Peretti books (if you don't know him check them out). This Present Darkness, Piercing the Darkness, Prophet, House. All good books (and a few others I'm forgetting).
They tended a bit towards Christian horror. Especially some of his later books like House (which was actually made into a low budget movie).
But I used to want to write similar to what he did. Using the darker tones to draw people in and hear the message underneath.
So do what you want and love. At worst it goes nowhere but you get the enjoyment of creating something you believe in. At best they take off and you become successful. Win/win.

But I have always seen Christian groups that say there's a demon under every rock. It's nothing new. Religion spreading fear is all it is. Don't let the fear mongers bring you down.
 
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