Wednesday, December 31, 2008

The Lost Genre Guild

http://www.lostgenreguild.com/

The Lost Genre Guild was formed to promote and talk about Christian
fantasy, science fiction, and horror.

I belong to the LGG Yahoo! email group. It has a lot of authors,
aspiring and published, and frequent conversations regarding the
publishing industry and different ways to write as a Christian, whether
that be stories where you mention God and scripture, or stories that in
every respect are secular, yet have a strong, moral core.

It turns out there are lots of Christian writers out there, and lots of
ways for Christians to write.

Below is a message from Frank Creed, founder:

"In promoting the Guild, I like to describe us as a tiny little cell in
the Body of Christ, where we all plug into the community and contribute
with our gifts. For those considering membership, I advise that they
Google Lost Genre Guild. If they like what they see, simply read our home
page, and send a brief note through the contact us link at the top of the
page."

Here's a link to the (published) books written by members:

http://www.lostgenreguild.com/bookshelves-ezines.html

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

The Critical Reader

Writers are perhaps the most critical of readers. I suspect if they
weren't they would never have started writing in the first place.

We can also be some of the most intensely devoted fans. Perhaps because
we know how hard it can be to write well.

For enjoyment, I read more mystery than science fiction. Yet science
fiction is generally the genre I write.

As far as science fiction goes, the good short stories I've read far
outnumber the good novels I've read. The good short stories have also
been more memorable, for the most part, than the good novels.

Short stories have punch.

I easily can get impatient with an author who lards his 100,000+ story
with unnecessary words, needless pandering, and coarse language or sex.

When I get fed up with a story, I can pick up another book. Or I can go
write one of my own. As writers, we don't have to put up with any
writing we don't want to read. Because we know we can write something
we'll like better. And maybe that other people will like, too.

Would writers enjoy reading more if they didn't write? I doubt it.
It's not bad to be opinionated, as long as you don't go overboard with it
and act obnoxious.