As you know, I am a Christian-Fantasy writer.  I love to read other Christian-Fantasy work.  But I've been realizing that there are many, many cliches with Christian writing - whether it's fantasy or not.  So I've created a list that you may be interested in.

1.  A common cliche sentence is:  "My parents had both been Christians, but I'd never really cared."  This is often followed up with the character thinking whether or not he/she should have cared about it.  And not only is it a sentence that's cliche - the whole idea is cliche.  Sure, it happens - a lot.  But it's getting old.  You can have the same element, yes, but mix it up a little.  Maybe his/her parents did something to make him/her dislike (or just not care about) Christianity.


2.  LPI, or Last Paragraph (Page) Impact.  LPI is basically having the moral summed up in one last paragraph or page.  To many times I've done it.  To many times others have too.  Don't feel bad if you did it, because it's pretty common (from the Christian Short Stories I've read, at least).  But you DO have to do something about it.  For a non-christian reader, it leaves a sour taste in their mouth - and for any other kind of reader, be he/she Christian or not Christian, it will delude the meaning.  How so?  First, it's used a lot, making it dull.  And second, it seems sudden and often an overreaction.  More often than not, it's a slow process in becoming a Christian and believing in God.  Even if the character doesn't become a Christian and just realizes that there might be one true God, it's overused, rendering it a no-no.

Okay.  2 might not be a list.  But it's something.  Now let me just ramble for a little bit about Christian Fantasy.


Jesus' parables can be very useful when writing Christian Fantasy.  We know that the parables didn't actually happen, and were more of just a story to tell the point in a way the people would understand, so using some of the same elements in our stories can be a good way to teach and to entertain.  I am currently writing a series of short stories about God's characteristics (except, for some reason, I lost my touch and need to find it again...), but there are only so many traits to be written about, so I think I shall write a few adaptions type-things of parables as well.  I was thinking the wise man who built his house on the rock and the foolish man who built his house on the sand.


Alright, now that I'm done rambling, I'll ask a question.  What do YOU think about Christian Fantasy?  What's important?  And  also, what cliches have you noticed in Christian Fantasy?


~The WordWeaver
4/24/2013 04:15:41 am

I've noticed the same things- particularly number two. Oftentimes, I think that Christian authors, especially young ones, wish for a quick, happy ending in which everything is okay. But the truth is that people don't often accept Jesus as easily as we'd like to believe. It happens, but it is very rare. I have nothing against writers who use that plot device, but it would be far more realistic and interesting to see the process happen more slowly. :)

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The WordWeaver
4/26/2013 02:38:39 am

Yes. :)

It can be a problem, though, if the main event that leads the character to becoming a Christian is near the end... which is what has happened in a Short Story of mine... I must correct that. :)

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General J.S.
5/5/2013 05:40:39 am

I haven't checked your blog for a while, nor have I commented.

In answer to your questions at the bottom of the post: I think

Christian fantasy is often better than secular (moral wise). I don't

think anything is spesifically "important", but I do agree that it's a

good thing to try not to use cliches. I haven't read much Christian

fantasy, so I don't really have any thoughts.

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