Céleste Perrino-Walker's Blog, page 3
September 1, 2014
Indie Christian :: Defined
You know how they say necessity is the mother of invention? Well, that's how the genre "Indie Christian" came about. I credit author Glen Robinson with its creation even though he probably didn't realize he was starting something. When I read his Champion trilogy, I was excited about the way it opened the horizon in the field of Christian publishing. So what, exactly, is "Indie Christian"?
First, it's independently published. That's not so much by design . . . both Glen and I approached traditional publishers with our "not quite mainstream" but definitely Christian books. I could speculate on why publishers are unwilling to try something in this field: hard to market a new niche, uncomfortable with the level of honesty, unwilling to back something that could offend people. I don't know. And it doesn't really matter now. Independent publishing has allowed books that don't fit other people's predetermined categories to enter the market. If you like to read, and you 're not excited about that, check your pulse because you might be dead.
I feel that an even more important aspect of the "Indie" definition has to do with the type of content I think it includes. In the art world in general, "Indie" inherently means "different, creative, non-conformist, original, avant garde." And that is an intrinsic part of the "Indie" definition. Because "Indie" doesn't fit a standard mold it must be published independently--at least for now. So the two definitions are opposite sides of the same coin.
I've asked Glen to help me introduce you to the "Indie Christian" genre since he started it. Plus, I kind of credit Glen with helping me launch my career in the first place. He took a chance on my fiction when he was the Associate Editor of Listen Magazine, and I was trying to get published. Now, on the brink of beginning a new phase in my writing, I thought it was only fitting that he weigh in. Here, then, is my interview with Glen:
Your Champion trilogy is outside the usual Christian genre. What was your impetus for veering away from the usual, safe format for a Christian novel?
Several years ago, my friend and fellow editor Tim Lale challenged me to make my writing more “honest,” and I struggled for quite a while to determine what that is. (Oddly enough, I kind of remember Tim saying something of the sort to me at some point. Obviously, I didn't jump on it as quickly as Glen. Still, I think we have our instigator . . . CPW) I came to the conclusion that traditional Christian writing often veers on the side of “safe” and “predictable,” and I decided that not only did I not want my writing to be “safe” and “predictable,” but that true Christianity isn’t either one of those things. Jesus wasn’t interested in affirming the status quo, and we shouldn’t be either. Our writing should challenge readers with real Christian issues and concepts, but do it in a manner that is understandable to the world.
During the writing process, were you at all afraid of criticism by Christian readers for giving them something a little edgier than they might have expected?
When I decided that I was going to follow this path, I submitted my proposed manuscripts to a couple of traditional publishers. One saw what I considered action in my story as “too violent,” although it wasn’t any more violent than what one would see on network TV. Another considered it for a long while, but in the end rejecting it on the recommendation from the marketing department. I suspect they weren’t sure how to sell something this out of the ordinary.
In what ways do you feel the Champion trilogy addresses important Christian topics in a way that a more traditional Christian book couldn’t?
It deals with the issues of surrender, commitment and sacrifice, just like many other Christian stories. But my intention was to appeal to (1) Christians who don’t usually buy Christian books for the reasons cited above; and (2) secular readers who get caught up in the action and don’t care if there is a spiritual message as long as they enjoy the story. I learned this approach from my end-time novel, If Tomorrow Comes , which continues to sell to people I never would have expected.
Do you feel that Champion is in any way a more honest novel because of its disregard of convention? In what way?
I am dead-set against using “stained-glass” language in our stories, our sermons and our interaction with each other. I think it is exclusive, rather than inclusive, and we end up talking to ourselves rather than the world. We need to use the language and the methods that the world uses (within the limits of our own comfort and conscience). That’s how I interpret honesty. When I allude to a married pastor and his wife going to bed together because they are trying to get pregnant, one editor expressed some hesitation, but that’s real world, and so we shouldn’t have to avoid it.
Would you say that “Indie Christian” is an appropriate designation for a genre that is not quite what readers of Christian fiction typically expect? Why or why not?
To me, Indie applies more to method rather than content, but it definitely separates the intent of this kind of story from the traditional Christian stories. This kind of story probably wouldn’t have been considered 20 years ago, or even 10, but the changing landscape of publishing makes all kinds of new approaches possible.
As a reader, what sorts of books would you expect to see in the genre “Indie Christian”?
Definitely nontraditional. Indie books have been fighting an uphill battle against a lack of quality by many indie authors, but I think there have been some masterful indie books that have come out in the past few years that will help overturn this perception. I would think “Indie Christian” would mean books that were done in new, exciting, innovative, challenging ways.
Do you think you’ll write more novels in this genre?
Absolutely. But my interpretation of “indie” might not be everybody’s. I am currently working on a novel based on the Biblical character Jonathan, but it is definitely non-traditional. Much of the Bible is at least PG-13 rated, but we tend to sanitize it to make it “safe.” Christianity isn’t safe. I am in the process of developing my own writing manifesto, and when it is done, I plan on following it and inspiration to determine future projects.
And there you have it. What the Indie Christian genre means to the people who sorta, kinda created it and who hope that many other Christian authors will join us. A big "thank you" to Glen for submitting to a bunch of nosy questions. If you'd like a list of his other published work, go here. I expect to finish The Shaking this week (ahead of schedule) and hopefully add it to the list of published "Indie Christian" work out there the week after if all goes well. Stay tuned...
If you have a recommendation for a book you consider to be "Indie Christian," please share it in the comments section.
First, it's independently published. That's not so much by design . . . both Glen and I approached traditional publishers with our "not quite mainstream" but definitely Christian books. I could speculate on why publishers are unwilling to try something in this field: hard to market a new niche, uncomfortable with the level of honesty, unwilling to back something that could offend people. I don't know. And it doesn't really matter now. Independent publishing has allowed books that don't fit other people's predetermined categories to enter the market. If you like to read, and you 're not excited about that, check your pulse because you might be dead.
I feel that an even more important aspect of the "Indie" definition has to do with the type of content I think it includes. In the art world in general, "Indie" inherently means "different, creative, non-conformist, original, avant garde." And that is an intrinsic part of the "Indie" definition. Because "Indie" doesn't fit a standard mold it must be published independently--at least for now. So the two definitions are opposite sides of the same coin.
I've asked Glen to help me introduce you to the "Indie Christian" genre since he started it. Plus, I kind of credit Glen with helping me launch my career in the first place. He took a chance on my fiction when he was the Associate Editor of Listen Magazine, and I was trying to get published. Now, on the brink of beginning a new phase in my writing, I thought it was only fitting that he weigh in. Here, then, is my interview with Glen:
Your Champion trilogy is outside the usual Christian genre. What was your impetus for veering away from the usual, safe format for a Christian novel?
Several years ago, my friend and fellow editor Tim Lale challenged me to make my writing more “honest,” and I struggled for quite a while to determine what that is. (Oddly enough, I kind of remember Tim saying something of the sort to me at some point. Obviously, I didn't jump on it as quickly as Glen. Still, I think we have our instigator . . . CPW) I came to the conclusion that traditional Christian writing often veers on the side of “safe” and “predictable,” and I decided that not only did I not want my writing to be “safe” and “predictable,” but that true Christianity isn’t either one of those things. Jesus wasn’t interested in affirming the status quo, and we shouldn’t be either. Our writing should challenge readers with real Christian issues and concepts, but do it in a manner that is understandable to the world.
During the writing process, were you at all afraid of criticism by Christian readers for giving them something a little edgier than they might have expected?
When I decided that I was going to follow this path, I submitted my proposed manuscripts to a couple of traditional publishers. One saw what I considered action in my story as “too violent,” although it wasn’t any more violent than what one would see on network TV. Another considered it for a long while, but in the end rejecting it on the recommendation from the marketing department. I suspect they weren’t sure how to sell something this out of the ordinary.
In what ways do you feel the Champion trilogy addresses important Christian topics in a way that a more traditional Christian book couldn’t?
It deals with the issues of surrender, commitment and sacrifice, just like many other Christian stories. But my intention was to appeal to (1) Christians who don’t usually buy Christian books for the reasons cited above; and (2) secular readers who get caught up in the action and don’t care if there is a spiritual message as long as they enjoy the story. I learned this approach from my end-time novel, If Tomorrow Comes , which continues to sell to people I never would have expected.
Do you feel that Champion is in any way a more honest novel because of its disregard of convention? In what way?
I am dead-set against using “stained-glass” language in our stories, our sermons and our interaction with each other. I think it is exclusive, rather than inclusive, and we end up talking to ourselves rather than the world. We need to use the language and the methods that the world uses (within the limits of our own comfort and conscience). That’s how I interpret honesty. When I allude to a married pastor and his wife going to bed together because they are trying to get pregnant, one editor expressed some hesitation, but that’s real world, and so we shouldn’t have to avoid it.
Would you say that “Indie Christian” is an appropriate designation for a genre that is not quite what readers of Christian fiction typically expect? Why or why not?
To me, Indie applies more to method rather than content, but it definitely separates the intent of this kind of story from the traditional Christian stories. This kind of story probably wouldn’t have been considered 20 years ago, or even 10, but the changing landscape of publishing makes all kinds of new approaches possible.
As a reader, what sorts of books would you expect to see in the genre “Indie Christian”?
Definitely nontraditional. Indie books have been fighting an uphill battle against a lack of quality by many indie authors, but I think there have been some masterful indie books that have come out in the past few years that will help overturn this perception. I would think “Indie Christian” would mean books that were done in new, exciting, innovative, challenging ways.
Do you think you’ll write more novels in this genre?
Absolutely. But my interpretation of “indie” might not be everybody’s. I am currently working on a novel based on the Biblical character Jonathan, but it is definitely non-traditional. Much of the Bible is at least PG-13 rated, but we tend to sanitize it to make it “safe.” Christianity isn’t safe. I am in the process of developing my own writing manifesto, and when it is done, I plan on following it and inspiration to determine future projects.
And there you have it. What the Indie Christian genre means to the people who sorta, kinda created it and who hope that many other Christian authors will join us. A big "thank you" to Glen for submitting to a bunch of nosy questions. If you'd like a list of his other published work, go here. I expect to finish The Shaking this week (ahead of schedule) and hopefully add it to the list of published "Indie Christian" work out there the week after if all goes well. Stay tuned...
If you have a recommendation for a book you consider to be "Indie Christian," please share it in the comments section.
August 25, 2014
On the Writing Process: First Draft or Not First Draft . . . That is the Question
People often ask me about my writing process, so I thought I'd share some of it from time to time. If you have a question about a particular aspect of writing or publishing, fire away. I'll do my best to answer it. One part of writing that has always baffled me is first drafts.
I've been fascinated by this ever since I was in the seventh grade and my English teacher, Mrs. Markum, tried to make me write drafts. I could not figure out what she meant by "first draft." Whenever I've written anything, it comes out the way I want it to the first time. I literally cannot think of a better way to express it. I figured by "first draft" she meant that she wanted me to rearrange what I said the first time, not completely rewrite it using different words.
The whole rewriting process was, and always has been, a mystery to me. I never rewrite. I revise, yes; I'll replace a word with a stronger word or tweak the flow of a sentence, maybe add a sentence to clarify. Very rarely I'll add something descriptive, but I never significantly change what I write the first time. From talking to other writers, I'm beginning to think I'm a freak of nature in this area.
My sister, author J.P. Choquette, who does write first drafts, suspects it has something to do with my speed which is more turtle than hare. A comfortable pace for me is somewhere around 500 words an hour. I write for two hours every week day (from 6 to 8 in the morning) and average just over 1,000 words a day. But I might spend the first half hour or hour staring at the screen lost in rereading what I wrote the day before and imagining what might happen next. When I start writing, it's usually in fits and spurts. Really long fits and really fast spurts.
To show you that there can be vast differences between writers, even coming from the same gene pool, my sister averages 1,700 words--an hour. This is a first draft which she says is like Swiss cheese . . . she has to go back later and fill in the holes. Here's what she says about the process of writing:
" I say, throw all the advice out the window. Seriously, focus on what works for you. When I first started writing fiction seriously (as in, I wanted to publish a book) I tried outlining and mapping things out, making character sketches, etc., because I read author interviews and that's what real authors did. Well, it didn't work for me. As soon as everything was outlined, something strange happened. I didn't want to write anymore. It was like someone read the ending of a book to me before I'd gotten to chapter four.
"Instead, I use a process I call Just 15-Minutes. Basically I write 15-minutes, most days of the week. If I have time and mental energy, I often write longer but I don't force myself to. 15-minutes isn't long but I write quickly. Also, I do not allow myself to read what I've already written during this time (too stressful to switch between critical editor brain to creative writer brain) and I don't fix typos or daydream about what should happen next. I just sit and write. Like exercise, I try to make writing time a game or challenge (how much can I write in just 15-minutes?), not punishment. You can find a two-part series on how to successfully finish your book by clicking here."
Since there are probably as many methods as there are writers, feel free to share yours in the comments. And if you do, tell me, first draft, or not first draft? For that is the question.
I've been fascinated by this ever since I was in the seventh grade and my English teacher, Mrs. Markum, tried to make me write drafts. I could not figure out what she meant by "first draft." Whenever I've written anything, it comes out the way I want it to the first time. I literally cannot think of a better way to express it. I figured by "first draft" she meant that she wanted me to rearrange what I said the first time, not completely rewrite it using different words.
The whole rewriting process was, and always has been, a mystery to me. I never rewrite. I revise, yes; I'll replace a word with a stronger word or tweak the flow of a sentence, maybe add a sentence to clarify. Very rarely I'll add something descriptive, but I never significantly change what I write the first time. From talking to other writers, I'm beginning to think I'm a freak of nature in this area.
My sister, author J.P. Choquette, who does write first drafts, suspects it has something to do with my speed which is more turtle than hare. A comfortable pace for me is somewhere around 500 words an hour. I write for two hours every week day (from 6 to 8 in the morning) and average just over 1,000 words a day. But I might spend the first half hour or hour staring at the screen lost in rereading what I wrote the day before and imagining what might happen next. When I start writing, it's usually in fits and spurts. Really long fits and really fast spurts.
To show you that there can be vast differences between writers, even coming from the same gene pool, my sister averages 1,700 words--an hour. This is a first draft which she says is like Swiss cheese . . . she has to go back later and fill in the holes. Here's what she says about the process of writing:
" I say, throw all the advice out the window. Seriously, focus on what works for you. When I first started writing fiction seriously (as in, I wanted to publish a book) I tried outlining and mapping things out, making character sketches, etc., because I read author interviews and that's what real authors did. Well, it didn't work for me. As soon as everything was outlined, something strange happened. I didn't want to write anymore. It was like someone read the ending of a book to me before I'd gotten to chapter four.
"Instead, I use a process I call Just 15-Minutes. Basically I write 15-minutes, most days of the week. If I have time and mental energy, I often write longer but I don't force myself to. 15-minutes isn't long but I write quickly. Also, I do not allow myself to read what I've already written during this time (too stressful to switch between critical editor brain to creative writer brain) and I don't fix typos or daydream about what should happen next. I just sit and write. Like exercise, I try to make writing time a game or challenge (how much can I write in just 15-minutes?), not punishment. You can find a two-part series on how to successfully finish your book by clicking here."
Since there are probably as many methods as there are writers, feel free to share yours in the comments. And if you do, tell me, first draft, or not first draft? For that is the question.
August 3, 2014
Long Road Home
What can I say? It's been a long road back to my first love: writing books. Not that I ever stopped completely. It's just that while I've been busy editing magazines and other people's books, and writing articles and columns, the entire publishing world has gone to pieces. Sifting through them has been encouraging, discouraging, and downright exciting. I'm about to release a book that will mark my first foray into indie publishing . . . for a control freak that's epic. Editors have mostly been kind to me; they don't change my words much. But it's tough bleeding onto your laptop day after day for months only to end up with a cover that makes you cringe and to watch the royalties "roll in" ninety cents at a time. Indie publishing has made great strides in getting authors a bigger piece of the publishing pie, and for that I'm grateful. Authors have to eat, too.
If you're one of the three people who has been waiting anxiously for my next book, your wait is almost over. For one thing, my latest, traditionally published book, i Choose Life, will be available for purchase in August. That's, like, any day now. It's a devotional for youth, so if that's not up your alley, maybe you'll be more excited to hear about the books I am planning to indie publish. . .
The Shaking . I'm keeping this one on the qt for now, so I'll just say that I started it two years ago and then dropped it about six pages in. I was a little nervous about my protagonist. She showed up in my head one day and just started talking. I had a vague idea what I wanted to do with her, but she had ideas of her own. For now, let's just say that I have never had more fun writing a book than I have had writing this one. It practically writes itself. It's set in the future. Yes, I've written another apocalyptic book. Yes, this makes number four. But, you know, it's fun playing with end-time stuff. You get to make more up. Unless I run into major problems, this book should be out by November 1.
This book is a complete deviation from my usual fiction. It's so gritty and edgy that I'm creating a whole new genre to accommodate it. And no, this doesn't represent a major shift in my writing style. This may be a one-off. I have four (no, five) books up my sleeve that are completely unlike it in almost every way. They are . . .
Life And Death . This is the first book in a series I'm calling the "Toussaint, Vermont Series." It's almost finished . . . and it should be; I think I started it over ten years ago. This story brings us to a sort of made up, sort of real place that exists mostly in my imagination; it's where I grew up. Here's my back of the book blurb for this book:
"Peopled with quirky characters and peppered with colloquial language and customs, Life And Death explores what happens when you face death, your own or the death of someone you love. Ringing with strength and hope, the novel abounds with humor, craziness, traditional music, romance, and a little old mémère with a tongue like a buzz saw.
The novel is set in the fictional town of Toussaint, Vermont which lies so close to the shores of Lake Champlain and the border of Canada that if was closer to either it would fall in or need to change citizenship. The story centers on Emerson Giroux who still struggles to cope following the death of her husband several years earlier in a freak accident, her nearly grown daughter Adrienne, her eccentric, blind friend Marise, and a host of other likely and unlikely characters.
When a tall, handsome stranger returns home, Emerson is shocked out of her grief. But things are not as they seem. Or are they? Is it possible that the most important thing to remember about life is that no one comes out alive? In Toussaint, Vermont, you may just find out."
Now I See This is the second title in the" Toussaint, Vermont Series," but it's a stand-alone sequel. You'll get more out of it if you read Life And Death first because you'll be introduced to the characters in Now I See, but you can read it on its own as well. The story picks up where Life And Death leaves off only this time Marise is the main character. But don't worry; many of your favorite characters from Life And Death make their appearance . . . it's a small town, after all. I'll update this synopsis as I get further along in the book.
Fleabitten This is the third title in the "Toussaint, Vermont Series." It's a story I started ages ago, but I think it will find its home here. I'll post more as I have more details.
Christ's Child My first, though hopefully not only, historical novel. Christ's Child tells the true (though largely imagined) story of Margaret Wilson who lived during a period of history in Scotland that was so bloody it was called "The Killing Time." Told through the eyes of her sister, Agnes, Christ's Child draws a sharply outlined portrait of what it means to live - and die - for your beliefs. Bide a wee and ye'll receive further updates.
The Farmer's Daughter While I was away from writing books, I started a farm. Sometimes comical, sometimes poignant, The Farmer's Daughter * tells my story as I lived it . . . from llama spit to vicious rabbits . . . if you're never soaked a sheep's foot in epsom salt or dug maggots out of a bunny's bottom, or stuffed sugar into the abscess of a chicken who was attacked by a fox, then you don't know jack about farming. Get some tea, pull up a chair, and let me tell you all about it.
*No animals were harmed during the creation of this book, but some were highly annoyed.
And that about wraps up my news for the time being. If you want to keep up with any updates about my progress or my titles, please consider following my Facebook page or this website. I'll be posting updates as I have them. But I'm too busy writing to post often, so you needn't worry about being inundated with posts. Thanks for your interest!
If you're one of the three people who has been waiting anxiously for my next book, your wait is almost over. For one thing, my latest, traditionally published book, i Choose Life, will be available for purchase in August. That's, like, any day now. It's a devotional for youth, so if that's not up your alley, maybe you'll be more excited to hear about the books I am planning to indie publish. . .
The Shaking . I'm keeping this one on the qt for now, so I'll just say that I started it two years ago and then dropped it about six pages in. I was a little nervous about my protagonist. She showed up in my head one day and just started talking. I had a vague idea what I wanted to do with her, but she had ideas of her own. For now, let's just say that I have never had more fun writing a book than I have had writing this one. It practically writes itself. It's set in the future. Yes, I've written another apocalyptic book. Yes, this makes number four. But, you know, it's fun playing with end-time stuff. You get to make more up. Unless I run into major problems, this book should be out by November 1.
This book is a complete deviation from my usual fiction. It's so gritty and edgy that I'm creating a whole new genre to accommodate it. And no, this doesn't represent a major shift in my writing style. This may be a one-off. I have four (no, five) books up my sleeve that are completely unlike it in almost every way. They are . . .
Life And Death . This is the first book in a series I'm calling the "Toussaint, Vermont Series." It's almost finished . . . and it should be; I think I started it over ten years ago. This story brings us to a sort of made up, sort of real place that exists mostly in my imagination; it's where I grew up. Here's my back of the book blurb for this book:
"Peopled with quirky characters and peppered with colloquial language and customs, Life And Death explores what happens when you face death, your own or the death of someone you love. Ringing with strength and hope, the novel abounds with humor, craziness, traditional music, romance, and a little old mémère with a tongue like a buzz saw.
The novel is set in the fictional town of Toussaint, Vermont which lies so close to the shores of Lake Champlain and the border of Canada that if was closer to either it would fall in or need to change citizenship. The story centers on Emerson Giroux who still struggles to cope following the death of her husband several years earlier in a freak accident, her nearly grown daughter Adrienne, her eccentric, blind friend Marise, and a host of other likely and unlikely characters.
When a tall, handsome stranger returns home, Emerson is shocked out of her grief. But things are not as they seem. Or are they? Is it possible that the most important thing to remember about life is that no one comes out alive? In Toussaint, Vermont, you may just find out."
Now I See This is the second title in the" Toussaint, Vermont Series," but it's a stand-alone sequel. You'll get more out of it if you read Life And Death first because you'll be introduced to the characters in Now I See, but you can read it on its own as well. The story picks up where Life And Death leaves off only this time Marise is the main character. But don't worry; many of your favorite characters from Life And Death make their appearance . . . it's a small town, after all. I'll update this synopsis as I get further along in the book.
Fleabitten This is the third title in the "Toussaint, Vermont Series." It's a story I started ages ago, but I think it will find its home here. I'll post more as I have more details.
Christ's Child My first, though hopefully not only, historical novel. Christ's Child tells the true (though largely imagined) story of Margaret Wilson who lived during a period of history in Scotland that was so bloody it was called "The Killing Time." Told through the eyes of her sister, Agnes, Christ's Child draws a sharply outlined portrait of what it means to live - and die - for your beliefs. Bide a wee and ye'll receive further updates.
The Farmer's Daughter While I was away from writing books, I started a farm. Sometimes comical, sometimes poignant, The Farmer's Daughter * tells my story as I lived it . . . from llama spit to vicious rabbits . . . if you're never soaked a sheep's foot in epsom salt or dug maggots out of a bunny's bottom, or stuffed sugar into the abscess of a chicken who was attacked by a fox, then you don't know jack about farming. Get some tea, pull up a chair, and let me tell you all about it.
*No animals were harmed during the creation of this book, but some were highly annoyed.
And that about wraps up my news for the time being. If you want to keep up with any updates about my progress or my titles, please consider following my Facebook page or this website. I'll be posting updates as I have them. But I'm too busy writing to post often, so you needn't worry about being inundated with posts. Thanks for your interest!
