- This topic has 23 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 2 months, 2 weeks ago by
.
-
Posts
-
Looking through everyone else’s responses, I think they have already covered what I would say to that. Have her enjoy it, because it’s realistic, then show some consequences. I like the idea of starting with subtle consequences. Something that lets the reader know that what she did was wrong, but she would push it away, or even tell herself that the consequences are good for her. Maybe not even realize what she is doing. You’ve got a good foundation with her having Christian friends that she drifts away from. Set them up as characters we know we can trust, showing what a good thing their friendship is. As she drifts away, she will probably just convince herself that she doesn’t need them and they are weighing her down and ‘sheltered’.
Some Bible verses to show that enjoying sin at first can be realistic:
Proverbs 20:17: “Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.”
Proverbs 5:3–4: “For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.”
Proverbs 9:17–18: “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.”
An interesting thing to mention is negative arc stories. These stories teach a lesson by having the character move in the opposite direction. Some examples are Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Animal Farm, and Macbeth. The character starts off believing the truth, but gradually falls into the lie. In the end, we can see the consequences of the lie, even if the character cannot. Sometimes, he even thinks he is better off following the lie in the end. For example, the pig, Napoleon, in Animal Farm becomes just like the humans he hated, if not worse, but he enjoys it thoroughly. The other animals, who are now his slaves, are confused, wondering why they can’t tell him apart from the humans. But it is quite clear to the reader what is going on. These stories don’t glorify sin, they are meant to be a warning to us.
So, needless to say, I see no reason not to make your character enjoy her sin. The realism of it will help you to show your themes instead of telling them.
Sometimes it is necessary to paint the sky black in order to see the stars.
I guarantee someone has picked up Chronicles of Narnia and made the argument it supports Satanism.
Yup. Some people who attend my church fell into the Occult before they became Christians, and they blame it on Narnia. Which is a bit challenging for me as a fantasy writer. I am just careful to respect their convictions and not wave my stories in their faces (which isn’t too hard, because I don’t know any of these people that well). I’ve also heard of people who would throw a story away for simply having a talking animal.
Sometimes it is necessary to paint the sky black in order to see the stars.
That’s quite the story about your friend. Yikes!
Sometimes it is necessary to paint the sky black in order to see the stars.
Yup. Some people who attend my church fell into the Occult before they became Christians, and they blame it on Narnia.
Oh! Well. All the more to my point. There are book series that I, also, try not to reference in front of others too often because it makes them uncomfortable.
I am out of signature ideas
Family friend, but yes. Dad knew him while he was in the military.
And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who couldn't hear the music
Wow, that’s crazy. But I like that as an idea to go off of. I probably won’t make it too drastic just bc I don’t want to take the story that direction, but that does spark some ideas.
Thank you!
You can do this! It’s worth it.
(plus, hey, we’re all in this thing too…writer’s are crazy)Aww, thanks girl!!
I’ve actually realized lately that the more effort and work I put into my writing (like locking in for the long run instead of little sprints), the more I’m falling in love with it and willing to stick with it for however long the Lord allows me to write. ??
Yes. I think you could write a speech on that phrase. Well put.
haha, fr XD Thanks though! I honestly probably could write a whole dissertation on something like that lolll (if i ever got a phd in creative writing with a Christian emphasis ??)
Mmm, very well put. That’s also something I’ve been learning lately—letting the reader figure some things out on their own and recognizing their intelligence rather than holding their hand through the story.
Thank you for that! I found it very encouraging and now I’m a little less scared tackle this issue ??
Thank you so much! Like I’ve been telling the others, it’s nice to hear that there is a way to get across my message realistically without glorifying sin. It’s just a matter of how, and you and the others have been so helpful with that! <3
So, needless to say, I see no reason not to make your character enjoy her sin. The realism of it will help you to show your themes instead of telling them.
Boom. Exactly. This is what I’m going to be reminding myself of as I flesh out her arc more!
Write what should not be forgotten. — Isabel Allende
I think it sounds fine. You mention it being ‘not that bad of a sin’ but I don’t think it would be a bad thing to write even if it were worse, it’s a path many people go down and it’s good to show that people can turn around and find a new life even if they get deep in to something or enjoy it. Some thing I would note is that is shouldn’t be enjoyable for the reader to read in a sinful way though. Like your FMC may be enjoying sinning but we don’t want the readers to enjoy it vicariously through her, though that may have been obvious.
My main concern is finding the balance between not glorifying sin and avoiding writing a sermon into my novel. Any tips or advice??
I think the best way to not end up writing a sermon is to not say the message outwrite, and to also make sure enough other storylines that represent other parts of life are present. You know the writing advice ‘show don’t tell’? If you have a character explicitly say “Don’t do ___, it’s wrong” that would be telling. But instead if you show the consequences on others or the character herself, and how she reacts to that (Like idk maybe she feels guilty, and righting the wrong costs her time and effort?) then people can get the message without being told.
In books that feel sermony I feel like they lack the variety that actual life has. Our own lives have storylines with morality in them sometimes, but we experience a lot of things that don’t have a right or a wrong, just different paths and the places we bring ourselves to by choosing them.
"Past or future... let them be."
OMC that’s crazy because when I read your post I thought it was an example from the Cloak of Light books XDXD
and yes it’s crazy…I agree they’re cool but holy moly the theology *cries*
#MakeNahimTakeABreak
(the real ones will know)cross my heart, I knew about this guy before reading those books! lol
Yes, it’s really wacky. I completely skipped the second book, but even then it was bad.
And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who couldn't hear the music
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.