When it comes to some writers, publishers, and readers, there are two categories of fiction: General Fiction and Christian Fiction. If you’re an author you may sometimes wonder where your work fits, so let’s define the two.
-General Market
Most often these books are written with what is most termed as a secular world view. The target market is much wider and from my observations includes anyone who reads books. Content can be graphic but that is not always the case.
-Christian Market
What earns these books their section of a bookstore is their Christian world view. The target market here is readers who want some faith in their fiction. Content can be honest and at times gripping but is not usually graphic although that is changing.
As a writer (and a believer) I spend time and money in both sections because reading is my continuing education.
While I try to stay true to the story I’m given to write, I’m also a writer who wants readers, so I study the market on both sides of the aisle. I can spend hours learning from book covers. I will take time to write the title, author, and publisher in my notebook so I can check back and see what intrigued me enough to pull the book off the shelf when it’s time to design my next cover. I read the back cover copy – the blurbs that sometimes are just enough to make a reader buy the book. I check out the opening lines to see if I’m drawn in. Then I may take in the first chapter. If I enjoy the pace, language, and over all writing, I will either buy the book or add the title to my wish list. (I have a very long list!)
The first time I read a book is as a reader. No highlighter or pen although I might dog ear a page I know I want to come back to when I begin the reading as writer phase. The second reading is faster as I search for key spots the author delighted, scared, or disappointed me.
I’ve developed my own “code” for these places I’m drawn to and therefore learn from. A smiley face for places I found funny or that made me smile. A heart for a phrase I loved. A cross for a faith moment and a black dot for a spot that scared me spit-less. A sad face for a where the author disappointed me. An arrow means this is something I want to ponder, argue, or agree with. Question marks means there’s something there I didn’t understand and may want to learn more about. An exclamation mark means “right on!” in my short hand. Highlighted passages are those I want to remember either because they taught me something about writing or myself. I use a cross when the author is exceptional at writing about faith. These symbols become a word-less journal within the book.
As a reader and a student of writing, I’m picky about the books I purchase. If the books I buy can be both entertainment and text book, I get to double my pleasure.
As a writer and seller of my own books, reading books from both sides of the fiction market shows me what works for readers. This is not my main driving force when I sit down at the keyboard. The love of writing, the passion for my story, and staying true to the characters is far more important than writing for the markets. If a story is well-written, readers will cross-over.
I’ve also come to believe from reading that writers can put their faith all over their fiction. Bold authors are respected and read. Readers are savvy and unafraid of being converted. When an author writes a compelling book, people will buy it and read it if only to disagree. This kind of writing stays in the hearts of the readers and on the sales reports of bookstores for years.