Why I Write Christian Fiction Instead of Clean Fiction

When I met Kristina Hall (through Goodreads, that is), I was so pleased, because I found a like-minded writer and a fellow author of good, strong Christian fiction. And today, she's going to share with y'all why she writes Christian fiction instead of the ever-popular clean fiction! I hope y'all enjoy and are inspired to think more about your own convictions and guidelines when it comes to what kind of fiction you write!

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I’ve already subjected you all to my long, dry title, so I might as well continue with the boring trend and give my definitions of clean fiction and Christian fiction. The last thing I want to do is confuse readers …

Clean fiction: A story that contains no cussing, explicit romance scenes, or graphic violence. No mentions of God, Bible verses, prayers, etc.

Christian fiction: A story that contains Christian elements (biblically based themes/morals, references to God, discussions about spiritual things, verses, prayers, etc.). Like clean fiction, it also shouldn’t have (don’t get me started on the ones that do) cussing, explicit romance scenes, or graphic violence.

I’m not writing this to bash clean fiction or the authors who write it. While I primarily read Christian fiction, I do enjoy a good clean fiction book sometimes.

But why do I write Christian fiction instead of clean fiction?

I write Christian fiction instead of clean fiction because I want to be able to write about the worst situations in life and show that God will never leave those He’s saved.

I’ve heard accusations leveled at Christian fiction for avoiding or skimming over the bad parts of life. I’m sure I’ve accused Christian fiction of this myself at some points. And I believe it’s true for some books in the genre. To tell the truth, there’s actually nothing wrong with writing a lighter, fluffier book. Most readers enjoy one of those occasionally in order to forget their problems. I’m just not a huge fan of them on a regular basis.

But all Christian fiction doesn’t have to be fluffy.

Yet there are also books out there that end up wallowing in how horrible life can get and never point the reader to Jesus and the salvation that is found only in Him. It’s all darkness for those books. Darkness, darkness, and more hopeless darkness. Not something I want to read either.

But a book that looks realistically at life doesn’t have to be complete gloom and doom.

The Bible, the infallible, inerrant Word of God, talks about plenty of dark things, but it also shines the light of truth on them. It also centers on Jesus.

Christians, using the example of the Bible, can write about the darkness that is often life. They can write a realistic portrayal of grief, the consequences of sin, depression, etc. And they can also point the reader to Jesus. To the hope that believers have in Him. They can point the reader to the faithfulness of God—God who will never leave those He’s saved.

If I wrote clean fiction, I could write about how bad life can get. I could write about it until I was so depressed I couldn’t stand to write about it anymore. Yet I couldn’t come right out and say that God will never leave the Christian or that Jesus saves. But with Christian fiction, I can.

I write Christian fiction because people need to hear the truth.

Yes, I want to tell an exciting story that puts readers on the edge of their seats. Yes, I might even want to make them cry sometimes. Yes, I want them to feel like they’re right there with my characters. But most of all, I want my readers to be pointed to God—whether those readers are long-time Christians or unbelievers who have never heard the Gospel.

Christian fiction is a great way to present biblical morals/themes to Christians. God can use novels to remind His people of truths, to comfort them, to show them something they need to correct.

And Christian fiction is also a great way to share the Gospel with unbelievers and to remind believers of just how much Jesus has done for them. If you do this, you’ll probably have your books labeled “preachy,” and you’ll run afoul of the group that thinks you should only ever write of Christianity in fiction in subtle symbolism and veiled references. But those groups/readers aren’t my authority. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” I’d much rather use my books to share the Gospel with hell-bound sinners than worry if my books are too “preachy.”

And I’m edging perilously close to a rant …

But rants aside, people need to read the truth, whether that’s an unbeliever hearing the Gospel for the first time or a ninety-year-old lady who’s been a Christian since she was four reading a biblical moral. And Christian fiction is the perfect avenue for authors to be used by God to present the truth He’s revealed in the Bible. With clean fiction, you might be able to tell an engaging story. You might be able to get mostly five-star reviews. You might be able to present good morals, etc. But I believe you’re missing a great opportunity to share the truth with your readers—whether they’re believers or unbelievers.

Those are the two big reasons I write Christian fiction.

In the end, it’s not my opinion that counts, though. It’s God’s. If you’re a writer, as are a lot of the ladies who follow this blog, and you’re wondering whether you should write Christian fiction or clean fiction, pray and ask Him. Read His Word. Give your writing to Him. Do your best to glorify Him with all your words—written or spoken.

What are your thoughts on Christian fiction and clean fiction? I’d love to hear them!

And thanks, Grace, for letting me guest post on Book Nations! I’m so glad to be here!

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Christian or clean? What do you think? Does clean fiction have the same impact as Christian fiction? Or do Christian elements add a level of authenticity and depth to a story that the book would otherwise lack? Is it enough to write clean fiction from a biblical worldview?

With love and blessings always,

Grace

Romans 1:16