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Very insightful video👏

This came at such a perfect time for me- i write fantasy and horror as a Christian

June 2024- Please say a prayer for my mom’s 86 year old cousin, Christian author, Julie Walters of South Bend, Indiana. She’s not doing too well. She’s had falls and we ask for God to have mercy and guide her gently to His home. Her brother, Scott Hopper is fighting a battle with cancer so, he needs prayer, too. Julie’s husband, Clem is still living and is her rock and could always use our prayers, too! Thank you, God Bless! 😇

I ran across a similar article on fiction writing in general. In it, it was claimed that since the story in a fictional novel didn't really happen it was lying to the consumer, therefore a sin.

For folks who go to the comments first, start this video at 10 minutes in

Great video! ✨✨ I completely agree with all that you said, and the way you talk about your journey, as a writer, with such humility is so sweet and encouraging 😊😊

s*x in books doesn’t brother me because song of solomon is some spicy 🌶️ writing

then all fiction is a sin. Morally gray is real people. Most of us have morally gray moments. My characters aren’t Christian I am. They sometimes make decisions I would not because I have different convictions. Many really successful authors are christian. So it never crosses my mind not to speak about him. I literally can’t NOT speak about the Lord.

This is amazing! Super helpful! Thank you!!

If you honor God first in your work, I'm sure He will honor your faith and make a way for you to be successful in your endeavors. So don't worry whether or not you will sell your books if people find out you're a Christian. God will make a way.

If fantasy is sinful, you would have to include Chronicles of Narnia or Lord of the Rings. It's what you are trying to say, not how you say it.

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Wonderful video! Also love the way you say dystopian

do you have the psd file for photoshop?

Thank you so much for this video!!! I was struggling with this topic. I have published a Christian book about my story when I was 18, and next month I'll publish my second book, which is also Christian and testimonial. However, I'm contemplating writing non-Christian books. I want to share stories but for a new audience, so today I found your video, and it HELPED ME A LOT. All the writers that I know usually write Christian books, so I didn't have a fresh opinion about this. Thank you again ❤️💫

If fantasy is a sin because its not real and therefore a lie, than so is every other genre of fiction. Regardless of whether its set in a fully fictional world, or using the real world as a base, ultimately the characters and the story are made up. Which brings me to the fact that just because something is made up, does not make it a lie. I've always thought the whole debate over whether Christians should read, watch, or write fantasy rather dumb. I'm writing a fantasy book, and though its filled with a lot of non-Christian themes (because there is evil in the world), ultimately I am trying to glorify God by not only taking inspiration from the crazy and cool things that happen in the Bible, but also letting my faith and beliefs shape what is supposed to be good in the fictional world I am creating.

Simple. Christians can only write kids books.

Great video, thank you.

I found this video at the right time. I am working on a fantasy book and as a Christian I want to glorify God through what I'm writing. Ever since I was little I had always been passionate about storytelling, and always had a very wide imagination and I do believe these are gifts from God. We've been created in His image and so we also have creativity and the capacity to create beautiful things. I do think the most important aspect when writing as a Christian is paying attention to portray good as good and evil as evil, bearing the truth that we are being transformed through every day. And if a character that once did wrong has a redemption arc, you should show that the said character knows and understands that what they were formally doing was completely wrong. This is a beautiful way to portray forgiveness, development and grace because every single day we are learning as well. We forgive others and we are also forgiven by God when we slip and need strength to get up . I trust that God is with me always in this journey. Just subscribed to your channel btw ❤ God bless you and thank you for uploading this.

I agree with your points. I don't believe you can have a "story" if you sterilize every character, scene, and plot with a Christian swab. Nor can a reader fully sympathize with the characters and feel a connection with them. We all struggle in life, so its a given that people are not perfect. We all fall short.... That means we're all sinners. ...and so should your characters.

You uploaded this how long ago? And I needed it TODAY. Lol. I write urban fantasy with spice so I've been wrestling with God round and round on this. Like, if Christians thought Harry Potter was Satanic they would cast me out of the church! Lol. All jokes aside though, I almost think it's better that I as a believer am writing secular books, because I have one character in my current WIP who is a for real, Lorraine Warren style spiritual warrior shedding a positive light on our faith while exposing those who use it for darkness...and her interpersonal conflict has made her a fan favorite. So, there's a light.

Thanks for the video! Good discussion, and encouraging as a Christian writer. 🙂

Thank you so much for this video, it's an answer to a prayer request of mine and I believe that God used you to answer me. I've been in this dilemma with myself for about a year now and I even stopped writing because I thought I was sinning but now I know it's okay ❤

I appreciate you. Learned so much from this video. Took notes. I don't write fiction, but I am currently writing a secular leadership workbook, and you have inspired and encouraged me so much. Thank you.

I found it much easier to just select and copy the barcode and then paste it over my top layer.

You are truly amazing and have helped me feel confident in my writing journey again. I love writing fantasy but i love Jesus more! and have also struggled with so much back and forth thinking. But hearing your views has helped confirm that it's okay so long as good is good and bad is bad ❤❤❤❤❤❤

Thank your for sharing your experience and tips in a positive way! I'm so glad you trusted your intuition and didn't sign with an agent that you didn't feel comfortable with.

I have to say this I think lord of the rings is the perfect amount of violence 🤌😂

We ought to follow and listen to our convictions absolutely agree amen and amen

Great opening statement totally agree with you sister in Christ God bless you in Jesus name amen

Hi im seth and im making a fiction tv series called outside fighters and I'm forcing on one project still the first season and 64 episodes that way I have more time to fresh out the story and combine all my ideas into one show

I finished my book for kids called ( DeWayne Zee Thee Singing Taxi Cab Driver 😊😮❤

I stuck it out as I am brewing a blend of save the cat and the snowflake method which I'm tentatively calling Save the cat from a snowball while writing a novel (I know it needs work)

Great information

selling your soul happens in pieces over life and differently for everyone, and only we know when we did or didnt do it no matter how much we tried to confuse ego with inner conscience, and you listened to your inner conscience, the voice inside you that sounds like your voice but you know its not, that always knows the truth and always tells you what you should do, the one voice most others try to cover and eventually stop hearing, the voice of god. much love and blessings to you. youre amazing.

Yep, I watched all the way through to the end!

how do you do this for someone elses book you own, not your own

I Just discovered your channel from instagram. Your channel is inspiring. I just started my journey of pursuing being an Author. Thank you for sharing your stories. I look forward to reading your books. 🙏🏾

This was extremely helpful! Thank you Caitlin!

Great video, Caitlin. I chose self-publishing for a lot of the same reasons you mentioned. Now I help others do it, too, which is wild! I never would have expected to be doing that 10 years ago when I started this journey. I love having the freedom and control. Overseeing every part of the process means a lot to me and I love that my values and opinions are never discounted in the process. Thanks for sharing this. :)

I LOVE THIS VIDEO SO MUCH. I am going to cry honestly lol I adore the way you talked about this and that you shared the beautiful message at the end!! <3 beautiful to see unconditional love in action!! That right there is the Body of Christ floursihing. been feeling doubtful and confused about my calling to writeand where my faith fits in and you helped me so much to narrow it back to exactly what God has told me! <3 THANK YOU for taking so much time out to talk about this! We gotta be FIRM! We don't listen to the devil and tjhe way he lies to us about what God has put on our hearts to do! STAND FIRM ALWAYS!

Caitlin, this is a GREAT video--you did an excellent job articulating your viewpoints and opinions while also stressing that it really is essential to base everything on our faith in God and what the Holy Spirit is saying to us specifically. I think that's where a lot of us get tripped up--we want some "faith expert" to tell us what to do but really we need to find out God's will for us which might be very different than what He asks another writer to do or calls them to. I'm STILL needing to remind myself of this and I've been writing for a long time with multiple books out in the world. It's getting easier, but it's great that you clarified this and were very upfront about it. Also, this reminds me of that verse in the Bible about having fear of God, not fear of man. Lots and lots of Christians might not understand our calling to write for the "secular" market, but that doesn't mean we're wrong. Looking forward to checking out more of your videos soon! Thanks again for this wonderful personal view of your perspective on being a Christian who doesn't write "Christian books".

I just purchased your book, cannot wait to read it!!!!

This was fun to watch. Good job

Great trailer

Awesome to meet you. I write fantasy and make videos here on TH-cam. Look forward to seeing more videos.

this video is so helpful thank you so much

To what end do you think the agent was going towards? If they hadn't read the whole thing then what was it that they were trying to do? How was the agent's process a red flag?

Hi Caitlin, I learned a lot from this video. Thank you so much. You are such a sweetheart. I am just looking at publishing companies now since my manuscript for my memoir is finally completed. My story is a story of redemption and how God had his hand on my life growing up. My purpose is to bring honor and glory to God and help a lot of people to heal from their painful past. I want to follow you on social media and keep up with what your writing. god bless your day!

Hey, this was unbelievably helpful! Thank you so much!