What Place Prayer?
This entry was posted on Monday, May 28. 2007 and is filed under Posts by Rebecca Luella Miller,Faith.
Last Friday I posted my Periodic Fantasy Rant, sparked by a comment Karen Ball made at Charis Connection. Unbeknown to me, my post ignited considerable discussion, of the healthy kind (for which I am grateful).
One comment in particular, struck me—something Karen herself said. It was, simply, a request for us to pray for publishers as they do their work to position Christian fiction in both the ABA and the CBA.
I have to admit, that was convicting. I pray for a group of speculative authors, for webzines, and the people behind them, that promote the genre, for agents and editors to become more SFF friendly.
Then I bemoan what I perceive to be a lack of progress—or slow progress at best. I'm not saying those of us who would like to see CBA publishers embrace fantasy should be silent. But perhaps we should be praying for their efforts with as much vigor.
Maybe I'm only speaking to myself here because the rest of you have been praying for the publishers. In that case, let me pass along Karen's specific request:
I added the part about the upcoming trade show because this gives us another specific something to pray for.
What place prayer? I confess it has not been central in my thoughts about how to move editors and publishers to a more CSFF friendly position. But shouldn't it be?
I mean, from what I read over and over, CSFF writers want above all to paint reality, with God in His place of supremacy, moving in the affairs of Men, and to do so in a way that engages the culture. Our models are more often than not, the masters of the writing craft. We desire to write well.
What about those goals would displease God? That He, in His infinite power, doesn't have the publishing doors flying open to us, can not be an accident. What was it Paul and Silas did when they were imprisoned? Sang and prayed, wasn't it? Sang praises. Prayed … for what we don't know, but I'd be surprised if at some point they didn't pray for their release. Maybe they also prayed for the jailors and the other prisoners and the men who had detained them.
Point is, some time after midnight, an earthquake brought the jail walls down. God's timing. God's way.
And if He has an earthquake in store for Christian science fiction and fantasy, I think I want to be singing and praying when it hits.
generally speaking, each section of the ABA stores has a buyer who is concerned with one thing: expanding his territory. So the fiction buyer isn’t inclined to put Christian fiction in his area because it’s considered “religion.” CBA publishers are working hard to change that, so we’d appreciate your prayers. One bit of good news: the ABA trade show is coming up next week, and they’re having the first ever panel on Inspirational/Christian fiction. I’ll be on that panel, and one of the issues we’ll be addressing is where to put Christian fiction in ABA stores. (Emphasis added).
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Monday, May 28. 2007
Mir wrote:
I think knowing how to pray more specifically can only be a beneficial thing. Not all of us know the wild intricacies of placement and promotion. So, having an insider say, "Pray for this"...well, we need to heed it.
We decided last year that we were going to pray for SF friendly pros in the CBA, and now it's time to add Christian fiction friendly buyers and editors in the secular arena, and that the works be handled and stocked in the ideal way, the most beneficial way.
I know that I do not like seeing religious fiction segregated from the fiction section and put in the religion section. I understand the reasons, honest. And maybe that IS the best way, I dunno. But I don't like it. IT's fiction. STock it with fiction. If it's romance, stock it with romance. If it's SF, stock it with SF. But just cause that's what *I* want doesn't mean that serves the best purpose.
So, yeah, we should definitely pray for ALL involved.
Thanks, Becky. BTW, should we start a prayer loop?
Mir
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Monday, May 28. 2007
Rebecca LuElla Miller wrote:
I had an interesting experience Thursday. I visited a big book store holding a moving sale. Most books under $5.00. (When I went in I found that price was even discounted 20 percent--bought 5 books, 2 which were hardback, for 23 dollars!) All the stock was laid out on tables. All fiction was in alphabetically order by author. One of the first books I saw was from a CBA publisher. So at once I wondered what other CBA titles were in the store. But of course, they were mixed in with all the other books spread four rows deep on both sides of the 10 or so tables.
Then I thought I'd like to buy on the cheap some of the ABA sci fi authors I've had recommended to me. I couldn't recall names, though I thought if I recognized them ... I'd give a look through the SFF section. Except there was no SFF section. ALL fiction was alphebetized by author. No distinction.
This is what I used to think I wanted. Let readers find good books, not just genre specific books.
Well, now I'm not so sure.
Mir, a prayer loop is a good idea.
Becky
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Monday, May 28. 2007
Mir wrote:
Well, I don't want just ONE BIG fiction section. I like a big fiction section SUBHEADED by genre. Because the truth is, I tend to head to SF first, then mystery, then horror, then romance, then literary to browse. I always head to SF first.
In Borders and B&N in my neighborhood, the religious fiction is OVER THERE-----> with the Bibles and stuff, next to the Judaica, next to the New Age. Not with the fiction genres (be they mystery, SF, romance, etc.)
But one huge "just fiction", nah. I'm a genre gal.
Mir
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Monday, May 28. 2007
Mir wrote:
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Monday, May 28. 2007
Carol wrote:
Ya know, I've been so involved praying for my own writing I've forgotten to pray for those on the other side of this thing.
Thanks for reminding me.
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Monday, May 28. 2007
Merrie Destefano wrote:
I do believe that if this door opens, we will see wonderful things happen. Not immediately. But yes, let's pray. Fervently. For God's will and favor. For His guidance and wisdom. I would suggest that we each make a list of CBA publishing houses and begin to pray specifically that God bless each and every one of them, in a new and significant way. I am excited to see what God will do next! He is able to surpass our expectations, and we have great expectations!
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Monday, May 28. 2007
WayneThomasBatson wrote:
THANK YOU for issuing a call to prayer, Becky. If I may add one on behalf of Bryan, Sharon, and Christopher (and me!): Please pray for the Fantasy Fiction Tour. Four CBA Authors, 17 venues in 10 days. Pray that God would bring people out of the woodwork--not just to sell OUR books but to blow up the genre into something magnificent and wonderful.
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Tuesday, May 29. 2007
Mir wrote:
I've had a total brain blank. Who is Christopher? Chris Walley?
Mir
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Tuesday, May 29. 2007
Mir wrote:
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Tuesday, May 29. 2007
Valerie wrote:
If there will be a prayer loop, please add me to the list. Thanks.
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Tuesday, May 29. 2007
Pixy wrote:
If we don't do anything else, I think this is what we should be doing.
Thanks for the reminder, Becky!
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Wednesday, May 30. 2007
Rebecca LuElla Miller wrote:
Christopher is Christopher Hopper (Tsaba House is publishing his series), one of the four in the Fantasy Four tour leaving from Atlanta after ICRS.
Becky
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Thursday, May 31. 2007
Shannon McNear wrote:
My study principle of the week has centered around Galatians 6:9, a verse I memorized years and years ago ... but God has just breathed new life into it. "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not lose heart."
I've allowed myself to grow weary in many things, not least of all in praying ... thank you for the reminder to once again "be strong and courageous" in this area.
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