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The Soapbox Novelist

soap-boxFor novelists, one of the more interesting opportunities/dilemmas created by social media is the ability to voice their opinion,  not just on writing, to more people. Now, not only can you follow an author to learn more about their writing habits and upcoming projects. Stick around and you’re liable to find out their feeling on politics, religion, and any number of controversial trending topics.

Opinion seems split on whether this is a good or a bad thing.

Several years ago, I began following an author on Facebook — an author I really liked. I’d read half a dozen of his books and thoroughly enjoyed his technique. The problem, for me, was learning how opinionated he was about things other than storytelling. And how diametrically opposed we are ideologically. On occasion, I considered commenting on his posts (which were usually fairly Left of center) but was pretty sure that his fanbots would tear me a new one. Not to mention, coming out as a Conservative novelist might put me on a radar I could do without. So I shut up and moved along.

Coincidentally, or not, I haven’t bought one of his books in a while.

I had an opposite experience more recently. I friended an author on Facebook and, after scrolling through his timeline, was rather shocked to see he’d posted some very conservative things. (I describe this as “shocking” because unless a novelist is openly writing for an evangelical audience, expressing conservative sentiments seems a bit risky.) So I checked to see what kind of publishing canon this guy had accumulated and, once again, was surprised. Apparently his political opinions had not kept him from building a fan base and selling books.

Coincidentally, or not, I bought one of his books.

Look. I am not one of those puritans who only Likes the art of folks I agree with. My bookshelves are filled with novelists who I disagree with religiously and politically. I came to the conclusion a long time ago that it is prudent to separate the art from the artist. Good art can be made by bad people… much less, people I disagree with. Does Joss Whedon’s atheism detract from Firefly or the Avengers? Does Mel Gibson’s drunken, anti-Semitic incident make The Passion of the Christ any less special? Stephen King is a Red Sox fan, but that doesn’t keep me from reading his books. Alan Moore worships some weird snake god, but it hasn’t lessened my love for Watchmen. Sure, I still roll my eyes at their perceived idiosyncrasies. But enjoying their stuff has little to do with them meeting my ideological standards.

However, I’d be dishonest if I said these things ultimately don’t matter.

In fact, political, religious, ideological agreement does indeed seem to factor in the gaining or shrinking of one’s fan base. There’s a good reason why some Friends of Abe members remain anonymous. Being an outspoken political conservative in Hollywood is not a fast track to fame. And there’s plenty of incidents of some famous so-and-so voicing public support for this or that only to feel the fallout in concert, box office, or book sales (or being drop-kicked from your role as CEO Of Mozilla).

Maybe the is why some argue that the best approach is for authors and artists to keep their traps closed. Why risk offending potential fans with political rants or religious discourses? Just shut up and sing. But if my aformentioned writer friends are any example, this approach seems less and less the path of choosing.

Nor does it seem to have hurt their brand.

This has been on my mind lately, namely because I’ve been veering way from writing for the Christian market and aiming more mainstream. Does such a change mean I should rein in my social media opinions? Do I potentially alienate readers by talking too much religion or weighing in too often on the controversy du jour? Should I get off my soap boxes and re-brand myself as a soft-spoken, un-opinionated novelist who simply wants to entertain?

I had this conversation with my agent last week and I thought she said something pretty smart. She said the reason she started reading my blog was because of my opinions. No, we didn’t always agree. But it was the fact that I was willing to address controversial issues, be provocative, and noodle about deeper subject matter like philosophy, theology, art and culture, that first attracted her. My guess, she said, is that most of your readers see this as part of your existing brand.

Bottom line — Shutting up now would not be true to who I am.

Every novelist or artist must decide what soap boxes are worth climbing on. Avoiding them all together may be a reasonable option for some. While I don’t ever want my art to be eclipsed by my religious or political opinions, I also don’t want to pretend I don’t have any. Or that they don’t matter.

Ultimately being true to myself is more important than gaining or losing readers.

But, hey, that’s just my opinion.

 

{ 7 comments… add one }
  • Johne Cook July 30, 2015, 10:21 AM

    I like that you have an opinion on your blog. I like that you aren’t what I think of when I think of a soapbox novelist. However, I also like the elements of your belief system that perforce leak into your novels.

  • Kessie July 30, 2015, 10:22 AM

    I think your agent is right–this is your brand. The thing is, you think about things. You don’t go around bellowing that people who disagree with you are a bunch of (insert choice swear here). I’ve seen those kind, and they seriously aren’t doing their platform any favors.

  • Daniel MacLean July 31, 2015, 6:16 AM

    I agree with your agent. I started reading your books only after finding your blog and reading your opinions about things that I whole-heartedly agree and have benefitted from. Most conservatives will not touch on the supernatural or paranormal. But you are not afraid to face it in a responsible manner with answers that allow room for God to work.

    Already finished Resurrection and on my way to finishing The Telling.

  • Joe Sanders July 31, 2015, 8:36 AM

    I think you are on to something. Being a lightening rod as far as sharing of beliefs means that there is ‘positive’ and be ‘negative’ to it. As the author of Ecclesiastes says there is a time for everything in its season. I have a professor friend who is a Christian in faith orientation and he has to be oh so careful – a time to stand and a time to not be an offensive blunt instrument. I too enjoy good art, and believe it can be transcendent above the human that is its conduit, (maybe reflective of the Imago Dei in us). I think, but cannot recall when and where I saw a reflection from Stephen King that he was, due to the ramifications of his accident and its effect on his life, reviewing how he viewed God and creation, that very possibly there is an Intelligent designer behind everything and as well reviewing his beliefs on the Bible.

  • Erica July 31, 2015, 1:41 PM

    Before social media, it was hard to find out what an author thought about politics, economics, and religion. In fact, when I would look up my favorite author, I would find a simple author bio. Anything else I learn about the author would be from interviews I see on television or online.

    Sometimes being mysterious isn’t such a bad thing. You don’t want to reveal too much of your opinions to the world- tell it in a memoir if it is that important.

    We can all be guilty of some ranting on our blogs though…

  • Iola August 5, 2015, 12:37 AM

    I don’t always agree with you (and I don’t always comment when that happens), but I value your opinions as those of an intelligent Christian man who may have a different viewpoint but who is able to articulate it well. And I appreciate that – we all need to have our views challenged at times, and it’s good to receive that challenge from someone I respect and trust.

    Keep it up.

  • JaredMithrandir August 24, 2015, 8:03 AM

    I’m neither Liberal or Conservative. Politically I’m mostly Libertarian, but not an Anachro-Capitalist. Religiously I am theologically Conservative but Socially Liberal.

    Find a person I agree with on everything is next to impossible.

    What’s really unusual about me is that I intend to write stories that are Lesbian Romances but also express my Evangelical Fundamentalist soterology and Six-Day Young Earth Creationism.

    I have 5 Blogspot blogs and two Tumlbrs both of which are linked to my Twitter. My views on things are no secret. But I’m always respectful, I make clear I want people who disagree with me to still enjoy my work. Whether that disagreement comes from the left or the right.

    But contrary to what my fellow Evangelicals keep saying about the Left, it’s usually Conservative Christian people who have been rude to me about what I’ve expressed.

    And I also firmly believe in Death of The Author.

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