Realm Makers (RM) opened for registration this weekend. Described as a “symposium for people of faith who love science fiction and fantasy,” RM seeks to fill the noticeable void between the contemporary evangelical fiction market and speculative titles. The faculty is quite good and the prices are very reasonable (you can find out more details on their Home page). I’ll be teaching two workshops, doing one-on-ones, and some yet-to-be announced stuff. Here’s descriptions of my two sessions:
A Theology of Horror
In part, the Bible is a horror story. From the Fall of Man to the Plagues of Egypt to the Crucifixion to the Final Judgment, many common horror tropes find their roots in Scripture. In this workshop, we will look at five key biblical doctrines from which most horror archetypes spring. Along the way, we will examine how Christian artists and authors have employed the grotesque and macabre as a vehicle for the Gospel, as well as answer the most common objections to horror as a viable genre for Christian authors.
The Christian Crossover Novelist
Should you write for the Christian market or general market? Is it possible to write a book that will reach both Christians and non-Christian audiences? Must you sacrifice your Christian witness in order to reach a secular audience? What happens when your book is “too Christian” for the ABA and “too secular” for the CBA? These questions are a common point of struggle for many Christian writers. But could it be that our entire approach is conditioned by a faulty view of art, culture, and evangelism? In this workshop, we will look at some reasons why a Christian author should consider writing for the general market and discuss some of the unique challenges they face.
The Session Descriptions will give you a good idea of the other classes available. If you write spec-fic with faith elements or religious themes, please consider coming. You can register HERE.
