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Monday, May 28, 2007

Bambi vs. Godzilla

Mike Duran's stories have appeared in Relief Journal, Forgotten Worlds, Alienskin, and Dragons, Knights and Angels, with articles in The Matthew’s House Project and Relevant Magazine. He was also one of ten authors picked for Infuze Magazine’s Best of 2005 print anthology. Mike is an ordained minister, has led numerous small groups and developed discipleship-training curriculum for several churches. He and his wife Lisa live in Southern California , where they have raised four children. Mike has written an unpublished novel entitled What Faith Awakes and is currently at work on a second. You can visit him at www.mikeduran.com.






It's the title of David Mamet's latest book. Subtitled On the Nature, Purpose, and Practice of the Movie Business, the book takes its name from a 1969 short animated film entitled Bambi Meets Godzilla. It was voted #38 of the 50 Greatest Cartoons of all time by members of the animation field. The cartoon is just under two minutes, most of the time spent on credits. It begins with a fawn munching clover and ends with the critter plastered under a massive, reptilian foot. The battle lasts approximately the blink of an eye.

While Mamet is hardly at the bottom of the industry food chain, he speaks often as an outsider, eloquently ranting against the powers that be and the corruption of those powers. And in that, Mamet gives hope to all us bambis.

The publishing industry, much like Hollywood, can appear monstrous -- a lumbering, impersonal behemoth that leaves aspiring authors stomped in its wake. We clamber after the creature only to find ourselves flattened by naysayers, rejections, deadlines, sluggish sales, tough critiques, or just plain lack of genius. It's the nature of the beast.

But occasionally, some greenhorn will rise up in protestation, arm their sling, and challenge the brute. It may not be the best career move, but boy is it gutsy.

Recently, I visited a team writers’ blog and stumbled upon a courageous little stone slinger. Oftentimes, the comment sections of our websites are just echo chambers, platforms for atta-boys, amens and self-promotional snippets. Nevertheless, on this particular post, the aspiring author was challenging the assumptions of some industry luminaries. After the blast, you could hear a pin drop in cyberspace. And then the big reptilian foot came down... or at least, a curt, defensive rebuttal from the team members. I've unleashed my share of harsh, ill-timed, stupid comments upon unsuspecting webmasters. But in this particular case, I felt the “little” commentator had a good point.

Question: Should a wannabe novelist dare challenge the industry she is seeking publication in? Isn't it smarter to heed those who've "arrived," rather than question them? Aren't we better off rowing instead of rocking the boat?

There's a fine line between being a rabble rouser and an agent of change. Perhaps they are the same. Of course, under Taliban rule, agents of change are usually left limbless. Thankfully, CBA authors and publishers are a lot more civil. “Speak the truth in love,” the apostle Paul said, and elsewhere, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition…” Of course, how this translates into the "business" side of things is another story. If anything, it means the tone of our discussions and in-house debates should be different, less hostile, less ad hominem. Nevertheless, many of these exchanges still result in flattened fawns.

After several years hanging around religious writer-types, I'm beginning to see a growing divide. On the one hand are those who enjoy "faith fiction" -- inspirational stories aimed at Christian audiences with explicit biblical themes, minus the unwholesome elements (like sex, liquor, cussing and buckets of blood). On the other hand are those who aim for a broader audience. They tend to tolerate profanity, do not require a clear-cut inspirational resolution (i.e., the protagonist gets saved, baptized and quits smoking) and feel boxed in by the “Christian Fiction” label. Oftentimes, the disagreements between these two camps can become -- how shall I say it -- nasty. As a result, many authors, willingly or unwillingly, end up outside the CBA fold.

But is it an either/or? Either you play by the rules, or you play elsewhere? Either you row the boat, or you get out? Shouldn't there be a middle ground where writers like me -- people that have a stake, at least an interest, in the future of "Christian literature" -- can voice contrary opinions or express concerns without feeling shunned, frowned upon, or driven outside the camp?

Almost a year ago, a team blog was launched that I've watched with interest.
Speculative Faith exists to mobilize what they believe is “a diverse and sizable audience hungry for Christian speculative literature.” In their mission statement, Mirtika Schultz writes:


~~We want to mobilize a reading and writing community that will impact the future editorial acquisitional decisions of CBA publishing houses. Right now, they are not favorably inclined toward speculative fiction.

~~We want better and more varied and just plain MORE novels from CBA publishing houses in our genre.

As such, Spec Faith exists to fill a hole in the CBA, to bring attention to what they perceive as an industry deficiency, or at least, oversight. Their tone is cordial, upbeat, Christian. But there is a fair share of banter. Most recently, the absence of a Visionary category in the Christy Awards has got them all abuzz.

I'm guessing that voices like this, though contrary, discordant -- even potentially annoying to some -- play an essential role in the Christian book industry.

Recently,
CCM changed its name to "Christ. Community. Music." It’s part of an effort to broaden its appreciation of “Christian music,” to embrace believing artists outside the mainstream religious music industry. And this after 29 years of publication! In a recent interview, Jay Swartzendruber, editor of CCM Magazine, described this evolution:

Initially, the name CCM stood for “contemporary Christian music,” and we just assumed everyone just knew it. But by the late 90s, CCM was doing surveys, different things with readers and discovered that the name of the genre Contemporary Christian Music kind of had a smaller box than what the magazine wanted to cover.

According to Swartzendruber, many Christian artists “…started to quietly distance themselves from the term ‘contemporary Christian music’…” Bands like Sixpence None the Richer, P.O.D., Switchfoot and Jars of Clay were blazing trails into previously uncharted territory, getting airplay on secular stations and winning over non-believing fans. CCM was in danger of placing its artists and target market into a “smaller box.” The fact that after almost 30 years CCM would recast itself and rethink its objectives, says a lot about the group. Could a similar reevaluation be needed for the CBA?

Change, especially institutional change, starts slow, often occurring at the grassroots level before the executive. Kingdoms turn as much on peasants as potentates. But the bigger the kingdom, the slower the steering. While discussions about CBA boundaries, blind spots, and shortcoming can appear seditious, it may also be an important, much needed reformation cry. That these cries are issued from the peasantry should not lessen their urgency.

So here I am. Bambi. I love the Lord and His Church. Yet I've also got gripes about the state of Christian fiction. What do I do? Sure, throwing rocks at Godzilla may get him to look my way. But, it could also get me stomped. Oh well, maybe it's better to shut up and keep rowing.

12 comments:

  1. I really would prefer not to have a big ole foot smoosh me to goo. But I can't help wanting a change. What can I say? I'm a reader, first and foremost, was a reader before I got the writing yen, and what I want to read is just not out there for me. So, of course, I kvetch. But better than kvetching, I try to do something--organize, encourage, suport, engage.

    Anyway, thanks for the mention. Muah.

    I will add that these are the numbers for two out of the three Double-Edged Publishing online magazines that accept Christian SF:

    The Sword Review
    visits April: 57,041

    April Page Views: 749,228

    Dragons, Knights & Angels
    April visits:61,644
    April Page views:641,891

    The business dudes did some research last year to figure out if it was the same readership, and we were duplicating efforts. But no. The overlap was about 20% of readers going to both, but 80% unique readers to DKA than to TSR. And DKA is specifically a Christian SF magazine. TSR accepts secular SF that doesn't offend basic Christian principles.

    That means that 61,644 visits to DKA means there are people interested in Christian SF. Those are not all unique visits. Some people drop by daily or weekly. But that's thousands who come to us specifically for SF with a Christian soul and message.

    TSR gets a similar number, and those include Christian SF enthusiasts.

    And we're just two little online mags without big promotions or advertisements or budgets. And yet, there is a readership that likes this stuff.

    So, when they say no one wants CSF, I look at those numbers and think, "Well, someone is not reaching those who want it." Just as I say *I* am not getting my reader fix for it, and neither are the dozens I hang with who like this subgenre.

    I believe editors and publishers when they say they can't sell in suitable numbers. But I can't help wonder why, when I know there IS a readership. Why can't they be tapped? What's going on?

    Is it that they got sick of blatant allegories or some lower-level writing books and just turned away? Is it that they must be wooed in creative ways? Is it that they shop in secular stores and need the promotinal efforts outside of FAMILY STORES and such?

    I dunno. But I know that our numbers at TSR and DKA have been steadily increasing for the last year plus. We get more folks EVERY MONTH coming by for Christian SF and poetry.

    Something isn't jiving with the stats we have, the internet groups I hang with who want this genre, and the houses that say it can't sell. There is some sort of impasse and disconnect. Maybe our efforts will have a solidarity effect that gives us more unified buying power to change the stakes.

    Maybe more will be introduced to the genre and think, "Oh, wow, I didn't know this existed. I like it."

    Maybe. :)

    Loved this entry. Thanks, Mikey and Miz Gina.

    Mir

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  2. Trends aren't set by authors trying to set them, but by writers writing from their passion. Blue Like Jazz comes to mind. It provoked an entirely new genre. I doubt Donald Miller thought to himself, "Hmmm, I would like to set a spiritual memoir trend written in stream of consciousness, voicing the questions many college-age Christians are asking."

    Nope, he wrote it. And the fickle marketplace loved it. There's an interesting piece on him in Christianity Today.

    Thanks for your thoughts on this.

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  3. Mir, I wonder that fans of SpecFic find most CBA-related stuff -- here we go again -- not edgy enough. The very nature of speculative literature involves exploration, wonder, the unknown, the new, and I think that theological / doctrinal restraints -- something that, obviously, secular publishers don't impose -- tend to limit boundaries rather than extend them. For instance, I was working on a story that had a ghost, a disembodied spirit in it. Well, a discussion arose in my crit group about whether or not ghosts are "biblical." Likewise, because we Christians have "biblical categories" for everything, we tend to hedge at worlds / entities / outcomes that don't fall into those categories. In this sense, I wonder if there's a built-in cap on where we can go.

    I've also heard it suggested that fans of SpecFic are more avid than others and, though under-represented in numbers, are over-represented in fervor. I'm not sure if the sales figures bear that out, but I do know lotsa zealous SpecFic fans.

    Anyway, just some thoughts. Thanks for commenting, Mir!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great post, Mike. And so well articulated, as always.

    I suppose I'm more like a flea on Bambi's ear at this point in my "career," but I still have opinions. And the idea of writing to trends rankles. I won't go off on all the reasons, but Mary's point touches on one big fat irony. Trends are started when someone does something innovative, new, fresh, original, authentic, relevant, avant-garde, name-your-adjective-du-jour, and everyone else says, "Ooooh! I want to be authentic and relevant. I'm gonna copy Donald Miller."

    Huh?

    Yes, I understand that publishing is a business. And certainly some excellent books are making it to the table. Meanwhile, those who are frustrated because they crave flavors that are missing from the buffet should definitely keep tossing rocks and making waves. Write what you want to read and prove others want it, too. It may take time, but solid stats like Mir posted should at least speak louder than a gnat buzzing in Godzilla's ear.

    One can hope anyway. Meanwhile, I appreciate you, Mike. Don't lose heart. Word on the street is that dark, hairy suits are phasing out and subtle white spots are the next big thing. Before you know it, everyone will be into Bambi chic.

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  5. Great post, Mike.

    I think we should just cover our ears and stop listening to those who disdain what we write, and write whatever we want. Then find an agent and a publisher who believes in our work and is willing to place it where it will be read.

    If our goal is to be published, and it's God's will for us, then it WILL happen, despite the naysayers and nitpickers and people trying to tell us what to write and how to write it.

    Sometimes a writer has to decide whether to be true to their own vision for their stories, or decide to play by the rules and write what sells in that market.

    Can an author end up doing both? Sure, sometimes. I guess it depends on readership, marketing, and the "God's will" factor.

    You asked if we should play by the "rules" or play elsewhere?

    If an author and their agent believe that they will be able to sell books in CBA, whether it is now or in the future, then they should tough it out and stop listening to the naysayers, and live with the "shunning." If the author and their agent think that their readership will be in the ABA, then it's probably better to move on if the goal is publication. It all comes down to: Who will read your books? Maybe not today, but a year or two from now?

    But who knows what will be hot next year? Can authors make the trends? I don't know. I hope so. I wish there was less judging of "different," writers and more willingness to reason together.

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  6. CCM Magazine's shift in definitions is interesting, because it seems to reflect more of an artist-focus than an industry-focus. I get the impression that listeners used to be industry-focused, but now they are more artist-focused, so the shift corresponds to a change in the way listeners view the music. (That's my second-hand interpretation, anyway.)

    Maybe something similar is going on with books, as Mir suggests. Readers aren't as CBA-only as perhaps they once were (in this, they reflect the writers, so many of whom admit to omnivorous reading habits), and people who wouldn't have read CBA on principle a few years ago are beginning to take a second look. The shift, if it's happening, is taking place slowly, and it's hard to say how it will shake out. In the meantime, it feels a little bit like the Kingdom -- "already, and not yet." Our hope remains eschatological, and we search for signs of fulfillment in all the right (and some of the wrong) places.

    As much as we feel like Bambis, there are others who think we're Godzillas -- and some of them are the folks whose feet we're afraid of being stomped by. We live in interesting times.

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  7. I agree with Suzan's comments above.

    There is a place for those who don't want to play by CBA rules. CBA is not a monopoly.

    ABA is looking for Christian fiction and I hear they pay better. A good writer can have it all. They can be on the shelf next to King and Koontz and they'll make a higher royalty percentage as a bonus.

    -dayle

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  8. Terrific comments, all! I pine for "Christian fiction" which represents the broader Christian readership. The Republican Party is currently (and they have been for the last 5 or 6 elections) debating about how big the "tent" should be. Of course, there are the traditionalists who say, for instance, that an anti-abortion plank should be foundational to the GOP. On the other extreme, are Log Cabin Republicans, conservative gays. Currently, we have a pro-choice mayor (Giuliani) and a Mormon (Romney) running as Republicans. Some view it as the death of conservatism, others as a necessary evolution.

    I wonder that the same sentiments are shared in the CBA shift. While some see a broader tent as the death of "good, clean Christian fiction," others see it as an open window in what was, frankly, a stuffy place.

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  9. I love what Mir et al are doing. I love this piece and its challenge. Look around, there are stone slingers all around you. Some are novelists writing something that is a hard sell simply because they believe in it, come contract or slush pile. There are acquisitions editors quietly pushing for books that will change lives even if they're not destined for best-sellerdom.

    Sometimes we are called, like David to wield our slingshots, sometimes we are called to get kicked out of the synagogues for perceived heresy. Sometimes, however we are called to listen so that later, when the time is right, we are listened to. I think Mir is so effective because of this.

    I think one change I'd like to see more of is publishing houses creating trends, instead of following them. I don't want to be the next "(insert best-selling cba author name)"

    Again, excellent piece, Mike.

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  10. Mike, it's funny, cause my Genesis entry has ghosts. I call them shades, but hey, pretty much the same thing.

    I thought I'd be dinged for it, but I wasn't. I really thought, "Oh, ghosts are not gonna fly in the CBA."

    My scores were all in the 90's, so the ghosts didn't relate to a big deduction.

    I think when the genre is clearly, CLEARLY, of fantastical fiction (ie, fiction of what is not actual reality on the day to day as we know it, but the skewing of reality to fit a particular idea), we must allow for things like ghosts, just like we must allow for superheroes and wizards and gnomes and vampires. All of it can be used or misused, but it can't be verboten in SPECULATIVE fiction.

    Then again, even the Lord himself allowed Samuel's "ghost" to appear at the witch's summoning to teach Saul a lesson (not to mention the witch!). If God can use a "ghost" for His own purposes, I figure so can writers.

    Mir

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  11. Leave it to our Mike to create a stir! Love it!

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  12. Mike,
    Thanks for the picturesque way of putting this. I did a little discussion about this over at my blog (under the title "Christian Marketplace"). It is heartening to know their are other voices calling out in the wilderness.

    Hopefully we can see both Christian publishers AND readers grow with their choices (how many more prairie romances can people read?) and that more will discover the increasing variety that is slowly seeping into the market.

    Always insightful and well-put. Great job Mike.

    Jason

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