For those of us who love to read Christian fantasy, we have one problem. We can't get enough. While we have our favorite series that hold special places in our heart, we hunger for another quest, another adventure, into the unknown. Perhaps you've heard the question, "What can I read now?" a lot recently. Maybe you're looking for something to capture the imagination of your elementary or middle school kids. (Okay, I'll admit it. I like reading elementary and middle school fantasy to take my mind of being an adult once in a while!) If so, this list of 100+ Christian fantasy books for … [Read more...]
6 Great Quotes from The Princess and Curdie by George MacDonald
George MacDonald fooled me. I read both The Princess and the Goblin and the sequel The Princess and Curdie, thinking that they were just stories. It wasn’t until I was an adult, and I re-read them that I realized that these books aren’t just tales. They’re devotionals. If I could put into practice and fully understand just one sentence, then I would be a better person. But maybe I shouldn’t be surprised about it. The greatest teacher of all time, Jesus, told simple stories that we could understand and remember. So what are these gems that George MacDonald scatters throughout The … [Read more...]
Writing Christian Fantasy Tip #4: No Lost Heirs
The King lies dying. There is no one to take the throne as the prince disappeared years ago. The story starts with a young man, raised in a humble setting. As the story progresses, the need for the prince becomes greater until (Surprise!) this young man finds out that he is the missing prince and takes the throne. Sound familiar? Here's a bonus tip for writing Christian fantasy for you. If it sounds familiar, change it. Attention: Lost Heir on Aisle Four! (And no, this isn't a Rogaine commercial. I'm not telling you how to find your lost hair...) Just as the parents really shouldn't … [Read more...]
Writing Christian Fantasy Tip #3: No Missing Parents
Does your main character not know who he/she is? Have the parents been killed, leaving relatives to raise him/her? The third tip for writing Christian fantasy challenges you to change that plot line. Why should you avoid the missing parents plot line? Simple. It’s overused. From The Sword of Shannara series, The Wheel of Time series, The Inheritance Cycle, Star Wars (although not pure fantasy, it includes many fantasy elements), and many more draw from this story line. Even Frodo in the The Lord of the Rings lived with his relative, Bilbo. Can it still work in Christian Fantasy? Yes, of … [Read more...]
Writing Christian Fantasy Tip #2: Be Brief
Instead of a lengthy introduction, I shall heed my own advice and jump straight into my second tip of writing Christian fantasy. (In case you have just joined us, this is the second installment of a series called "50 Tips for Writing Christian Fantasy." You can view the first post here or follow on Pinterest here.) Writing Christian Fantasy Tip #2: Be Brief I love asking people what their opinions are about the books and the movies of The Lord of the Rings. Sometimes I find a kindred spirit who loves the books, but mostly people like the movies better. When I ask why, they list these … [Read more...]