by Dwight David Croy
Let me share with you a verse that you may think is counterintuitive to fiction writing.
II John 1:12 says, “Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete.”
This is good exhortation; a motivation to action, so that our writing is informed by real life and human interaction. The canvas of fiction writing must be informed by our experience, observation, and interaction with those who are made in
the image of God, both friendly and enemy. Yes, there are so many interesting variants between friend and enemy. I find that the canvas of artful fiction writing cannot be done very well in the box of office and research books only.
Personally, I have a great need to observe people, to test my words with interaction, and attempt to experience things through another’s senses. Throughout the New Testament the writers over and over repeat this desire to be present with people and share with them in the Joy of the LORD. I believe that we as writers are trying to replicate human interaction to bring about God’s truth and joy to the reader. When my wife reads and chuckles at a passage and is enjoying the moment of her reading, the writer has indeed captured a real-life event and told it in a way that my wife also can enjoy human interaction and perspective.
In reading the Charlie Brown comic strip, I know the writer has interacted with a beagle, a vain girl, a tomboy, a disheveled boy, an artistic perfectionist. Fiction if written well, will come close to replicating or exceeding the interaction observed.
Those who have been writing longer than I must have complete joy when your readers come face to face with you and tell you what they specifically enjoyed about your book or writing. Exhortation? Do not forget to write or take notes in the coffee shop, restaurant, or public park. Of course, we must always interact with the family of God in worship, study of God’s Word, fellowship centered on Christ, and proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ together in our communities and abroad.
Our Joy is complete when we close ranks with brothers and sisters in Christ and walk and write with the same purpose.
Dr. Dwight David Croy, US Army Chaplain Retired, DMIN George Fox Evangelical Seminary in Spiritual Leadership and Formation, MDIV Denver Seminary with an emphasis in Christian Education, BRE Multnomah University is a Pastor, Teacher, an Author of “God’s Focus on the Fatherless;” “God’s Gracious Killer;” and “God’s Illuminating Blindness;” contributes to the body of Christ by writing, teaching, and speaking to promote Jesus Christ our one and only Savior.