Hi! I'm Caitlin and I am the author of the YA sci-fi fantasy novel WHAT LIES ABOVE. My channel is a place where I share my publishing journey, talk about books I love, and hope to build a community of encouragement and inspiration for fellow writers and readers! When I'm not writing, you can find me reading, composing piano, and adding endless destinations to my travel bucket list. Or quite possibly eating dark chocolate.
I'm so glad you're here!
Find out more about me at www.caitlinlambertbooks.com.
Yeah, with the moral grayness, when it's done well it can be a good way to explore moral questions we deal with in life. So just like fantasy, it's not so much about the existence of it as it is the way it's used.
June 2024- Please say a prayer for my mom’s 86 year old cousin, Christian author, Julie Walters of South Bend, Indiana. She’s not doing too well. She’s had falls and we ask for God to have mercy and guide her gently to His home. Her brother, Scott Hopper is fighting a battle with cancer so, he needs prayer, too. Julie’s husband, Clem is still living and is her rock and could always use our prayers, too! Thank you, God Bless! 😇
I ran across a similar article on fiction writing in general. In it, it was claimed that since the story in a fictional novel didn't really happen it was lying to the consumer, therefore a sin.
Great video! ✨✨ I completely agree with all that you said, and the way you talk about your journey, as a writer, with such humility is so sweet and encouraging 😊😊
then all fiction is a sin. Morally gray is real people. Most of us have morally gray moments. My characters aren’t Christian I am. They sometimes make decisions I would not because I have different convictions. Many really successful authors are christian. So it never crosses my mind not to speak about him. I literally can’t NOT speak about the Lord.
If you honor God first in your work, I'm sure He will honor your faith and make a way for you to be successful in your endeavors. So don't worry whether or not you will sell your books if people find out you're a Christian. God will make a way.
Thank you so much for this video!!! I was struggling with this topic. I have published a Christian book about my story when I was 18, and next month I'll publish my second book, which is also Christian and testimonial. However, I'm contemplating writing non-Christian books. I want to share stories but for a new audience, so today I found your video, and it HELPED ME A LOT. All the writers that I know usually write Christian books, so I didn't have a fresh opinion about this. Thank you again ❤️💫
If fantasy is a sin because its not real and therefore a lie, than so is every other genre of fiction. Regardless of whether its set in a fully fictional world, or using the real world as a base, ultimately the characters and the story are made up. Which brings me to the fact that just because something is made up, does not make it a lie. I've always thought the whole debate over whether Christians should read, watch, or write fantasy rather dumb. I'm writing a fantasy book, and though its filled with a lot of non-Christian themes (because there is evil in the world), ultimately I am trying to glorify God by not only taking inspiration from the crazy and cool things that happen in the Bible, but also letting my faith and beliefs shape what is supposed to be good in the fictional world I am creating.
"If fantasy is a sin because its not real ... " God created the Universe which we understand as 'science'. This is materialism, and as we should know, materialism has no defining morality. Consequently, all Science is Good (as God declared it). An imagined world cannot be sinful, only the characters' thoughts and actions because they are meta-physical and that is the realm of morality. Magic and magic systems are not sinful, but characters worshiping them or devoting their life to them, would be, unless the magic system is equated to 'the Holy Spirit', showing how it can help, assist, and guide those who believe in their 'creator'. However, if you remove the whole concept of Christian theology, then you cannot project Christian values into the story. You can't even claim the story is 'competing against God' because the fantasy world has no moral connection to sin and no god at all. The world may well resemble a pre-fall state of Adam who had no knowledge of Good and Evil. Such stories may well be worthless because no-one can really identify with 'sinless' characters, but the stories can nevertheless be written without endangering yours or anyone else's salvation. If the Biblical writers are a guide to what you can and cannot write about, you're pretty much able to write anything from porn to murder, but with an eye on the Truth. Same goes for language expressions. It is Christians who judge writings based on a false moral code, not God.
Also claiming fiction as a lie is also a lie because they would accidentally call Jesus a liar since he told parables/stories that were straight to the point.
I found this video at the right time. I am working on a fantasy book and as a Christian I want to glorify God through what I'm writing. Ever since I was little I had always been passionate about storytelling, and always had a very wide imagination and I do believe these are gifts from God. We've been created in His image and so we also have creativity and the capacity to create beautiful things. I do think the most important aspect when writing as a Christian is paying attention to portray good as good and evil as evil, bearing the truth that we are being transformed through every day. And if a character that once did wrong has a redemption arc, you should show that the said character knows and understands that what they were formally doing was completely wrong. This is a beautiful way to portray forgiveness, development and grace because every single day we are learning as well. We forgive others and we are also forgiven by God when we slip and need strength to get up . I trust that God is with me always in this journey. Just subscribed to your channel btw ❤ God bless you and thank you for uploading this.
I agree with your points. I don't believe you can have a "story" if you sterilize every character, scene, and plot with a Christian swab. Nor can a reader fully sympathize with the characters and feel a connection with them. We all struggle in life, so its a given that people are not perfect. We all fall short.... That means we're all sinners. ...and so should your characters.
You uploaded this how long ago? And I needed it TODAY. Lol. I write urban fantasy with spice so I've been wrestling with God round and round on this. Like, if Christians thought Harry Potter was Satanic they would cast me out of the church! Lol. All jokes aside though, I almost think it's better that I as a believer am writing secular books, because I have one character in my current WIP who is a for real, Lorraine Warren style spiritual warrior shedding a positive light on our faith while exposing those who use it for darkness...and her interpersonal conflict has made her a fan favorite. So, there's a light.
Thank you so much for this video, it's an answer to a prayer request of mine and I believe that God used you to answer me. I've been in this dilemma with myself for about a year now and I even stopped writing because I thought I was sinning but now I know it's okay ❤
I appreciate you. Learned so much from this video. Took notes. I don't write fiction, but I am currently writing a secular leadership workbook, and you have inspired and encouraged me so much. Thank you.
You are truly amazing and have helped me feel confident in my writing journey again. I love writing fantasy but i love Jesus more! and have also struggled with so much back and forth thinking. But hearing your views has helped confirm that it's okay so long as good is good and bad is bad ❤❤❤❤❤❤
Thank your for sharing your experience and tips in a positive way! I'm so glad you trusted your intuition and didn't sign with an agent that you didn't feel comfortable with.
Hi im seth and im making a fiction tv series called outside fighters and I'm forcing on one project still the first season and 64 episodes that way I have more time to fresh out the story and combine all my ideas into one show
I stuck it out as I am brewing a blend of save the cat and the snowflake method which I'm tentatively calling Save the cat from a snowball while writing a novel (I know it needs work)
selling your soul happens in pieces over life and differently for everyone, and only we know when we did or didnt do it no matter how much we tried to confuse ego with inner conscience, and you listened to your inner conscience, the voice inside you that sounds like your voice but you know its not, that always knows the truth and always tells you what you should do, the one voice most others try to cover and eventually stop hearing, the voice of god. much love and blessings to you. youre amazing.
I Just discovered your channel from instagram. Your channel is inspiring. I just started my journey of pursuing being an Author. Thank you for sharing your stories. I look forward to reading your books. 🙏🏾
I LOVE THIS VIDEO SO MUCH. I am going to cry honestly lol I adore the way you talked about this and that you shared the beautiful message at the end!! <3 beautiful to see unconditional love in action!! That right there is the Body of Christ floursihing. been feeling doubtful and confused about my calling to writeand where my faith fits in and you helped me so much to narrow it back to exactly what God has told me! <3 THANK YOU for taking so much time out to talk about this! We gotta be FIRM! We don't listen to the devil and tjhe way he lies to us about what God has put on our hearts to do! STAND FIRM ALWAYS!
To what end do you think the agent was going towards? If they hadn't read the whole thing then what was it that they were trying to do? How was the agent's process a red flag?
Hi Caitlin, I learned a lot from this video. Thank you so much. You are such a sweetheart. I am just looking at publishing companies now since my manuscript for my memoir is finally completed. My story is a story of redemption and how God had his hand on my life growing up. My purpose is to bring honor and glory to God and help a lot of people to heal from their painful past. I want to follow you on social media and keep up with what your writing. god bless your day!
