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FaithfulReader.com: Do the constraints on explicit sex force Christian Chick Lit authors to be more creative? How?
Kristin Billerbeck: I don't see this as a constraint at all. If anything, I see the secular Chick Lits really struggling here because they are going more towards the sexual realm. I just don't think that works in Chick Lit because women are not sexual beings who seek out a meaningless romp. It's just not truthful, and I think that's why the secular Chick Lit will struggle. Women want relationships. We are created that way, and until they acknowledge that truth, they'll have a hard time. Sure, women make mistakes, but when they go looking for mistakes, I think that's hard to identify with. If anything, I feel I have it easier to be truthful in the Christian market.
Judy Baer: I think that could be true. We have friendship or conflict scenes where secular books might have love scenes. It's a great opportunity, however, to deepen relationships between the characters in other ways, to test their mettle, their loyalty, their commitment. Because we can't rely on love scenes to further the relationship (or confound it); we have to find other ways to do so. Sometimes that might feel like a stretch, but it's also great exercise for the creative muscle.
Tracey Bateman: I just don't think it's an issue. The Christian Chick Lit book will deal with sex according to a Christian's perspective, which will be either A) struggling with abstinence, or B) dealing with guilt and repentance if the protagonist gives in and has sex premaritally. Personally, I'd love to see a Chick Lit book deal with this. Chick Lit and Mom Lit are all about being real. And reality suggests that as many Christians are divorced as non-Christians, as many single Christians have sex as non-Christians. We shouldn't condone sin, but if we truly believe we are writing Christian fiction to make a difference, then I think we need to address issues real Christians deal with. The humor is the "spoonful of sugar to sweeten the bitterness of reality."
Allie Pleiter: Some of us might argue that it simply forces the men in our books to be more creative . What it does, seriously, is nudge us away from the easier route of using physicality to move the relationship to a new level. I'm always challenged as to how I can deepen the relationship between characters in other ways. Sure, my heroine gets her socks kissed off by her husband --- I think that's how God intended marriage to be. I want to hold up what's best about marriage in the midst of parenting. I just focus now on where their hearts are, not where their hands are.
Sharon Dunn: As a writer, I respond well to constraints. When I was writing plays, I loved the challenge of having to present a story on a single set and having the time that transpired on stage be the same as real time. So I don't feel like I'm being forced to be creative; I see it as an opportunity. Books that rely on the anticipation of the next sex scene to get the reader to turn the page can't get at the deep things of the human soul.
One of the things I do in my books is that I want to show that even though Christian women don't act on every impulse, we are not made of stone; we do have sexual feelings, but it is possible to rein them in. I think describing those feelings has given me an opportunity to be really creative. When Ruby is close to Wesley, she talks about how her skin felt like electric blue snakes were crawling on it. When he touches her cheek, she talks about having a Wicked Witch of the West moment. Help me, I'm melting I'm melting.
Lori Copeland: Christians --- and I can't imagine anyone who didn't believe in God would endeavor to write Christian material --- live, love and breathe the exact life a non-believer does; the only difference is we strive (and we don't always make it) to live by God's word. And God's word isn't always popular, but when we write love scenes (and yeah, Christians do make love!), we're happy to close the bedroom door. We don't have to be creative; the smart, very savvy reader knows what lies beyond the door and the unique relationship between a man and wife.
Penny Culliford: I don't think I could write explicitly about sex even without the constraints. Realistically, sex takes up a relatively small amount of our lives --- there are so many other things to do. I think it's the media that has blown it out of all proportion. I'd hope people wouldn't even notice the absence of explicit sex in my books.
Robin Jones Gunn: This hasn't been an issue with the "Sisterchicks" novels so I'm not sure I'm qualified to give an accurate response. Some of the general market Chick Lit books I've read have definitely closed the door on their intimate scenes. If anything forces a writer to be more creative, that's a good thing. We need to be challenged to improve our craft in whatever areas we can.
Neta Jackson: The power of suggestion, and going deeper into the man/woman mystery.
Laura Jensen Walker: Good question. But since I've never written an explicit sex scene, it's hard for me to say.
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