Our Audience
What is reaching our audience?
I recently had a conversation with a lady who is helping to raise her seven-year-old niece. She is horrified with the language in children’s books promoted in public schools. Children seem to enjoy books that use less than polite words for bottom and bodily functions, words many Christians do not allow their children to use. Authors are looking for language that gets a giggle to keep children reading. Teachers seemingly just want children to read.
But is it all the teachers’ fault?
Christian authors tend to write to Christian audiences. Could it be we are stuck in our Jerusalem while Jesus has told us to go into Samaria and the uttermost parts of the earth? Six of the Ten Commandments tell us how to treat other people. We often say we want others to see Jesus in us. So maybe our writing should show Jesus to others without telling. Isn’t it time we write for the secular market and show Christian values?
Most children are not homeschooled nor do they attend Christian schools. We are missing our audience when we fail to submit quality writing with Christian values to secular publishers. Don’t forget the magazine market that reaches more children and adults than the book market.
Let’s get started in the secular direction.
At the recent Write2Ignite conference, an author/speaker suggested Creating Characters Kids Will Love by Elaine Marie Alphin. Jane Yolen, author of Owl Moon, endorses her book. I don’t know Jane Yolen’s faith, but Owl Moon is the type of book we need to write. It promotes positive parent/child relationships and portrays Dad as a positive role model.
Can we as Christian writers step up to the challenge? With Christ’s help, I know we can. Our audience is children – all children.
Thanks, Gail.
I agree–we need to write healthy, clean stories for all children!
Thank you Jean for the encouragement you gave at Write2ignite.
Thank you for this post, Gail. It was water to my soul. I have always believed that children need to hear well crafted stories that are embedded with Godly virtues. Showing is much more effective than telling, in story and in all of life. Let’s write with excellence and “go into Samaria” with stories embedded with goodness and we will make a difference. A cup of cold water can go a long way when someone is thirsty, and I believe many families are wanting these kinds of stories. Yes, we write for all children. We all need Jesus.
Karen, thanks so much for your encouragement. Praying we all allow the Lord to use us to reach a world in need.
Well said, Gail! Years ago, I used to write a column for the AMY Foundation. The column was published in secular newspapers throughout the country. Together with other Christian authors, we engaged our culture with Biblical principles regarding daily issues.
You are right. We should be doing the same for our children—especially for our children.
Thank you MaryAnn. Praying the Lord opens doors and we follow his lead.
Amen! As a public school librarian, there are many Christian children in the schools who need the encouragement of seeing their worldview represented in the books they read, just like anyone else. As a children’s book author (Sophie’s Quest and Sophie Topfeather, Superstar), I also have learned from watching to see which books get checked out and why. While some of it may seem trite and rude or worse, why do kids love the books they love? Many of these books actually have messages that kids relate to and are very well written, even if they don’t look like it on the surface. If we are to get books with even a gentle Christian message into all kids’ hands through the secular publishing houses (which is really the only way to reach the biggest audience), we would be well-served to understand what will sell and what kids will actually read. Only then can we write books that reach the quality expected of traditional publishing houses and that can touch kids’ hearts. We can do it!
Thank you Sonja. We truly need to be diligent in our research into children’s interests and write well.
Great message,Gail!
Thanks Crystal.