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.