Mary, I'm surprised by how many Christians are unwilling to admit what you just did, that "Christian movies tend to be cheesy." I think we often lose our objectivity and become defensive when discussing the subject. One of my theories is that Christians are so anxious to get the Gospel out there, that we wink at mediocrity. But in the long run, mediocrity undercuts the Gospel we wish to communicate. Thanks for asking this question!

Amy, I think there IS a distinction between "faith-driven fiction" and "Christian fiction," or at least, what Christian fiction has become. Christian fiction has come to be known for certain things. Yes, some of those distinctives are caricatures, and no longer true. However, some aren't. Until the Christian fiction industry, and defenders / supporters of that industry, deconstruct some of those elements, I think we'll have to continue to make a distinction between fiction with faith elements and "Christian fiction." Christian fiction just caters to a narrower section of the Church.

Amy, thanks for fielding my questions. I love what you're doing with INSPY and look forward to following your blogging adventures. Blessings!

Hi Amy! I've recently started following your blog and really like your stuff! I've been blogging 5 years and reference this subject regularly at my site and at Novel Journey where I post monthly. I had no idea of the disproportionate number of women to men until I actually started writing. The writing group I was in was 7 to 1 women, and the blogs I followed were about the same. It was disheartening. Really. At one point I even attempted to drum up support for a men's only blogging alliance named "Brotherhood of the Blog." For various reasons, it fell by the wayside.

While I think some of it has to do with genetics (men ARE a bit Neanderthal), there are plenty of male readers out there. The problem is... THEY DON"T LIKE WHAT THE CBA HAS TO OFFER. It's pretty nauseating (for me) to walk into a Christian bookstore or the Inspirational section of B&N and be smacked in the face with so, so, SO much Romance and Women's Fiction. It's almost embarrassing for a man to be caught there. Frankly, I like fiction with bite (conceptual as well as content) and CBA restrictions, I believe, have sanitized things to the point that guys must simply look elsewhere.

Anyway, I keep hearing things are changing. But at this point, it's almost like turning an ocean liner -- it's a long,slow process. Thanks for bringing this subject up. Blessings!

Merrie, I agree with you about the excerpts. I am much more inclined to buy a book because the excerpts are good, rather than because 10 people gave it a five star rating. Also, a bad review will not stop me from buying a book, which is, I think reasonable. I mean, if good reviews can't convince me to buy the book, why should bad reviews convince me NOT to buy it? Thanks for the comments Ms. M!

Donald, I believe you're right about grading people on the curve in certain settings. I've thought about initiating a writers group in our church, but it scares me. Frankly, people are just in different places and you hate to quench someone's aspirations if they're just a beginner. Folks who are publishing professionally, however, should be treated so. Harsher critiques are justified. Thanks for your comments!

I must admit, I really appreciate the response of that particular male author, Mark, not just for admitting the weakness of the book, but in asking for a second chance.

Glynn, that is fascinating. For one, it may prove that negative reviews can actually be "helpful" for readers. Secondly, the hate mail from the women is comedy. (Sorry, but that cracked me up.) Perhaps that "rosy-cheeked sorority of lady writers' is actually a den of lions, huh? Thanks for your comments!

Hey, thanks for all the comments and the encouragement! See next post for the winner.

Thanks, Jay! Ditto!