This is a phenomenal post. I admire how deeply you think on literature. As I was reading, I kept thinking: "What makes up a person?" What we consume and our experiences are a large part of it, and from that soil, we form ourselves into something new. I love how you demonstrated that the Greats were vast consumers of very rich material and that produced very different but both extremely worthy results.
That's what we should be aspiring to. As you say, not imitation of the words or style, but imitation of how to live a life of meaning where suddenly, the words bubble out of you despite yourself.
It's also illuminating to see Tolkien's drafts of Lord of the Rings, and to realize just how much work and revision went into it all.
Once when I was 13 or so I saw one of those History of Middle-earth books on the shelf. I loved Tolkien by then, so I grabbed it immediately and started flipping through. My younger self was absolutely *scandalized* by what I was seeing: the grim, noble Aragorn was once a Hobbit named Trotter! Ridiculous! The book went back on the shelf.
Of course, over the next few years as I fumbled with my own attempts at writing fantasy, I never thought about that moment - but I wish I had. What an encouragement to know that Tolkien had started from somewhere, too, and spent a lot of time, and work, and doubt, making the thing we know.
So yes - the inspirations, the erudition, the raw talent - all of that is necessary. But another necessary element is just the plodding, stubborn *work* of it all - a factor I know I too often undervalue.
Very good. I appreciated that you mentioned that they were drawing from very deep wells. If we want to see the recovery of minds and hearts capable of generating the caliber of such works, we also need to invest in educational institutions that will help shape the character/rigour/love of learning in the next generation.
I wonder if it could be said that these great men wrote, above all, through the inspiration of a burning desire for hell-bent worlds to be transfigured?
Not that I have yet read Tolkien, by the way.. but this yearning seems to me to be the constant and enduring element in my love for Lewis's idiom.
Excellent image: "We sit in the shade of mighty trees." I notice that your post -- and my limited experience with contemporary Christian literary fiction -- deals mainly with fantasy. Do you have advice for those of us who write Christian fiction that is not fantasy and yet drinks deeply from the wells of classical ideas and forms?
I'm not sure I have much advice to give in general, and I have never attempted to write something that wasn't "fantasy" in some sense.
A good place to start might be engaging with the great Christian realistic fiction authors. Doestovesky is the first to come to mind as an author grappling explicitly with his own time and place, whose characters embody various ideas and concepts. Grahm Green's "The Power and the Glory" is a gut wrenching account of the costs of discipleship and the scandalous grace of God. Steinbeck's "East of Eden" is beautiful, harrowing, and thought provoking story about providence and free-will. George MacDonalds realistic novels are often completely forgotten, but are a fascinating example of virtuous characters and drawing out theological ideas into the real world. You also have Dorothy L. Sayers and G.K. Chestertons detective fiction (which I have not read much of, sadly.)
At the end of the day, it's all about being a good story. A good story will, inevitably I think, draw on those deep wells, raising deep questions and exploring themes worth reading about.
Reading this was like taking a breath after being under water for too long! One of my favourite readings in substack so far.
This is a phenomenal post. I admire how deeply you think on literature. As I was reading, I kept thinking: "What makes up a person?" What we consume and our experiences are a large part of it, and from that soil, we form ourselves into something new. I love how you demonstrated that the Greats were vast consumers of very rich material and that produced very different but both extremely worthy results.
That's what we should be aspiring to. As you say, not imitation of the words or style, but imitation of how to live a life of meaning where suddenly, the words bubble out of you despite yourself.
Thank you for the kind words! I'm honestly very surprised this has been so well received. Glad it has proven valuable.
It's a great analysis!
Good points all around.
It's also illuminating to see Tolkien's drafts of Lord of the Rings, and to realize just how much work and revision went into it all.
Once when I was 13 or so I saw one of those History of Middle-earth books on the shelf. I loved Tolkien by then, so I grabbed it immediately and started flipping through. My younger self was absolutely *scandalized* by what I was seeing: the grim, noble Aragorn was once a Hobbit named Trotter! Ridiculous! The book went back on the shelf.
Of course, over the next few years as I fumbled with my own attempts at writing fantasy, I never thought about that moment - but I wish I had. What an encouragement to know that Tolkien had started from somewhere, too, and spent a lot of time, and work, and doubt, making the thing we know.
So yes - the inspirations, the erudition, the raw talent - all of that is necessary. But another necessary element is just the plodding, stubborn *work* of it all - a factor I know I too often undervalue.
Very good. I appreciated that you mentioned that they were drawing from very deep wells. If we want to see the recovery of minds and hearts capable of generating the caliber of such works, we also need to invest in educational institutions that will help shape the character/rigour/love of learning in the next generation.
Have you seen The Wood Between the Worlds publishing house’s latest essay and what they’re up to? I think you and them would get along! https://open.substack.com/pub/thewoodbetweentheworlds/p/what-defines-the-stories-we-publish?r=4mghex&utm_medium=ios
Thank you for pointing this out to me!
I agree. Matthew, you would find much to interest you there if you haven't already.
So good! Thanks for sharing this piece.
This is wonderful, thank you.
This is phenomenal and spot on. Thank you so much for sharing!
Excellent thoughts. Thanks for the reminder to first live a good story, and let that bear what fruit it will.
Amen!
I wonder if it could be said that these great men wrote, above all, through the inspiration of a burning desire for hell-bent worlds to be transfigured?
Not that I have yet read Tolkien, by the way.. but this yearning seems to me to be the constant and enduring element in my love for Lewis's idiom.
Thanks, as ever :)
Excellent post. Very much enjoyed reading it. Huzzah!
Excellent image: "We sit in the shade of mighty trees." I notice that your post -- and my limited experience with contemporary Christian literary fiction -- deals mainly with fantasy. Do you have advice for those of us who write Christian fiction that is not fantasy and yet drinks deeply from the wells of classical ideas and forms?
I'm not sure I have much advice to give in general, and I have never attempted to write something that wasn't "fantasy" in some sense.
A good place to start might be engaging with the great Christian realistic fiction authors. Doestovesky is the first to come to mind as an author grappling explicitly with his own time and place, whose characters embody various ideas and concepts. Grahm Green's "The Power and the Glory" is a gut wrenching account of the costs of discipleship and the scandalous grace of God. Steinbeck's "East of Eden" is beautiful, harrowing, and thought provoking story about providence and free-will. George MacDonalds realistic novels are often completely forgotten, but are a fascinating example of virtuous characters and drawing out theological ideas into the real world. You also have Dorothy L. Sayers and G.K. Chestertons detective fiction (which I have not read much of, sadly.)
At the end of the day, it's all about being a good story. A good story will, inevitably I think, draw on those deep wells, raising deep questions and exploring themes worth reading about.
Thank you so much. I recently read “Crime and Punishment “ and it affected me deeply. Thank you for the other recommendations too.