tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1627214116764692432.post4381131321688795522..comments2023-07-30T04:02:45.477-07:00Comments on Jenny Kaczorowski | In Somnis Veritas: The Intersection of Art & FaithJenny Kaczorowskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00289053983485597342noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1627214116764692432.post-37154945259987910822013-09-30T11:51:35.405-07:002013-09-30T11:51:35.405-07:00It is encouraging to find authors who value being ...It is encouraging to find authors who value being true to life, and who do not sacrifice craft for the sake of heavy-handed message. We do a disservice to readers, I think, if our writing doesn't ring true to life but rather espouses what we THINK Christian writing must look like. Authors are real, complex individuals; readers are real, complex individuals. Our writing should be just as real, complex, and individual. I aspire to that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1627214116764692432.post-4823969076711945602013-09-24T09:04:53.574-07:002013-09-24T09:04:53.574-07:00You've just challenged me, Jenny. I am writing...You've just challenged me, Jenny. I am writing my first novel, and while faith and God plays a major role - I mean, c'mon, it's a story of faith lost, shattered, broken and restored - it revolves around a military couple. You've reminded me that I need to be real... and while I don't need to include every minor detail and raunchy element of a soldier's deployment experience, I cannot shy away from the fact that soldiers swear and joke and say things they wouldn't say in church on Sunday, just because this is a Christian novel. Christianity is for sinners, and we write to show truth and shed light on reality... and that reality is messy and rarely has a happy ending... Vanessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536279654485127572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1627214116764692432.post-20345917338104934412013-09-23T15:08:05.847-07:002013-09-23T15:08:05.847-07:00Thank you.Thank you.Elhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01125923925770695043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1627214116764692432.post-79481471335339815772013-09-23T15:05:05.521-07:002013-09-23T15:05:05.521-07:00I think that's where the idea of absolute trut...I think that's where the idea of absolute truth comes in for me. I believe that honest, open search for truth always leads to the ultimate truth. I trust the journey. There are things I won't include in my writing, as there are things I won't consume. But that is based on that truth. There are also things I include that others may find offensive. For me, it often comes down to how they're presented more than what is presented. Sin can be glorified with a G rating, while the consequences of sin can be illustrated in very dark places.Jenny Kaczorowskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00289053983485597342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1627214116764692432.post-62126550935670678952013-09-23T14:24:28.952-07:002013-09-23T14:24:28.952-07:00I applaud you for composing your thoughts prior to...I applaud you for composing your thoughts prior to speaking -- always a good idea. However, as a man of faith and an artist, I disagree with your basic premise. You have not stated the core purpose of your writing, other than to emphasize the value you place on creation itself. I suspect that there are some things which, although they require creation, you would likely not support (such as child porn, nuclear mushroom clouds, profaned religious symbols, etc.) Though such things are all part of someone's 'reality', they need not be proliferated just for the sake of the creative process. <br /><br />For me, writing is no different. I do not validate the existence of all written works solely because they are the product of someone's creative process. Likewise, when composing a sentence which may or may not include questionable content, I do not determine what to include based on some nebulous idea of 'reality'. Individual and cumulative reality is based on perception -- and is different for every person and every group. And so, for me the question is not, "How can I best engage my reader by reflecting their reality in a recognizable manner?," but rather, "How can I convey to my audience ideas, or beauty, or experiences in a manner that will improve their personal reality." <br /><br />When I am faced with decisions about what language to employ, or what details to include (or omit), or even what story-lines to consider, being reminded of my core objective in writing helps ensure that I do not unnecessarily deviate from my core standards and beliefs.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11699095767970966618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1627214116764692432.post-82457277277144040252013-09-23T11:43:54.711-07:002013-09-23T11:43:54.711-07:00I'm so glad it was helpful! It's amazing h...I'm so glad it was helpful! It's amazing how many people struggle with this. You're definitely not alone!Jenny Kaczorowskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00289053983485597342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1627214116764692432.post-40609827701221089252013-09-23T11:43:01.161-07:002013-09-23T11:43:01.161-07:00The human connection is so important! That's w...The human connection is so important! That's where the best stuff happens - when two people connect on a real, honest level. I hope my stories lead to those connections.Jenny Kaczorowskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00289053983485597342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1627214116764692432.post-75640812195070127862013-09-23T11:42:01.789-07:002013-09-23T11:42:01.789-07:00Thanks :)Thanks :)Jenny Kaczorowskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00289053983485597342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1627214116764692432.post-62889187844705617282013-09-23T11:41:48.933-07:002013-09-23T11:41:48.933-07:00That's a great perspective, Dahl. The outlet i...That's a great perspective, Dahl. The outlet is good and in the end, our friends and families should know us enough to understand that our characters are not us!Jenny Kaczorowskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00289053983485597342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1627214116764692432.post-30176868047071419772013-09-23T11:39:42.092-07:002013-09-23T11:39:42.092-07:00This was exactly my hope for this post! I want oth...This was exactly my hope for this post! I want other artists to feel the freedom I believe we're meant to have :)Jenny Kaczorowskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00289053983485597342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1627214116764692432.post-25814932135872707822013-09-23T11:35:48.313-07:002013-09-23T11:35:48.313-07:00Wow! Great post. I have been struggling with be a ...Wow! Great post. I have been struggling with be a Christian and writing Christian. But I can't. My stories involve supernatural, fantasy, kissing and sex. But it's from my imagination that was a gift from God. I don't think he woukd be mad puttting our work out there. I love everyone no matter what. I try to do good everyday. I don't hold to ignoring people not of my faith. I love talking religion. Sometimes I feel guilt on my writing but it's good to know I am not alone! All these comments are great and eye opening! Thank you for speaking the truth! tawney13https://www.blogger.com/profile/03178314276709367208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1627214116764692432.post-67797662448926776622013-09-23T11:35:31.737-07:002013-09-23T11:35:31.737-07:00Talents are meant to be used! I'm so glad I co...Talents are meant to be used! I'm so glad I could encourage you :)Jenny Kaczorowskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00289053983485597342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1627214116764692432.post-19663570755187616222013-09-23T11:01:17.560-07:002013-09-23T11:01:17.560-07:00Awesome post, Jenny. I've wondered these same ...Awesome post, Jenny. I've wondered these same things many times. At first I didn't want to have any sex or swearing in my books at all because I was afraid of what members of my church would think. But it just wasn't realistic. As I looked around, there were a ton of Christian, Mormon, and other-faith writers I saw putting those things into their writing, and they didn't seem to get any backlash for it, at least not in the public eye. <br /><br />I guess what I'm saying is I came to the same conclusion as you. I think creating is about reality. We try to give as REAL an experience as we can within the bounds of our artistic medium, because that's what people can connect with. And if they don't connect with our art, why do we create at all?Darci Colehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00155604971570768765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1627214116764692432.post-18142301531315532832013-09-23T10:11:29.604-07:002013-09-23T10:11:29.604-07:00I'm the same as H.e. Griffin, who pointed me i...I'm the same as H.e. Griffin, who pointed me in the direction of this post. Such a beautiful and honest and freeing post! Amber Cliteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00537436446374599840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1627214116764692432.post-10792307519806578662013-09-23T09:16:48.623-07:002013-09-23T09:16:48.623-07:00I really appreciate this post. I've been strug...I really appreciate this post. I've been struggling with this a bit lately. I usually write MG, but my current story is YA. And while my main character is probably not going to be doing anything I wouldn't (well, not much), it seems unrealistic that other characters in the story wouldn't be swearing, etc. It's often hard to reconcile the ideal that I'd like to see in life with how it actually is, and I know my story won't be authentic if I stick with the ideal. In any case, thanks for writing this. It might inspire me to post something along these lines myself.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1627214116764692432.post-41233962861620254882013-09-23T08:53:30.199-07:002013-09-23T08:53:30.199-07:00Beautiful post, Jenny, and so true. My non-writer ...Beautiful post, Jenny, and so true. My non-writer life is pretty defined by my religion, and I think the scariest thing about actually getting published is picturing the two intersecting. The biggest reason I started writing was to kind of "live" the lives I didn't get to as an observant Orthodox Jew, so I *always* pile in all the things that weren't a part of my adolescent experience, from non-kosher food to public school to sex to Friday night parties and Saturdays spent anywhere but at home. I love writing all of those things, but I do often wonder what my friends and family who grew up like I did will think about the fact that I write about as far from my own religious life as humanly possible within the boundaries of contemp!<br /><br />I will say that I personally don't feel guilty about it; I think the outlet of writing is actually a lot of what's allowed me personally to maintain my observance even on days I'm not feeling particularly spiritual. (Which is most days, honestly. I'm not really a spiritual person.) But I know I'll feel guilty if it somehow ends up reflecting poorly on my family, or embarrasses them or whatever. Not sure what the odds of that are, but it's probably the aspect of the combination of faith and my writing that I think about the most.Dahlia Adlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02265012593385220677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1627214116764692432.post-62714305112648371652013-09-23T08:34:10.148-07:002013-09-23T08:34:10.148-07:00Oh thank you so much for this. I've struggled ...Oh thank you so much for this. I've struggled with that same guilt so much. It's so nice to know the decision I made to write YA fiction with real people isn't one I made alone.H. E. Griffinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04236186986252165845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1627214116764692432.post-44129711474476406912013-09-23T08:25:12.239-07:002013-09-23T08:25:12.239-07:00I really, really loved this, and agree with you 10...I really, really loved this, and agree with you 100%. People who know I'm a believer have gaped at me when I mentioned my characters drop the f-word more than a few times. It's their choice not to read. It's my choice to present a realistic product (and when you're writing YA Contemp, a swear or two is bound to happen).<br /><br />I think writing is a God-given talent, and our talents are meant to be used for something beautiful and real. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00577517087792158039noreply@blogger.com