Finding Aslan: Part 1—Introduction
Discovering Your Novel's Spiritual Theme
Welcome to Part 1 of the Finding Aslan workshop series. This workshop will be presented in four parts and includes slide graphics and a workbook. The full slide presentation and workbook will be available for download at the conclusion of the series.
Workshop content is available exclusively for paid subscribers. Free subscribers will always have access to a brief preview above the paywall. Thank you to all my subscribers for your continued support!
Workshop Description
As authors of faith, we often struggle with how much of what we believe to include in our novels. But, because we are authors of faith, we have the unique opportunity to bring light into the darkness through the stories we tell. We want our readers to see Jesus in our stories without overexplaining or “telling” them the moral or lesson we want to convey.
That’s where Aslan comes in.
In this workshop, we’ll tackle the topic of weaving a spiritual theme into our stories that is both subtle and powerful at once. We’ll look at the difference between preaching and presenting spiritual truths, how to handle criticism of faith in our stories, and writing for the general market versus writing for the Christian market.
If you’re ready to dive deep and discover the spiritual theme your novel’s been missing, this is the workshop for you.
Why This Topic Matters
I believe this topic is important because spiritual themes in novels are, for the author of faith, the very heart of the stories we tell. They add depth to the story, the characters, the plot, and even the setting. And finding our spiritual themes can often be as challenging as finding our author voice. I personally struggle to pinpoint exactly what my theme is, and it often doesn’t make itself known until I’m done with the first draft.
My hope is that by sharing what I have learned about weaving spiritual themes into my own novels, I might help you as you embark on the journey to finding yours.
What’s Your Theme?
To understand theme, we must first understand story. And to understand how they complement one another, we must first recognize that story and theme are everywhere, woven into everything around us.
