Some thoughts re: wands. If you want to use wands in your fantasy fiction, why not simply define them, within the context of your story, as having nothing to do with the occult? Theres a long, time-honored tradition of the most memorable authors redefining words. Tolkien totally transformed the definition of elves, and the word has never been the same.
You could even define wands as not having anything to do with traditional magic. There are more forces operating within fantasy worlds than just magic. When it comes right down to it, you dont even have to call them wands. You could do some etymological research and come up with a catchy, impressive-sounding word all your own. Youd get extra points for originality.
You may hit a snag when it comes to selling your novel to Christian publishers, though. Christian editors are notoriously conservative and risk-averse. Theyre also aware that a significant and extremely profitable segment of their clientele considers even
fantasy to be wrong, much less anything involving magic and/or the occult. Some established writers make it past such barriers, but it can be difficult for first time novelists. The more elements you include that could be construed (by the anti-fantasy crowd) as magical or occultish, the harder it will be to make the sell. The joke among writers who have tried, is that not even Tolkien or C. S. Lewis could get published in todays climate. Sadly, theres more than a kernel of truth in that joke.
The big exception are Catholic publishers, who are FAR more open to fantasy than traditional evangelical publishers. Theyre understandably only in the market for overtly Catholic fantasy, however, which doesnt help those of us who write with a more general Christian bent. (I have a theory as to why non-Catholic Christian publishers are so skittish about fantasy, but since it touches on a subject that previously drew fire Ill keep the lid on it.
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Personally, I think its only a matter of time before demand drives the market. The desire for good, entertaining yet edifying Christian Fantasy is very strong and getting stronger. Already at least one indy publisher [Marcher Lord] is moving to fill the void. Sooner or later others follow. This is something we could all pray forespecially those of us who write YA Fantasy (Marcher Lord deals only with Adult.): more markets!
True story. I let a very open-minded, kind and gracious Christian woman read one of my novels. She told me it was a page turner that she couldnt put downshe finished it in one night! Then she added that the idea of having such a thing, even in a minor role, as a good wizard, made her skin crawl. She cautioned me that if I didnt remove that element, it would be a nonif not outright antiChristian story. I have dozens more anecdotes just like that one. There are very real challenges out there for Christian Fantasy, but with Gods help the genre will flourish.
[Note: These are personal thoughts, hopefully addressing the wand question, and intended to be helpful. If anyone disagrees, theres no need to debate. You could simply delineate any counter thoughts you may have in an independent post. (Though if anyone wants to debate anybody besides me, thats between the two of you. I just dont want to be part of it.) Thank you in advance.]
If it's wrong, I'm doomed - I bet there's a whole circle of hell devoted to people who use fantasy magic in their writing, read Harry Potter, and eat candy corn.
), I guess I'll post (being bored adds to this decision).
