Mystical realism: Joining the conversation
The tagline of Deus in Fabula is “A quest for spiritual, devotional, and mystical realism in fiction.” Apart from the word “fiction,” you’re probably wondering what the rest of the phrase really means.
Frankly, so am I, which is why I’m calling it a quest! And Deus in Fabula is where I’ll be sharing and documenting the exploration in many posts to follow (every one or two weeks for starters).
Where you come in
I don’t intend to undertake this journey solo: I believe that there is a whole realm of fiction waiting to happen and that there is space for many authors. Thus, although I am personally working on fiction that expresses this “realism,” I cannot be but a drop in the literary ocean.
That’s where you come in. The very fact that you’re reading this newsletter suggests that you, too, are interested in this pursuit.
Perhaps you’re a writer wanting to incorporate more inner experience and spiritual depth in your characters. (In doing so, you also enter an area that I don’t believe AI can generate in any meaningful way because there’s so little applicable training data.)
Perhaps you’re a reader hoping to find more of that depth in the characters through which you live.
Perhaps as an agent or publisher you’re looking for material with a fresh vitality.
Perhaps just as a human being you’re wanting to tap into your own wellsprings of inspiration.
Whatever the case, let’s have a conversation! An ongoing, extended conversation about this quest, about this idea of “spiritual, devotional, and mystical realism,” and about the potential for writing—and really art in general—to not merely represent or depict spiritual concepts, but to have a spiritualizing effect upon readers.
Joining the conversation
How do you participate in this conversation? It’s pretty simple:
Subscribe (see “Free vs. paid content below”)
Read the posts and notes that stimulate the conversation.
Comment on posts and notes, which generates the conversation.
Share this newsletter with others to expand the conversation.
Let me be clear: even though I’ve been pondering matters of “spiritual fiction” for some time, and thus have a lot of material with which to stimulate the conversation, I don’t presume to know or have the answers. In fact, finding fixed “answers” isn’t even important. The conversation is rather a flow of energy, a flow that magnetizes what every participant needs at any given time.
Free vs. paid content
Which brings us to the matter of free vs. paid content on Deus in Fabula. Here’s how I’m thinking to provide value to all subscribers:
Free content:
Responses and commentary on fiction (and other art) in which I find examples of mystical realism.
Articles on writing craft and recommendations for helpful resources.
Reflections on travel, conferences, and other tangential subjects.
Paid content:
Thoughts and essays on what mystical realism means, diving deep into the details.
Thoughts and responses on non-fiction works related to said essays. (Such as Art as a Hidden Message by J. Donald Walters and On Moral Fiction by John Gardner.)
(Note: I generally remove paywalls on paid content after a few months.)
Might go either way:
Productions of my own in which I strive to express mystical realism. Shorter pieces or passages inspired by other works will likely be free. Longer, original pieces or serialized pieces (e.g. chapters of a draft novel) will more likely be posted as paid content.
So why paid subscriptions at all?
If I’m so serious about inviting you to join in this conversation about mystical realism, why am I making the core of that conversation available only to paid subscribers?
Being a paid subscriber means joining with those who are also sincerely interested in the conversation because Substack allows me to limit comments to paid subscribers only. In other words, it keeps out the trolls.
Being a paid subscriber means you’re personally invested in the conversation and are thus more likely to be thoughtful rather than reactive, treating myself and others with the same kindness and respect that you expect from us.
Being a paid subscriber (especially at the “Extra good karma/founding member” level) expresses your overall support for what I’m doing with Deus in Fabula and offsets some of the costs involved in activities that help put mystical realism “out there” into the world beyond this newsletter:
Acquiring books and other materials (supporting those authors) to review and bring into our conversation, including subscriptions to other paid Substack newsletters. (The book Spirituality in Young Adult Literature: The Last Taboo, for example, which is certainly meaningful to Deus in Fabula, runs $73 in print and $84 on the Kindle.)
Entering written works into contests with entry fees, which, win or lose, put such works in front of contest judges.
Attending conferences and workshops where I can both represent this conversation and engage others directly in it, including meeting networking with other authors who are doing similar work.
Publishing longer works like novels, which involves many costs for editing, cover design, and marketing.
I think of the above activities as cultivating soil, planting seeds, and nurturing new growth. All of them take time, energy, and money, which is why your support is so appreciated, and meaningful.
And let’s be honest: at US$6/month on the annual plan, the investment here amounts to less than US$1.50 a week, which is about the cost of a couple of eggs, an avocado (on sale), or a candy bar (not on sale).
Give it a try! (And other options)
If you’re undecided, use the 7-day free trial for paid subscriptions to explore the content in depth.
And if you are sincere and the paywall is truly a barrier, you’re welcome to use any of the following discounts that I also include in the welcome email to free subscribers:
The Budget Cautious: 25% off either monthly or annual subscriptions ($6/month or $54/year).
Halfsies: 50% off monthly or annual subscriptions ($4/month or $36/year)
Grateful for the Gift: 75% off ($2/month or $18/year)
Brother/Sister Can You Spare a
DimeQuarter: one year for $13, which is just 25 cents a week.
And if that’s not enough, there’s the 100% “The Supporter in Spirit” discount. Honestly, I don’t want money to be a barrier to your involvement.
However you choose to engage, I’m glad to have you on board.