by Jason Joyner | Jun 24, 2019 | Blog
You can’t go back.
Sequels have diminishing returns.
Don’t ruin a good thing.
There was a lot of hand-wringing when Pixar announced that they were doing a Toy Story 4. How could they? It seemed they had done the impossible already: wrap up a beloved series in a perfect way – handing off Woody, Buzz, and the gang to a new child who would love them as much as Andy. It was such a fitting ending. Why would they risk ruining things with one more go?
Cars 2 anyone?
I almost didn’t join my family for the movie on Sunday, but didn’t want to miss out and went at the last minute. I was treated to an amazing movie. The animation is so gloriously good, it is ridiculous. The cobwebs, the lighting, the detail. Holy moly. The characters we love are back, along with a slew of new toys that join right in. It was a very entertaining move.
But if you haven’t seen it, I’m going heavy into SPOILER TERRITORY below, so be warned.
As we walked out of the movie, my family discussed how much they enjoyed it. When it was my turn, I said, “It was the best movie I’ve ever seen that botched the ending.”
What was my problem?
The movie centers on Woody getting ignored by Bonnie, the girl that Andy left his beloved toys with from Toy Story 3. He sneaks into her backpack on kindergarten orientation day and helps her by giving her the raw materials to make Forky, a spork with googly eyes, pipe-cleaner arms, and sticks for feet with “Bon-nie” written on them.
Forky becomes her new favorite toy. He has an issue though. He believes he’s trash, as that’s where his raw materials come from. So as Bonnie’s family goes on an RV adventure, Woody is trying to keep Forky from returning to whence he came, as he tries to hit the garbage can whenever the opportunity arises.
So Forky gets lost in a town with an antique store and a carnival. Woody goes to rescue him, and runs into Bo-Peep, the friend from the first movie who disappeared after that. She was given away and made her way to fight for lost toys by rescuing them.
I could go on with the synopsis, but I don’t want to summarize the whole movie. In the end, the toys part ways. Forky is reunited with Bonnie. But Woody decides to stay with Bo and help lost toys find homes or purpose.
Here, after another beautiful movie (but not tear-inducing to my teen who cries every time he watches the end of 3), Pixar makes a fatal mistake.
I couldn’t accept Woody leaving his friends behind.
My wife disagreed, and argued that they spent the movie building the case for him to make this choice. Sure, they did. But it still went against everything we loved about Woody from the first three movies. He is neurotic, jealous, and insecure – but he’s the heroic sheriff that keeps the toys together. He constantly puts himself at risk to keep them together, whether it’s Buzz in the first, Jessie and Bullseye in two, or the whole gang in three.
His character had been well-established. Yet he went against who he was for the sake of the plot in 4. Woody had the same choice in two, and he chose his kid. And three was possibly the best ending of any movie trilogy ever.
I will admit, four is a beautiful movie. Lines aren’t wasted. The animation is so freaking good. The ideas it presents deserve more blog posts. 😉 It effectively ended the possibility of another movie. Woody and Buzz are finally separated, and it would such a stretch to see them brought back together.
I loved Toy Story 4, despite the way they mess up the characterization for Woody established in three prior films. If it weren’t for that, it would be the clear best movie of the series.
The lesson for writers is simple: stay true to your characters. Even over years and four movies, it is important to keep them consistent to who you’ve made them to be. Even the best stories, like Toy Story 4, can be undone if you miss this crucial point.
by Jason Joyner | Jun 11, 2019 | Blog
It makes an author’s day when you get to talk to enthusiastic readers. I had the joy of that over this last weekend at the fun Homeschool Idaho Convention. I shared a booth there with my author friend Peter Leavell on June 7-8, and we were in the exhibitor hall for the in-between times for workshops and sessions.
Between parents looking for good reads and teens excited to talk about their favorite books, there was no shortage of literary talk. It was an infusion of much needed fuel for writing. But I was there to sell books overall. I made good contacts and was pleased with how things went. But I learned more about a theory I’ve been mulling.
I managed to tighten up my pitch even more. It wasn’t hard to get conversations started. Yet I still can’t stick to what I’m supposed to be doing: selling my books.
Instead, I really enjoyed having Peter there to talk about his books. He had something come up that kept him out Saturday morning, so I didn’t only have to talk about Launch. I could talk about Peter’s books and point to his strengths if that seemed to connect with the person. I was reading The Story Peddler by Lindsay Franklin in-between busy times. I probably sold a couple copies of her book in the morning! If there were families with younger kids (since my book is YA) I would tell them about my publisher Little Lamb Books and promote books from our other authors. Finally, if I didn’t have a specific book to recommend, I’d point parents to the Realm Makers Bookstore where they sell fantastic stories from Christian writers.
It cemented my hypothesis: rising waters lift all boats. At least for me, I don’t like to focus on just myself. That’s boring. But if I can talk about good books, I’m elated. If I can see any of the authors from Little Lamb do well, it indirectly helps me because it helps my publisher. The Realm Makers Bookstore has made it their mission to get the word out about great speculative fiction. If more people are aware of these stories and are looking, it helps all of us.
I think the author community in general is very supportive because we love good stories and want to see more of them. The Christian speculative fiction may be even more so because we love the fact that God is glorified in fantasy or sci-fi, so we’re doubly rooting for things. If we get the word out on great stories like Peter’s or Lindsay’s, then people will remember there’s a variety to look for out there.
I may not be a gorilla marketer, only looking out for myself. But I will do what I can to lift the waters and see all the ships around me rise. It makes marketing much more enjoyable for me, and I think it gives me credibility that I’m not just about myself. We’re all in this journey, and I can’t wait to see how this genre grows in the future.
by Jason Joyner | Feb 6, 2019 | awards, Blog, fiction, speculative fiction
It’s been a whirlwind start to the new year already. I can’t believe it is February already.
I hope the year is going well for all of you out there. I’m thankful to say that it has been a good start of the year for my book Launch that came out last July. I received two bits of news I wanted to share.
First of all, I found out that Launch tied for Gold in the young adult fiction category for the Illumination Book Awards, highlighting the best in books written with a Christian worldview. That was an amazing piece of news. I was also excited to find I tied with my writer friend Gillian Bronte Adams and her fantasy book Song of Leira. Gillian’s an amazing writer, so sharing the award with her is an honor.
The next week continued the good news. The INSPY’s are the blogger’s award for faith-driven fiction. They came out with their longlists, the top ten books for each category, and Launch made it in the YA category. All books have to be nominated and voted by readers, so it was an honor to have enough people nominate Launch that I made the cut. When I look at all the authors who are nominated, it is such an esteemed group.
It’s been an adventure having a book out for readers to discover and enjoy. If you’ve read Launch, leaving a review on Amazon and telling friends is the best thing for an author.
Book 2 is being worked on as we speak. The editor is wielding her red pen, and I expect to be working on revisions soon. While waiting, I’m already working on book 3. The trilogy is coming together. I hope to have more news soon.
I’m going to try to blog more in 2019. If there’s any topics you’d like to discuss, leave a comment below. I’ll leave you with a question – what’s a book you’re looking forward to reading this year?
by Jason Joyner | Oct 3, 2018 | Blog, books, fiction, speculative fiction
Huzzah! I have finally hit 1000 followers on Twitter. To all the bots who follow me, I thank you.
Seriously, it’s just one marker out there on social media, but it’s a pretty cool landmark. And I’m in the mood to celebrate.
This summer I released my debut YA superhero novel, Launch. I’ve had a great time connecting with readers over it and seeing it in the hands of people. So I want to give a copy of Launch away to keep it going.
BUT THAT’S NOT ALL.
I have two talented friends, John W. Otte and Matt Mikalatos who have ALSO written some awesome superhero books: Failstate and Capeville.
So the winner will receive a copy of ALL THREE BOOKS.
You can find out more about the contest here. You get an entry just for signing up, and bonus chances for things like following me on Instagram or signing up for my newsletter (where you can win more prizes this month, shhh, don’t tell).
If you like Marvel, DC, the Incredibles, or are fans of cool adventurous fiction, then sign up for this trifecta of goodness. You won’t be disappointed.
by Jason Joyner | Jun 4, 2018 | #specficfaith, Blog
Do you feel like it is the summer of superheroes?
I sure do. It got an early start with Avengers: Infinity War coming to theaters in late April. Even though I won’t watch 
Deadpool, that’s another movie that just released. Han Solo may not have the Force, but he’s got the scoundrel’s luck to propel him to his own stand-alone Star Wars movie. Then we’ve got another Marvel movie in Ant-Man and the Wasp in July. The best Pixar movie finally gets a sequel when The Incredibles 2 hits theaters this month.
That’s just in the cinema. This week a new comic book based show opens on Freeform, Cloak and Dagger, developed from a cult favorite Marvel duo. There’s still all the superhero shows on The CW and Agents of SHIELD as well.
Oh, and there’s a book coming out that has superpowered teens. More about that in a minute…
Pop culture has exploded with superheroes. Special effects have finally caught up to the imaginations of comic book artists and writers. Instead of a buff Lou Ferrigno in green body paint in the 70s (Google the original Incredible Hulk), we have gods like Thor and Wonder Woman running around with guys bit by spiders and men dressing up as a bat accompanied by graphics that do justice to the source material. The explosion of movies, TV shows, and cross marketing with video games, Pop Funkos, and other products have caused us to be inundated with these costumed crusaders.
Is it too much?
I hope not, because I have a book coming out on July 3rd, my debut YA superhero novel called Launch. It deals with teens who develop special abilities who are gathered at a special conference hosted by a tech billionaire – a man with his own gifts and a desire to change the world with the teens he’s invited.
Maybe I have good timing. I have an easy opportunity to cross-promote my book with all these superhero properties coming out.
Then again, is there going to be superhero fatigue? Are people getting tired of these different heroes in colorful costumes?
The Cloak and Dagger series interests me because, like the show and its comic book source material, my book has a blonde girl and African-American male as my protagonists, and even some of the powers seem similar at first glance.
What does a writer do?
I can’t help but think that the timing is not by accident. I’m not going to worry about too many capes, or similarities to other properties out there. The Teacher in Ecclesiastes said that there was nothing new under the sun. Experts in writing and creativity note this as well – we aren’t writing new stories. We’re taking things we like from other tales, putting our spin on them, and putting them out there for audiences to enjoy.
I like my story. It’s got adventure, geeky references, fun characters, high stakes, and hints of romance. Anything from Indiana Jones to comic book heroes to Doctor Who influenced me in writing it. So if a literary take on the world of superpowers sounds intriguing to you, I hope you’ll give Launch a chance on July 3rd.
As far as I know, there’s no new movie releasing that day…
by Jason Joyner | Jan 23, 2018 | #specficfaith, Blog, Uncategorized
Why do I read Christian speculative fiction?
I’ve always loved stories. As a kid I would daydream about being the hero and saving the day. I created scenarios with my G.I. Joes and Star Wars figures, making up adventures where the good guys struggled and prevailed. I also grew up on superheroes and comic books. The idea of special abilities appealed to me, a boy who was usually the youngest and smallest in my classes. What if I had a power that no one could see?
Some people think that there’s no place for fantasy or science fiction with a Christian worldview. The idea of magic is conflated with the idea of the prohibition of witchcraft in the Old Testament. Science fiction could be construed as going against God’s plan. Why would we go to the stars if the rapture is coming soon?
I read all sorts of stories as long as they’re well-told, but I do particularly enjoy when I can read a well-written story from a Christian perspective or with that moral foundation to it. I believe that there can be a seamless blend of a Christian worldview along with exciting stories of far-flung lands or distant worlds.
Fantasy can offer a clear view of good and evil—or it can explore the greys and the challenges in staying pure. A story can have a theme of sacrifice or perseverance that enhances those Biblical ideals without getting preachy about it. I believe magic can be used in stories if the consequences are reflected as well. The Chronicles of Narnia use the idea of a Deeper Magic that reflects the underlying power of God in creation, something greater than the White Witch’s power.
Science fiction has long been able to offer a critique of society and its priorities. Classics like Fahrenheit 451 warn of a future where books are forbidden. Why can’t a Christian be able to use such settings to speak prophetic truth to a world in need of change?
I believe that as long as a work of fiction doesn’t glorify what the Bible calls evil, it can be used to reflect his light and truth, whether allegorically, directly, or indirectly. There is room for quality stories that echo Christian principles. I am convinced that there is a place and a need for these stories.
As C.S. Lewis so eloquently said, “I thought I saw how stories of this kind could steal past a certain inhibition which had paralyzed much of my own religion in childhood. Why did one find it so hard to feel as one was told one ought to feel about God or about the sufferings of Christ? I thought the chief reason was that one was told one ought to. An obligation to feel can freeze feelings. And reverence itself did harm. The whole subject was associated with lowered voices; almost as if it were something medical. But supposing that by casting all these things into an imaginary world, stripping them of their stained-glass and Sunday school associations, one could make them for the first time appear in their real potency? Could one not thus steal past those watchful dragons? I thought one could.”
So today I’m joining with other fans of Christian speculative fiction to celebrate the stories. There are some great resources out there to help you find and enjoy these type of tales.
I just will share two today. Enclave Publishing is the premier publisher of Christian speculative fiction, although other houses are producing great books too. Then check out Speculative Faith/Lorehaven for a great resource building community for fans.
I’m passionate about seeing these stories get wider awareness. Look on Twitter for the hashtag #SpecFicFaith to see more people posting about this. I’ll leave you with another classic quote from G.K. Chesterton:
“Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed.”
