The Reality of Relief: Literary Publishing
Relief eschews tidy “inspirational” writing that represses the troublesome and complex dimensions of our lives. Instead we are dedicated to human flourishing through literature. To turn away from so-called inspirational writing feels countercultural to the crux of Christian literature. So often in Christian circles, we pass around all-too-predictable fiction pieces and expect readers to be surprised when the ending is exactly the same: the prodigal child returns home, the criminal accepts Christ, the marriage is saved. In Relief, we celebrate writing that embraces the harsh realities of this broken world. We are learning to welcome stories where the addict dies of an overdose and there is nothing redemptive except for the fact that his little sister can fold his laundry as a final recognition of his miserable existence. We marvel at works that depict a young boy who longs to shoot his way out of his father’s home; not because the story is tidy or traditional but bec...