A Deeper Meaning

esterday in my interview with author Misha Burnett, he discussed the fact that he felt books should be more about entertainment value, rather than being preachy about a political viewpoint or ideal. And I would agree to an extent. No book should ever be so preachy as to alienate readers, but I read recently that fiction has the unique ability to change people’s opinions more so than non-fiction because in non-fiction there’s a stated idea or theory that people come into the story having an opinion on one way or another. If it’s a book about global warming (let’s say) regardless of how many diploma’s in science the author has, there will always be people who think he’s full of shit. In the fictional aspect however, as long as you aren’t trying to convert people actively with the story or trying to convince them of anything, you have the ability to change people’s minds with a concept or an idea and that is sort of magical.

Books should be entertaining yes, but we as fiction authors have a unique opportunity to present a viewpoint in a way that could actually make substantive change. The vice-president said it best when he described how Will and Grace probably did a lot more than any P.A.C. to change people’s view of the LGBT community. It’s not a novel, but television is equally as powerful and I believe equally important as a tool to create change.

I think there’s definitely a right way and a wrong way to do this of course, and one of the books that I’m working on shortly after (if not directly after Secrets of Witches) will be the test of whether or not I can have a clear message without alienating readers in the process.  Let’s just hope future generations aren’t forced to read my books in high school looking for the deeper meaning in all the wrong places. Nobody needs that.