I believe that there’s a lot of things we need more of in stories. We need more amazing, well-written stories without sexual content or innuendos that make you wince and throw the book down in disgust. We need more books with happy marriages and stable families with good parenting role models. We need more people imperfectly trying to be good. We need more examples of businesspeople who aren’t evil, religious people who aren’t bigoted hypocrites or deluded fanatics, and scientists who do believe in God. They exist, and their stories need to be told, even if it’s in a fantastical setting with spaceships and magic and cheesemonkeys.

At the same time, there is nothing more annoying than someone trying to shove their opinions down your throat, EVEN WHEN YOU AGREE WITH THEM.

An entertaining story without something for the audience to learn is like candy, fun in small portions but unsatisfying when it’s all you consume. An entertaining story that beats its audience over the head with its message is annoying even when you agree with the message. A story that is not entertaining and beats its audience over the head might be endured under the assumption that at least it’s saying something useful, while a story that is neither entertaining nor says anything worth saying is only valuable as an example of what not to do. But a story that is both entertaining and which teaches its audience something worth learning? That is art, and when enough skill enables it to speak to your soul, it becomes a masterpiece.

While I do believe that there are things we need more of in books, I’ll try my best to first and foremost tell good stories and avoid using my books as a bludgeon. After all, if you’re going to use a book as a bludgeon, there are much thicker books out there. I believe a heavy Sanderson hardback would pack much more of a wallop.