Light in the Darkness by Allison Symes

 Image Credit:  Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay images.

There are many contrasts in writing. There’s the joy of creating your stories or articles. Then there’s the editing. I find it helpful to approach editing with a smile. 

When I realised good editing was helping me to become published, my attitude towards it changed. I now see it as a creative task, separate from the initial writing, which will make those drafts so much better. I know many see editing as something which has to be done while gritting your teeth! (If you are gritting someone else’s teeth, you have a problem beyond the scope of this post!).

There are many contrasts in writing themes. Light and darkness are the obvious ones and are classic themes. When more appropriate to think about these than now as we go into Advent? Advent - preparing for the ultimate Light to come into this world and break our darkness.

As writers, we can bring light into readers’ lives. I have a soft spot for humorous writing and reading (not necessarily just Christian based though I look for strong story lines with the humour arising naturally - think P.G. Wodehouse, Jane Austen, and Terry Pratchett’s Discworld. All tick the right boxes for me).

I think humorous writing plays a vital role in lifting the spirits, especially as a glimpse at the news confirms how much darkness is out there. I see stories which seek to entertain (even if not specifically funny) as having a ministry of their own, that being to bring cheer to people. Those stories can cover many genres - a good crime novel will keep me riveted, as will fantasy/fairytales. 

I understand why people write dystopian fiction. I also know I won’t. I am in the “entertain the readers” brigade so I don’t want to write or read a book likely to sink the mood. I feel strongly that wish to entertain shouldn’t be considered unimportant. I think it is more important than some may think.

I may not have a specific message in my writing but wanting others to experience moments of escapism thanks to reading stories of mine is something to treasure. I know I’ve appreciated “being taken out of myself” by reading. I would like to give something back here. I think it is a good aim. 

Fiction can take people out of themselves for a while. It’s also something we can all contribute towards, whether we write in the long or short forms or both. 

We are unlikely to know how our stories lifted a reader’s mood when they needed that, unless we are fortunate enough and they tell us, but it is my prayer all of us who write fiction do achieve this. It doesn’t matter we won’t know. The reader will. God will. It is enough. 

Let our pens and PCs serve to entertain and bring light then. The world needs more of this. Fiction can play a positive role here.