The Values in my Writing

Whenever an author writes a story, they inevitably share their values within the narrative. By values, I mean the principles that help a person decide what is right and wrong, and how to act in various situations. My protagonists reflect the ideas that I believe are important, while my antagonists generally act against them.

So, what can you tell about me from the characters and themes in my books?

One of the fundamental principles is that good always wins against evil. It won’t be easy, and sometimes it appears as if they will fail, but invariably they discover an inner strength that means the downfall of my antagonists. I am a sucker for a HAE ending, and even if I don’t explicitly write it in my stories, you can know that, if I’d carried on, we would have ended up there.

Justice usually flows from that value. Most of my characters get some kind of justice for their actions. I think we would all like to believe that, in the end, everything will work out, which is why Karma is such an attractive idea. It means that, even if someone seems to get away without being punished adequately, in time it will catch up to them.

Personally, I don’t believe in Karma. However, I do believe that our actions, words, even our thoughts, will all eventually be judged. Justice will be upheld, but it will also come hand in hand with mercy.

Let’s face it, we are all flawed and make mistakes. We get things wrong, sometimes with devastating consequences. We act without thinking it through. We say words that hurt and destroy. We harbour thoughts that are ugly and unkind. If life simply dealt out cold, blind justice, we would all be doomed.

But mercy sees our potential and gives us a second (third or fourth) chance. The characters in my stories often mess up and get it wrong, but it doesn’t disqualify them from becoming the hero. Instead, learning from their mistakes makes them a better person.

Honesty is really important to me. I detest it when people lie to me. I would rather hear the truth over a soft fluffy deception any day. Because of that, I try very hard not to lie myself. I have to admit I occasionally fail, too, but my aim is to have a high degree of integrity. I think it also means that I find it very difficult to write it into characters. Just like the villains in James Bond, my antagonists are happy to spill all their secrets when confronted!

Sex is never ‘just a bit of fun’. Neither is it something that is on display, so the reader becomes a voyeur. I will always fade to black or have my characters disappear off the page when they want some privacy. The romance in my stories will always be of the “sweet clean” variety.

It is not an exhaustive list, as there are many more values I try and internalise. Goodness, kindness, and compassion. Empathy and unconditional love. Faithfulness, joy in life, and endless patience.

Why? Because I want to be the best version of Susan I can possibly be. I strive, not to outshine my neighbour, but to improve on the person I was yesterday. I know I will never be perfect this side of glory, but it doesn’t mean I have licence to be a horrible unkind person in the meantime.

In 2021, I lost my grandson, my first grandchild, who was born at 21 weeks but didn’t survive. At the funeral, my son got up to speak. Through his tears, he told us that, even though Isaac had only lived for a very short time, he had left the world a better place for having been in it.

My prayer is that people will say that about me, after I have gone.

Those closest to me will know that I fail to hit the mark more often than not, but I am trying my hardest. Unfortunately, all my good intentions fly out the window as soon as I start driving. I thankful other drivers can’t hear my curses and grumbles!

I will never battle an evil sorcerer or discover the cure for a dreadful disease. I won’t be hailed as a skilled diplomat in political circles. I have no illusions of writing a book that will impact the world.

But I can smile at the frazzled mum in the supermarket and let her go before me in the queue. I can give out of my plenty to those who have little or nothing. I can tell my friends and relations how much I love them, and how precious they are to me. I can do good deeds without acknowledgement or reward.

In the grand scheme of things, we are only on this earth for a short time. Let’s fill it with goodness while we still have breath to do it.

I value people above possessions, truth above conformity, inner beauty instead of outward appearances. I wonder what your values are.