Avoiding Preachy Prose

Much young adult fiction today deals with contemporary issues and is a reflection of the times. Authors have important things to say. But if the writing is preachy, readers may disengage.

What is preachy prose?

Writing can come off as preachy when the author is too heavy handed in their delivery of a message or a story’s theme. Sermonizing isn’t exclusive to religious themes. Social issues, politics, cultural views, anything the writer has an opinion on can be presented in a preachy way.

Not all readers will agree on whether or not a particular book is preachy. One reader may embrace the story while others criticize it. The trick is to be true to your theme without becoming strident.

But I want my book to have a message.

It’s perfectly fine and desirable to have a message in your book, but if it’s fiction, use characters to illustrate the point and trust your reader. The message should feel natural, unforced, and be interwoven into the story. 

How can a writer avoid preachy prose?

Produce well-rounded characters with plenty of realistic opposition and conflict.

Use external conflict. Give characters opposing viewpoints. Through their interaction, allow the story to develop and reveal the theme. 

Use internal conflict. Instead of presenting a single viewpoint as cut and dried, let your character come to conclusions about their beliefs. Let them struggle, grow, and learn.

Use realistic character action and reactions to illustrate the theme. Just like in real life, a guy passing out Bible verses doesn’t have quite the same impact as a character walking through hard places while clinging to his beliefs.

Think about how you react when a person in real life delivers a personalized sermon on your shortcomings. Do you feel grateful?

If you have a preachy character, have the other characters react to them in a realistic way. As a bonus, this could make for some good conflict! If that doesn’t work for your story, rewrite the preachy character to reflect your vision.

There’s no need to avoid prayer or religious language—if it’s true to your characters. Preachiness has less to do with what a character believes, and more to do with how the character’s beliefs are presented.

Use story events interspersed with dialogue to make the point. Don’t restrict the message to a large chunk of dialogue in one scene. The entire story should reflect the theme. Sprinkle it around!

Setting, imagery, and symbolism can all reinforce the theme. It isn’t necessary to use every technique in the book and subtlety is the key. 

Do you have any tips on avoiding preachy prose?

Leave a comment below.

Donna Jo Stone writes YA contemporary novels about tough issues but always ends the stories with a note of hope. She blogs at donnajostone.com.