Writing With Conscience Is a Moral Imperative, Not a Misstep

Journalists are often taught to keep politics out of our storytelling. But if we step back and admit that all writing is political, we can see the importance of writing with a moral agenda in mind.

If you’re a journalist looking to sharpen your focus on social issues, an academic who wants to learn how to convey your expertise to a mainstream audience or a person impacted by social issues who wants to tell your story, don’t miss How to Write About Social Issues in Unprecedented Times, a Narratively Academy seminar with Kavita Das next Tuesday, May 14.

I remember a conversation I had with an editor at a literary magazine soon after I had transitioned from working in social change to becoming a writer close to 10 years ago. I had shared with the editor that I was committed to developing my craft as a writer but that I was also committed to continuing to lift up social issues, even if I now would focus on addressing them on the page rather than in real-life settings. I was floored by the editor’s response. He warned me to make sure that my work did not turn into propaganda.

Fast forward a decade, and I’ve published my second book, Craft and Conscience: How to Write About Social Issues