Let’s Talk about So-Called ‘Anti-Wokists’
‘Anti-wokists’ are those voices in the culture wars claiming stories have become “too political.” They complain that writers are prioritising agendas over quality. They may say that entertainment has lost its way altogether.
Let’s get one thing clear first: no, I have not lost or changed my mind. I believe in inclusion, authentic representation, and thoughtful storytelling. (It would be bonkers if I didn’t, I literally wrote an entire book on this!).
But I also believe in looking critically at all perspectives … Yes, even the ones we fundamentally disagree with. (Because, obviously – on BOTH counts).
While a great deal their rhetoric is based in fear, nostalgia, or outright prejudice, here’s the uncomfortable truth … Sometimes, ‘Anti-wokists’ have a point. Not in the way they think, but in ways that are useful for us – as storytellers – to reflect on.
So here are just 3 ways anti-wokists may have a point … and what we can learn as writers from them. Ready? Let’s go!
1) Storytelling SHOULDN’T Be A Moral Lecture
One of the most frequent complaints from the anti-woke crowd is that stories are becoming too preachy. And to be honest? They’re not entirely wrong.
Audiences don’t show up for lectures. They come for compelling characters, emotional stakes, and narrative tension. When a story stops cold to deliver a message – however worthy – that moment risks alienating viewers or readers.
This is often an issue for writers because they overthink the above. They strive for what I call ‘moral perfectionism’ in their drafts, rather than a good story. This frequently shows up as writers trying to write about issues … without including those issues!
When I ask them why, they may say they’re worried about replicating the bad things in the world. Yet writing about such bad things does not have to mean endorsing such bad things.
So I am NOT saying writers should avoid meaningful themes. It means we need to *integrate* those themes organically, through character choices and conflict, rather than shoehorn them in as statements of intent.
B2W TAKEAWAY: If it feels like a sermon, it probably won’t land. As I frequently say to Bang2writers: obsessing over theme will literally ruin your story! Theme is the meaning behind the story, not the top layer.
2) Fiction Is Not the Same as Reality
‘It’s just a story’ is often used to dismiss legitimate critiques. Obviously, that sucks. As I always say on this blog and accompanying B2W social media, writing IS a political act after all!
But the anti-wokists ARE right when they say that fiction and reality are different. There really is no substitute for proper outreach and education.
Most stories – especially individual ones – do not shift culture single-handedly. Harmful tropes, stereotypes, and prejudices gain their power through long-term, cumulative repetition across thousands of works. They frequently mirror what society already believes rather than create it from scratch.
This isn’t to say writers have no responsibility. We absolutely do. But it’s helpful to acknowledge that any single piece of fiction is unlikely to be the tipping point in a cultural conversation.
B2W TAKEAWAY: All stories exist within a larger, societal context. One story won’t change everything, but patterns across many stories DO. Know the context, and make intentional choices within it. That’s how we subvert reader and audience expectations, but also how we do our bit in challenging unconscious bias … including our own!
MORE: Movies Have Always Been ‘Woke’. You Just Didn’t Notice
3) Entertainment Comes First!
Many anti-wokists claim that modern stories are prioritising messaging over entertainment value. While their definition of “messaging” is often reactionary or misinformed, their basic critique holds up: if a story doesn’t engage, people won’t stick around for that deeper meaning.
It doesn’t matter how progressive or powerful your themes are. If your characters are flat, your dialogue is clunky, or your pacing drags, your story will fail to connect. Great storytelling doesn’t just inform; it *moves* people on an emotional level.
That means understanding how craft actually works. We need to create killer concepts. Or understand how structure works. We need to create complex, believable characters need to write with nuance, tension, and most of all: PURPOSE.
B2W TAKEAWAY: We are storytellers first and foremost. If the story isn’t compelling, the message – whatever that means – literally won’t matter. MORE: Enrol on B2W’s free online course, The Foundations of Writing Craft
Final Points
We don’t have to agree with anti-wokists to acknowledge they occasionally stumble across valid storytelling principles. Their analysis might be shallow, self-serving, or lacking in compassion, true. However, we can still learn something from their pushback, largely:
- Yes, we should write inclusive, diverse, and meaningful stories and themes.
- Yes, we can use our work to challenge harmful ideas.
- But none of that works if the story – concept, characters, structure – doesn’t resonate.
Storytelling is about connection. And the best way to change minds – or even just open hearts – is to tell the most engaging, powerful story you can. So let’s invest in our storytelling craft and do that.
