"Any attempt to write fiction in order to make the world a better, fairer place is almost certain to fail."

[AliceScarlett]

Agree or disagree?

"Conversely, bad writers often write in order to forward a cause or enlarge other people’s understanding of a contemporary social issue. Any attempt to write fiction in order to make the world a better, fairer place is almost certain to fail. Holding any value as more important than learning to be a good writer is dangerous. Put very simply, your characters must be alive before they seek justice."
The Guardian.

Can you link to the article?
I feel like lately (particularly in short stories) I'm reading two types of material that make me switch off, and yet the writers are doing well off it:

1. social issues, as your quote describes, where the character is up against racism, sexism, homophobia, is a refugee, etc. It's like fair enough, have that in the background, but as the quote says give your character some universal charisma because otherwise it's just boring and righteous.
2. "tugging at heart strings". Particularly in short stories and flash fiction lately, I'm seeing lots of stuff that is basically just vignettes centring on something "heart-wrenching": a woman supports her anorexic sister, a man recounts childhood abuse, etc. I always feel a bit cheated. It may be beautifully written but that's not a story - its an experience. I'm seeing a lot of actionless stories lately.

I agree completely.

Is this from AL Kennedy’s writing blog? I entirely agree with her. No one wants to read, say, an anti-racist tract peopled entirely by cardboard cut-outs who are either Racist and Wrong or Nice Victims, but not credibly alive either way.

I'd say character comes first. And the writing needs to feel natural, no preaching. If you read an early 1900s girl's story, you'll feel how preachy they can be. I think I read somewhere that you should never have your characters say the moral message, the moral message should be entirely embedded in the plot, so as to be almost unnoticeable.