Supporting Indie Authors: A Refreshing Escape from Preachy Mainstream Entertainment

Mainstream entertainment is preaching, not entertaining – indie creators offer a better way

Have you noticed how watching mainstream entertainment often feels less like enjoying a story and more like attending a lecture? That feeling where you’re not being invited into a world—but being told what to think about it?

I had a glimmer of hope that the new Doctor Who series might finally get back to what made it great—fun, sci-fi adventure, and clever writing. But within minutes, that hope vanished. A ‘diverse’ character delivered a patronising lecture to a white man, for no reason other than the fact he was a white man. It was clumsy, unearned, and completely disengaging. I turned it off. Not because I was angry—but because I was bored.

And that’s the problem: so much of today’s mainstream content is being built around a message rather than a story. The priorities have shifted. It’s less about transporting you somewhere exciting, and more about reminding you of what you should believe.

When story serves message, the audience tunes out

We’ve all seen it—favourite franchises tanking, fans walking away, and once-reliable studios floundering. Marvel, Star Wars, and a long list of reboots have all failed to recapture the magic. Why? Because audiences are craving something they’re no longer being given: a good story.

It’s not that people don’t want new ideas, different perspectives, or meaningful themes. It’s that they don’t want it shoved at them with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer. And they certainly don’t want characters reduced to mouthpieces for whatever the current message of the day is.

Indie gives writers freedom—though not everyone uses it

Here’s where indie fiction should shine. Indie authors aren’t beholden to studio execs or marketing teams. There are no focus groups demanding message-first narratives or cultural checklists to tick off. Indie gives writers the freedom to tell the story they want to tell, however they want to tell it.

And yet—plenty of indie authors still fall into the same trap. Some do it because they believe it’s what readers expect. Others do it because they think writing a ‘message book’ is the only way to be taken seriously. The result? The same preachy tone, just with a different publishing route.

But the key difference is this: indie authors don’t have to do that. We’re not forced into creative straitjackets. We can be bold. Weird. Gritty. Fun. Subtle. Satirical. Thought-provoking without being condescending. Indie authors have the power to bring stories back to the forefront—where they belong.

Why indie books should be adapted for the screen

1. they’re fresh and original
   Indie books often break moulds that mainstream fiction wouldn’t dare touch. They explore strange new worlds, twisted plots, and characters that actually grow. There’s no house style, no formula—just storytelling driven by imagination.

2. they entertain first, reflect second
   When indie writers tackle themes, it’s usually woven through the narrative—not bolted on like a TED Talk. The story comes first. Any deeper meaning emerges organically, which is why it resonates more. That’s how Hollywood used to do it.

3. they already have loyal readers
   Many indie books come with passionate fanbases who are desperate to see their favourite stories on screen. That built-in audience is ready and waiting—something the big studios could really use right now.

Audiences have more power than they think

If you’re tired of the message-first approach, stop supporting it. Start seeking out indie books that entertain. Champion the ones that prioritise story. Share them. Review them. Recommend them. Push for their adaptations.

Because here’s the truth: the problem isn’t diversity, or new ideas, or even politics in stories. The problem is when those things replace the story. Indie gives creators a way to reclaim storytelling. And if producers had any sense, they’d start mining this space instead of recycling the same franchises into oblivion.

There’s a treasure trove of original, engaging, and wildly imaginative indie stories out there—just waiting to be brought to life on screen. If you’re looking for pure entertainment with heart, depth, and creativity, indie’s already doing the job. Now it’s time for the rest of the industry to catch up.