Most of her books are realistic fiction novels that follow a character's psychological and intellectual development, often based on themes taken from Godwin's own life.

She adopted her mother's interest in writing at an early age and obtained a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC).

[7] As Cole's salary increased and he was able to support the family, Godwin's mother focused on being a wife and homemaker, eventually not writing at all.

[7][16][17][18] Godwin also worked as a waitress at Mayview Manor at Blowing Rock, North Carolina during her sophomore and junior years.

[1][18] While in England, Godwin took a course in creative writing at the City Literature Institute, where she met her second husband, psychiatrist Ian Marshall.

[4] According to author Jane Hill, it was while working on The Odd Women that Godwin transitioned from linear narratives to more complex structures where the plot interweaves past and present events.

[6] Several short stories by Godwin were published in prominent magazines like Harper's Esquire, Ms. and The Paris Review, where she was often featured on the cover.

[7] Later on, when Godwin's then-recent books were less widely read, USA Today commented that this could be in part because she was no longer working with Gottlieb.

[31] In 2001, Godwin's partner, Robert Starer, died and she began writing a fictional story based on their life called Evenings at Five that was published two years later.

[1] The characters, settings and narratives vary from novel-to-novel, but common topics have included family, the position of women in society and relationships, a woman's artistic and career pursuits, and the role of religious faith.

"[36] According to Contemporary Literary Criticism, "she writes about issues pertaining to women - male-female roles, marriage, family, personal freedom, self-concept, and self-actualization.

[1] According to Contemporary Fiction Writers of the South, a typical protagonist in Godwin's novels is a young woman that "in search of herself, confronts obstacles caused by her family, her lovers, her husband, or her own inanition as she struggles to establish her independence and secure her identity through her work.

[36] According to critic Anne Cheney, the protagonist may be "searching for happiness, academic or artistic achievement, love, respect, or, more generally, meaning in life.

"[40] According to Warren French from the University of Wales, Godwin's works are most often seen as having two primary themes: gender roles and southern settings.

[41] Academic Lihong Xie said Godwin could be identified with the literary tradition of the Bildungsroman, which focuses on the moral and psychological development of a character.

[40] Other themes in Godwin's work have included escaping the cultural expectations of becoming a "southern lady,"[43] childhood abandonment,[21][44] depression and suicide,[3] racial discrimination, social class[1] and succeeding without a male companion.

[46] Her early works focus on women hoping for a relationship with a male companion, but at the same time wanting independence and freedom.

[4] Her first three books, The Perfectionists (1970), Glass People (1972) and The Odd Woman (1974), have protagonists who find that their relationship with a male companion restricts their personal and professional development.

[47] According to Contemporary Southern Writers, "unlike fairy tale romances, these novels present a realistic depiction of feminist concerns and struggles.

[1] Many characters struggle to reduce the gap between the rich and poor or try to break free from a dominant cultural tradition, with mixed success.

[43] The protagonist is often depicted as a victim who has failed to achieve independence and is struggling to form a personal identity that could exist beyond that of their relationship with a male companion.

[1][3] According to Susan S. Kissel Adams from Northern Kentucky University, Godwin's later characters:[43] come to value inclusion and connection over exclusion and isolation in their lives.

They seek ways to combine their private and their public selves, open and extend family structures, take political action, and fulfill their social responsibilities  ...

In their struggle against southern codes and family structures that retain a powerful hold even in the late twentieth century.

[46] According to Lihong Xie, Godwin's work during this period continues to be about "the female self" and a woman's intimate relationships with husbands, fathers and God.

[21][47] Godwin's books neither evangelize nor mock the practices of the Episcopal Church, but rather treat it as a routine aspect of life,[43] or as a subject of intellectual interest.

[43] According to Narrative Magazine, Godwin transitions from female protagonists who are "looking for ways to get out of traps and confinements" to those who make "interesting or dangerous life choices.

[12] According to philosopher Anna-Teresa Tymieniecka, Godwin's approach to dream-worlds is radical, because the dream is incorporated into the characters' real-world experiences.

"[12] Contemporary Literary Criticism said "most of her books are characterized as well-written, well executed, readable, witty, and having vivid, believable characters.

[12] According to the Dictionary of Literary Biography, Godwin is "thoughtful and philosophical", but she is often critiqued for authoring fiction that is so closely representative of her own life.