One of the common myths about a story’s theme is that it must also be the story’s “moral” or “message.” Because theme always deals with fundamental truths that inevitably affect human morality, it’s easy to assume a story’s theme must always be specific and applicable to the readers. This isn’t necessarily a false assumption. As we’ve […]
December 14, 2014 by 50 Comments ThemeWhat’s the Difference Between Your Story’s Theme and Its Message?
November 30, 2014 by 45 Comments ThemeWant a Powerful Theme for Your Novel? Play Devil’s Advocate!
Here’s the thing about a powerful theme. It’s not black and white. It’s not the moral of the story. It’s not an answer–it’s a question. And here’s the thing about questions: they very often have more than one answer. Let’s say you’re writing a story that asks a simple little question like, “Is lying bad?” That seems […]
November 23, 2014 by 32 Comments ThemeWhat Is the Role of Theme in a Story’s Climax?
Today, I’m going to be a bad blog writer. I’m not going to make you think at all to find the answer to the title question: “What is the role of theme in a story’s climax?” I’m just going to tell you straight up: The role of theme in your story’s climax is all-important. The […]
November 16, 2014 by 51 Comments ThemeDon’t Know Your Story’s Theme? Take a Look at Your Character’s Arc
What separates a good story from a great one? We might throw out a lot of opinions, but mine is this: Your story’s theme is what will raise it above the pack, out of mere entertainment into something that sticks with readers, impacts their lives, and maybe even challenges them to grow. Awesomesauce!, you say. […]
August 20, 2014 by 16 Comments ThemeWrite a Tight Story: Streamline Your Symbolism
This week’s video offers a surprisingly simple tip for how to write a tight story that features both varied and rich themes. Video Transcript: Theme can be a bit of a tricky thing to understand how to pull off in a story. The main theme will always be central to the protagonist’s character arc. It […]
July 28, 2014 by Leave a Comment Theme5 Important Ways to Use Symbolism in Your Story
Today, I’m guest posting over on Storyfix, with the post “5 Important Ways to Use Symbolism in Your Story.” Here’s an excerpt: Symbolism can sometimes be a tough concept for authors to get their heads around. How do we come up with the right symbols in the first place? What should they be symbolic of? And how do […]
July 4, 2014 by 54 Comments ThemeSneak Peek at The Annotated Jane Eyre’s “Workbook” + Giveaway
Only a month to go until the release of the book that has taught me more than just about anything I’ve ever written. Jane Eyre: The Writer’s Digest Annotated Classic comes out August 1st, 2014 (stay tuned for info about my biggest drawing yet–with some absolutely insane prizes sponsored by Writer’s Digest). In the meantime, here’s a peek at the workbook in the back of […]
May 9, 2014 by 76 Comments ThemeHow to Send a Message in Your Story… Without Preaching
My guess is, if you’re a writer, you have something to say to people. There’s a message in your story. Maybe you want to tell them that life is beautiful, even in the darkest of circumstances. Or that war is pointless. Perhaps you think avocados are nasty and want more people to join you in […]
January 19, 2014 by 41 Comments ThemeHow Minor Characters Help You Discover Theme
Is theme the moral of a story? Is it the message an author wants to share? Or is it something more inherent to the plot itself? If this were a multiple-choice test, then I’d hope you would have chosen C. Although theme is potentially both a moral and a message, neither of these should be […]
November 30, 2011 by Leave a Comment ThemeTips for Creating Thematic Resonance
Because theme often arises organically from a story, without much initial conscious thought on the author’s part, it can sometimes be a tricky aspect for writers to get their heads around. One of the keys to creating a story with deep thematic resonance is choosing subplots that can thematically mirror and reinforce the main plot’s […]
