"To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme."
--Herman Melville
And weren't Melville's themes in Moby Dick the mightiest?
Fate vs. Free Will, Man vs. Nature, Revenge. . . .
But what, exactly, is a theme and why do our novels need them?
In fiction, a theme addresses the big questions about life.
Can love really conquer all?
Do we have free will?
Why is suffering part of the human condition?
Does absolute power corrupt absolutely?
The answers to these questions are what your story will address. They are the theme, or the central idea you are trying to convey.
The theme, of course, is not the plot. The plot is the events of your story or how it unfolds, your map from beginning to the end. The theme, however, is still its own kind of road map, as it will influence each of the decisions your characters make as your story progresses.
Some popular themes include:
Love, Good vs. Evil, Survival, Corruption, Revenge, Greed, Sacrifice, Isolation, and Beauty
Some examples:
Pride and Prejudice: love and marriage, class systems, family
The Harry Potter series: good vs. evil, friendship, courage
Wuthering Heights: love, revenge, solitude
The Hunger Games: oppression, rebellion, family, love, survival
There are hundreds of potential themes--central beliefs or messages you could impart to the reader--and we're not limited to only one.
So how do you locate the themes within your story?
To nail a story's themes, it's worth sitting down and considering the answers to the following questions:
What is your story about?
What is the meaning behind it?
How will your character change?
What is the lesson?
What are you trying to say about life and the human condition?
As a writer of romances (among other topics) my answer to the Big Question is that yes, love really can conquer all. This theme runs fairly predominantly throughout each of my stories. This message is not stated outright but is evident as the plot unfurls--as my characters work their way toward each other, culminating in a happily ever after. No matter their age, each of my stories ends with the idea that this particular couple will beat the odds--that they are the "forever" kind of couple.
And while I do begin my stories with the general theme of love in mind, I don't recommend analyzing themes to an excessive degree before words are on the page. If you go into a novel with a litany of themes to address, the story may sound forced or awkward and your writing "preachy."
It's better to draft your novel first then figure out which themes have emerged during an early read-through. You may just surprise yourself. :)
Once they're located, build on your themes in revisions, strengthening them where appropriate and cutting or revising the scenes that don't align with your message. Be subtle, but keep them mighty.
Be Brilliant!
~Katie~
