How to Write Themes Into Your Novel
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- čas přidán 3. 07. 2024
- Themes can add depth and cohesion to a story. Even if the reader isn't consciously looking for the theme, having themes that are skillfully woven through your story can make the story more impactful and more purposeful. However, adding themes to a story doesn't have to be as difficult as it might seem. Here are a few simple steps to follow!
LEARN MORE:
What is Theme? (blog post): blog.reedsy.com/guide/theme/?...
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Intro
0:27 - What is theme?
2:35 - Let themes evolve naturally
3:31 - Start with broad themes
4:05 - Use the form
4:50 - Look at the character arc
5:28 - Support the themes
6:11 - Refine the themes
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You always give such good advice. It's nice to have someone with both education and practical experience.
I love your videos
You are so knowledgeable about fiction writing, I'm envious.
The advice / information contained within this video is invaluable. Thank you! I particularly needed to hear the thing about letting themes evolve naturally as I feel a large part of the reason I have yet to start my project is because I'm struggling with solidifying a theme before I do anything else, which is advice I hear a lot.
11 videos later, this one gave me the direction I needed. Thank you!
Much more helpful than several other expositions on Theme.
Seems to me that if a contradiction develops, that is the theme. Someone thinks that love conquers all, and learns the untruth of the belief (which sad experience has confirmed as the real state of emotional entanglements). The real theme grew organically as the story developed.
Can a story have multiple themes? I looked at one of my plot outlines to extract theme. I came away with five (unintended consequences, don't judge a book by its cover, misplaced loyalty, rational decisions can serve corrupt purposes, even a villain can be an ally) . All receive development throughout the story. I've thought back on stories I've read. They too seem to have multiples. (You're right, readers don't always go looking, at least not on a first read. I sure haven't). Are multiple themes okay, or am I looking at themes wrongly... again?
I think it's fine, imho.
I wonder, too, if maybe there's a common thread between what seem like totally different themes. For example, the various characters' relationships' specific hurdles are different, but there's a common theme of 'relationships are hard and take work.' (Like, have you seen 'He's Just Not That Into You?' That could fit what I'm describing.)
Had not thought about this element of writing. Helpful infformation.
These are good tips. Thank you again. :)
This helps me so much omg!!! Ngl I was struggling
This is really fantastic and so helpful! Thank you!
Your videos are helpful
Love love love shaelin
That is deep
I think a recurring theme of my stories is the general human impotence, in a way that people are always pursuing something but ultimately are unable to do them because it's beyond their capabilities
Most writers needs a learning on themes...
Only few novelists set out writing stories with emphasis on theme, themes sort of develop themselves as story progresses
i would like to show my peers the same stuff too
Smart girl.
Difficult conversations seems to be a theme in the novel I'm writing. Can that be a theme?
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just curious. do you have more than one shirt??
these videos make me wanna teach the same thing to other people
In most of my stories, the theme is good vs evil. I have a strong sense of justice and I reject the concept of moral ambiguity. Unless they're forced, regardless of the circumstances, at the end the individual is the one who has the free will to decide whether to choose to be a good or bad person. Let me explain myself. Because I'm "good looking" since I was a child until just a few years ago I was beated and sexually abused again and again. I've been through very messed up experiences that taught me to reject evil with all my soul, not the contrary. Under any circumstance extreme selfishness, cruelty or awful crimes may be justified even if something bad happened to you. To be honest, It pisses me off this trend of gray morality, "good and evil are just abstract and subjective concepts" or portraying villains as victims (it tells a lot of how doomed society is because the writers feel identified with the villains and want to convince us in a manipulative way about how we must forgive them in order to justify the author's behavior and twisted moral values). That's why in my stories the theme is that choosing to be a good person at the end will lead to happiness and evildoing to self-destruction. I know, in real life that is not how it works, but I enjoy stories where justice prevails, I want to believe for a moment that worlds like those exist somewhere. That's the beauty of fiction and escapism. (Sorry if the paragraph sounds melodramatic or preachy, that wasn't my intention, but context was needed.)
I'm not sure adding themes or weaving themes into a novel is a good idea. It seems to me, the theme should emerge from the narrative without you thinking about it. No matter what, a theme will emerge. If one doesn't emerge, then the story isn't good enough (plot), or the writing isn't good enough (communication) or the research isn't good enough. For example, although Fitzgerald looked at Zola and Byron for technical communication tips, I doubt he planned weaving in the theme of race into the Great Gatsby. The theme is still there though, it came from his subconscious.
What has happened to you?! Yuk
You are so knowledgeable about fiction writing, I'm envious.