This You Have to Know!
The theme is the backbone of any story, book, blog, or even business letter. Without it, you just have a bunch of letters and words floating in space. And this is one thing beginning writers spend the least time on, and yet it’s the single most important characteristic of your piece. If you think about all the books you’ve read, what you’ll find is the ones you like best, are the ones that are about “something In particular.” The reader can delve into the characters, the time period, the drama, and facts because they bought a ticket to that particular place and that’s where they are being taken. They can sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.
I read an article about themes a few years ago and saved it because it emphasized just this point. The author said;
Nothing drives the importance of theme home more clearly than the success of Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code. The book is poorly written in almost every way—and yet, on its own, it has been read by more people than those who’ve read all the books published last year by all science fiction and fantasy publishers combined. Why? Because it’s about something. In particular, it’s about the suppression of the feminine in Catholicism, and a reinterpretation of the Christ story that is new to most readers. The quality of the plot (formulaic chases), the characters (made of the same stuff as the paperback’s cover), and the prose (pedestrian at best) are all forgiven because Dan Brown had something to say—and you should too.
When impressing the importance of a theme to clients, I often use the analogy of hiking in a forest that has a clear path to follow and one that does not. The one that has a clear path allows you to enjoy the scenery along the way. Yoy’re relaxed. The one that does not, though it might be an adventure, can detract from the experience. Ease and enjoyment can easily be replaced by frustration and a sense of being lost.
If you want to engage your reader, be clear on the point(s) you want to make, and build on them to the end. Because of the beauty of nature, the hiker might hang out anyway. In the case of a book, it’s easier just to set it aside for greener pastures. Readers deserve your best.
Enjoy!
