Wednesday’s Wisdom~1/30/19

To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme.
– Herman Melville

A story without a theme is merely a list of events. Even though the events may be very interesting, moving or even enlightening, without a unifying or dominant idea they will not engage your reader’s attention from beginning to end. AND, choosing a strong theme, will keep you interested and compelled to write.

Here are a few examples of universal themes for Memoir, Fiction and Non-Fiction Writers.

Ambition – getting what you want, stunted by, thwarted

Betrayal – the pain of, in love and friendship

Coming of age  – loss of innocence

Courage – courage to deal with conflict, lack of, developing, conquering

Discovery –new places, inner meaning, strength, even treasure

Death – how to escape, facing, what happens after, consequences of

Fear – driven by, dealing with and conquering

Freedom – loss of, gaining, handling, fight for

Good versus evil – survival and the triumph of one over the other

Isolation – physical and emotional

Justice – the fight for, injustice, truth versus justice.

Loss – of life, innocence, love, friends, to avoid

Love – love fades, is blind, can overcome all obstacles

Power – the search for, the loss of, what we are willing to exchange for

Prejudice – racism, bigotry, snobbery, dealing with

Security – the loss of, the need for, when security is shattered

Spirituality and God – the struggle to find faith, live without faith etc.

Survival – man versus nature

If you want to entertain or teach your audience, give them a great theme. Carry that theme from the first page to the last and they will follow you anywhere.

Enjoy!