Storyteller Quest 11

Inspiration

Think back introspectively. How have you changed? What caused that change? For the rest of today’s inspiration take a look at the challenge below.

Knowledge

Theme - A deeper message that gives meaning throughout your story.

A theme is often subtle in early drafts and then strengthened with each edit. Discovery writers sometimes discover the theme at the end and then rewrite entire sections in order to strengthen the theme.

Other writers (think of the required reading in school) have strong themes that are more easily studied.

Theme is sometimes described as the thin thread that ties your story together.

Common Examples of Theme:

Childhood
Coming of Age
Companionship & Camaraderie
Environment
Family
Free will vs Predestination
Hope
Justice
Life & Death
Loneliness
Love
Loyalty
Personal Identity
Power
Tradition vs New
Vanity
War

Challenge

Part 1. Look back at the last five years of your life. (Too difficult? Then pick someone else’s life.) If you had to pick themes for your life, what would they be? What are the top 3? What theme do you find the strongest or most interesting out of the top 3?

Part 2. Choose an ideal setting based on the theme.

Part 3. Choose a tone (attitude) to write in based on the theme.

Part 4. Now write your interview with your protagonist, as yourself, as if the entire reason your life had that theme over the past five years was their fault.

Are you thankful? Are you angry? Sarcastic? Snarky? Let it spill out onto the page.

What does the protagonist do based on what you know about them so far? Do they agree easily? Are they cautious? Do they try to get away?

Send me a message if you’d like some feedback.

Encouragement

Don’t be afraid to get more specific. Themes are only helpful labels. If you can find a sub-theme or another theme that isn’t listed above… wonderful!

Your story is about something more than a collection of events that you find cool or horrible. You can find it! I know you can!