THEME. That elusive animal that many ignore, cannot describe, or don’t understand: until now.

First, ask yourself: If a tree falls in the forest, does it make a sound. Or does it yell, “I am Groot!” and trash everything in sight?

We know that within a story we have Characters and Plot. But there is a central element, a beacon in the night that is “Why” you are writing the story in the first place. That is THEME.

So, is it important to the writing process? Well, if you want to stay on track, then yes.

Theme is not the same as the story’s “Message.”

• Theme is a general principle.
• Message is a specific example of theme in action.

Vague, right? So let’s simplify: 

THEME IS INCLUSIVE, MESSAGE IS EXCLUSIVE

This means that Theme applies to everyone, and Message applies ONLY to the CHARACTERS and their Specific Situation.

LIGHT BULB!

Spider-Man
Theme: With great power comes great responsibility.
Message: is that responsibility means donning spandex and fighting bad guys.

In Spider-Man 2, the theme is that we all have the potential to be heroic, but the message is that, in order to be heroic, “you have to be steady and give up the thing you want the most.”

While the story’s theme includes ALL of us, this story’s message is too specific to apply to us or most other viewers: it’s exclusive to people bitten by radioactive spiders.

THEME: THE CONTROLLING IDEA

But perhaps theme is a term that is confusing. In Robert McKee’s book “Story”, he says: “I prefer the phrase Controlling Idea” instead of theme. It “Names a story’s root or central idea, but it also implies function. It’s yet another Creative Discipline to guide your aesthetic choices toward what is appropriate or inappropriate in your story, toward what is expressive of your Controlling Idea and may be kept versus what is irrelevant to it and must be cut.”

In other words, EVERY WORD must move the story forward. “Your theme is the lighthouse in your story’s sea.” It is the guiding light. Keep your focus on the theme and you’ll be able to keep your story on track. If any aspect of character or plot fails to contribute to this Controlling Idea or Theme, then you know it’s probably extraneous.”

READ MORE FROM K.M. WEILAND’S BLOG:

Know your Story’s Theme:
https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/storys-theme/

Plot, Character and Theme: The Greatest Love Triangle in Fiction
https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/plot-character-and-theme-the-greatest-love-triangle-in-fiction/

What is the Difference Between your Story’s Theme and its Message?
https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/storys-theme-2/

Enjoy the Day!

Suz

Thank you: KM Weiland: Helping Writers Become Authors (blog); Image “Groot Super Hero” by vinsky2002, Pixabay