Theme - The Main Idea or Central Belief

So you've got a story with a character, who wants things and struggles to get them, but what is your story really about?

Theme is a tricky thing, because it's usually something abstract and it's not something you want to beat your reader over the head with. So we are going to talk about why you need a discernible theme and how to execute it.

1. Why you need a theme. Having a theme helps make your story more than just another [insert your genre here] story. I helps your book stand and be noticed. This is crucial when it comes to marketing your book. If your are writing an epic fantasy, you've got a pretty small audience, but if it also contains a coming of age story about learning to love yourself you've just opened up and entirely new market.

Aside from the marketing possibilities having a distinct theme gives you as a writer a change to stretch your wings and try something a little more difficult. Interweaving your theme while still telling your story can be challenging, but worthwhile. It can also be a chance to let your audience know about what you think or believe about a certain topic. Just don't get preachy. *coughAnthemcough*

2. How do you do it? Usually the theme is something that comes through the characters and plot. How your characters respond to the events in the story give the readers clues to what the overall message. However, characters and plot are not the only ways to do this. Think about how setting effects your theme. Setting your story in Alabama in 1963 is going to let the audience know that racism is going to be a theme in your story.

Often times you as the author may not even be aware of the theme until after the first, second, or even final draft. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. Most of the time (at least in my experience) you've got a theme all nestles in to your story, but you are just too close to see it. This makes "What is the message/theme?" a great question for beta readers.

Again, this is a tricky element because you have to be subtle or your readers are going to feel like you are on a soapbox beating them over the head with your opinion. Just remember to keep balancing all of these things without focusing or overemphasizing one or the other.