Step Two:
"Theme"
For
me, the next step I take in writing a novel is to search my
idea for a theme. Yeah, I know. Shudder. Shudder. The
dreaded theme that we all hated having to know for English
class. Here’s a little tip, knowing the theme from
the get go makes writing the story easier.
Why? you ask.
Because it gives you direction. It shapes the choices you
make, the characters you choose to tell the story, as well
as the plot points, the dialogue, the setting.....I could
go on, but I think you get the picture.
I like to use the analogy of building a house. When you
decide to build one, you spend hours pouring over house
plans and driving through neighborhoods, looking for the
house that has the “look” you want. Once you
settle on what you’d like the house to
“look” like, the other choices follow in a
natural order. For example, suppose you like two story
houses with an English manor exterior. That choice is going
to define certain aspects of whatever floor plan you
choose. It’s also going to define what type of
architectural elements will be found through out the house.
The type of windows and doors that will “go”
with the house. What type of furniture you put in the
house. You’d probably strive for the
“look” of an English garden in the landscaping.
The house will have a theme: English manor. That theme will
influence every purchase you make once you’ve made
that decision.
Which is why knowing the theme of your novel at the
beginning can save a lot of time. It will influence each
choice you make, saving you time because you won’t
need to “discover” the theme at the end which
means revising the novel to reflect or enhance the theme.
Knowing the theme means you add it to your writer’s
toolbox and use it while you write, not after you write,
your novel.
