Why the Theme of a Story Matters

Having worked out what the literary term theme means, you might be wondering what all the fuss is about. Why bother with the theme of a story at all when you really just want to spin a good yarn?

Trust me, if you aspire to be a novel writer of any merit, you must take theme seriously, no matter what type of novel you plan to write. There are three reasons for this:

(Actually, there is a fourth, more practical, reason why the theme of a novel matters, but we'll get to that later.)

1. The Theme of a Story Adds Dimension

The difference between a story lacking a theme and a story bursting with meaning is like the difference between cheap and expensive wine. You can try this for yourselves...

• Take a sip of cheap wine and, although it will be pleasant enough while it lasts, the flavour will be gone almost immediately after you swallow.

• But do the same thing with a fine wine and you will still taste it on your palate an hour or more later.

If you write a thriller, for example, with well-rounded characters and a page-turning plot but no theme, the novel might be a "good read" but it will soon be forgotten.

But if the novel, on a deeper level, is also an exploration of diplomacy vs. aggression, say, it won't merely be a good read but will also provide the reader with something to think about, something that will stay with them long after they have finished the final chapter.

That is the power of a novel's theme!

But here is the thing: it is no good adding weight or dimension to a piece of fiction if the theme is trite or obvious or clichéd, or if it fails to ring true.

How do you ensure that what you have to say is interesting and original? Simple...