Creative Writing Tips
Your theme has to be something you can prove in your story - It doesnt have to be a universal truth. This means that your theme doesnt have to be something that happens in real life all the instant (making available
our logic can accept it, in order for us to believe it).
Whatever story you choose to write, be it a contemporary or a story which requires elements of fantasy such as in horror, science fiction etc the events of that story have to appear logical.
What is not logical and consequently not believable is
A character that has no understanding of computers and overnight becomes a computer whiz
A car that goes over a cliff, bursts into flames and the character manages to escape unscratched
Etc
These are not believable because they cant and do not
happen in real life and our logic doesnt accept them.
Your theme will be believed when you prove it (making available
of course you can.) Lets see how you might
do that.
Well beginning with a theme
Hard work leads to success.
Our story is about a character whose goal is to reach a managerial position within the business
that he works. For the reader to see how the character will reach his wants I will show him
Working hard
Working long hours
Using his initiative
Being responsible
And all those qualities, in the end, will secure him the promotion he has been aiming for.
So my theme here will be proved that Hard work leads to success because my character succeeds in the finish
.
From the examples I have given so far, you might
have noticed that my stories end on a happy note. Yours do not
have to. The ending will depend on the story you are writing and how you, the writer, prefers to finish
it.
I could have done the reverse with this theme. I could have said,
Hard work doesnt lead to success.
My story will be the same but in the finish
I will have the character missing out on the promotion. Both themes will be proved because I have proved them in my story.
Any theme may work in a story providing you can prove it.
Have you proved your theme?
