Creative Writing Tips
Whichever theme you choose, all the elements, which build up your story, dialogue, conflict, scenes, etc should be written with the theme in mind.
Your theme should progress the story.
If you find that anything in your story doesnt progress it, it should be cut when you are in the editing stage.
Before we see an example of elements written with a theme in mind, lets think of a theme and a story.
The theme is
Arrogance Leads To Humiliation
Very briefly, this story is about a character that believes he is better than his colleagues.
His wants is to get promoted to a managerial position. What will prevent him from reaching his wants, is the fact that management are aware of his arrogance and they do not
believe, with his attitude, he is the right human
to manage the staff.
To meet his target
, the character will take on more work than he may handle. He will do this to prove to management, that he is the right man for the job. But in the end, he will make a grave bad choice
and his arrogance will lead him to humiliation.
Now lets take a look at the elements of this story
Dialogue
The characters dialogue will show his arrogance, by the tone of his voice and the words he chooses to express himself.
Characterization
I will show my character is arrogant by the way I describe him and from how other characters see him.
Motivations
I will explain what makes him think he is better than people else.
Goal
I will state his wants and show how it arises from the fact that he believes himself better than many people
else.
Setting
The setting is going to be in an office environment. I can show his arrogance through the setting by perhaps describing the contents of his desk (trophies) and his desk area in general (diplomas on the walls.) etc.
Conflict
The conflict will come from himself. He is the one that creates it by doing and quote things, which create dislike.
Climax
The climax is the highest point in my story where the conflict and his arrogance will come to their peak. Here we will see how he tries to overcome the conflict and reach his wants by grasping
on more work.
Ending
I will end my story with my characters humiliation. He takes on more work and makes an mistake in judgement. Which not only prevents his promotion but also gets him fired.
My theme here would have run its course.
Does each element of your story further your theme?
