My question is very simple: how important is theme to you?
For some writers, I understand it can be the first thing they go to, as a way to spark the rest of the story into existence or simply because they think it's important.
For others (like me) it seems to be something just on the sidelines, capable of adding to the story, and certainly worth considering at times, but it's the tool from the toolbox that generally doesn't get covered in much grease.
As opposed to an actual theme behind what I'm working on, I'll often pick up certain ideas that stand out, as simple as "Fire" and "Water" (two elements I adore subtly working into the narrative- even before I read Timothy Findley) or more complex like "The power of dreams."
When writing an essay or project like that, I'm always told to start with a thesis. Not always my style, and certainly not for writing fantasy. And while I adore works with themes like in Lord of the Rings, it's not how I generally write.
What about you?
For some writers, I understand it can be the first thing they go to, as a way to spark the rest of the story into existence or simply because they think it's important.
For others (like me) it seems to be something just on the sidelines, capable of adding to the story, and certainly worth considering at times, but it's the tool from the toolbox that generally doesn't get covered in much grease.
As opposed to an actual theme behind what I'm working on, I'll often pick up certain ideas that stand out, as simple as "Fire" and "Water" (two elements I adore subtly working into the narrative- even before I read Timothy Findley) or more complex like "The power of dreams."
When writing an essay or project like that, I'm always told to start with a thesis. Not always my style, and certainly not for writing fantasy. And while I adore works with themes like in Lord of the Rings, it's not how I generally write.
What about you?
Last edited: