It never ceases to amaze that I never stop learning. I feel like a child raising my hand in the back of the class and then asking a stupid question makes everyone laugh. But I can’t help myself. I want to learn, I read and reread your posts because I can’t always keep up. It’s like a thirst I can’t quite quench. But in the end it boils down (for me at least)…need. I have the small bit of confidence that gets shaken once in a while but….when I think for a second that I can’t make it and that I should stop….it’s more scary to think that, than to continue plugging away and again back at the computer soaking up whatever I can.

To you sir…you have my everlasting gratitude for your site and for your advise.

so now here’s the thing we’re waiting for: You mentioned how different concept is from theme but never got into the actual differences. We need the “concept” side of the hammer now Pretty please with sugar on top??

This morning I received a reader email asking this question: “You say to introduce your thematic landscape somewhere near the middle ground. Are you referring to the mid-point or some other middle ground?”

Obviously, I wasn’t clear. My bad. I’ve changed it in the post, but for those of you who may have noticed that and not made the leap (the one I should have made clearer), allow me to explain.

I talk so much about story sequence and milestones and midpoints and such, I can see where that question came from. But actually, I was referring to the “thematic continuum” – at one end are stories with no discernable themes whatsoever, at the other end is outright propaganda. The safest, and frankly best place to explore a theme is near the midpoint on that continuum, with a visible theme that shows all sides and angles, that goes deep, without ramming it at the reader.

It’s not the mid-point of the story’s structure, it has nothing at all to do with the middle area of the story’s linear sequencing… it’s the mid-point of the thematic continuum in terms of the visiblity, weight, emphasis and in-your-face nature of the story’s theme.

@V.J. — this is a great question. It’s a good thing when characters have strong beliefs and speak them boldly. Within the “quote” marks there are no rules, other than not having the characters sound boring or vanilla (unless that’s your intention, because as we know, not all people in real life aren’t). Just make sure you balance the character’s intentions with the story’s agenda, which is a subtle and over-arcing thing. Input from trusted readers is a way to make sure your story isn’t selling something harder than you intend it to. But if you’re solid on the intended level of thematic visibility (again, always a good thing to know early in the process), you’ll be the best set of eyes for this.

@Adam – theme is often the last piece of the “competency puzzle” that begins to gel. So congrats on recognizing this realm in your own work, that’s huge. You ask about editing/revising — for me, I try not to over-think that phase of the work. I just go through and hunt down “wrong notes” and opportunities to trim and improve (usually synonymous terms in this context), using an overriding awareness of the principles of story architecture, thematic intention, scene construction guidelines and a general sense of sizzle to guide me. When you go back in, chances are you’ll recognize if you’ve been too heavy-handed relative to theme, or if you’ve missed a chance to punch it up. This part is never easy… master it, and you’re on your way to the next level.

i need to develop my theme just as much as my characters and story, and that is what has been missing but i couldn’t put my finger on it until now.

If i could ask for your thoughts on one piece of the writing puzzle it would be on revising and editing. what strategy you employ and why, how to make your theme shine through in editing, and things of that nature. This is my biggest area of concern. Thanks!