When writing a story, you should be clear about the core idea you would like to express. Before discussing, a quick question: What’s the core idea of your story?
Below are two of the main patterns used:
A. Relationship
Relationships are often the basic core of a story. Sometimes the theme is about “love and redemption”; sometimes it is about one’s experience and growth as a person.
No matter whether the relationships are between lovers, family, friends, or enemies, the reader can at least relate to one kind of relationship from a story. If you’re good at portraying these relationships your story has a great chance to be welcomed because it will resonate with the reader.
For instance, in “Twilight”, Edward\’s actions are motivated by his initial view of Bella being his prey. In the end, though, he falls in love with her. Their love is forbidden but no one can separate them. So it could be argued that true love is one of the main themes of this story, an idea that often arouses strong feelings in the reader.
B. Relationship + World View
As we all know, a theme can be repeated in many different stories but the setting, characters, and plot are uniquely created by each writer. All of this is connected to creating a worldview, which is a recognizable point that helps your story stand out from other stories.
A worldview can include natural philosophy, fundamental, existential, and normative postulates, to name a few. Usually, it involves a degree of strength or power. For example, the TV show “Game of Thrones (adapted from A Song of Ice and Fire)”; focuses on the theme of “pursuit of power”. It boldly depicts a particular world that subverts the genres’ dominant theological view and became one of the most popular shows in recent years. Not only this but the relationships between the main characters are also a huge source of intrigue and interest for the audience.
If you possess a great imagination and enthusiasm for building a virtual world with a specific worldview, the loyal followers of your story may also be made into a passionate fan group. As the readership increases, so the group increases in size as well.
It is said that one story usually has multiple themes. In fact, there may be a central argument that is the most critical part, which is fundamental throughout the story. Stories that include a powerful theme can have effects in real life. If you want your novel to touch readers long after they’ve turned the final page, it needs a deeper layer of meaning that only a central theme can provide.
For example, in “The Hunger Games”, the main theme is survival, while the background is set in a dystopian America run by a totalitarian government. Although the elements of power, class, and honor are the key points, the message conveyed in this series is strongly related to the current problems in modern society. The cruelty of the game leaves the audience with a deep impression and gives them a reason to consider the future development of capitalist economies.