So What's This All About?

You've been writing every day - even if it's just one sentence or one sentence fragment. You've developed carpal tunnel and have acquired two braces to prove this. (Okay, maybe that's me, but I can't be the only one.) You have a draft, and may have even been through a few revisions.

How do you know it's good enough to stop revising? How do you know when it's FINISHED?

Your first step - after perfecting basic craft - is to find your theme. Theme is the container you put the gumbo of your story in. The gumbo - setting, characterization, plot, detail - is what you've worked so hard to achieve. You've slaved over the hot stove of writing for months or years. Now, you need to contain that story, or all your work is for naught.

Theme keeps your story readable. Once you find your theme, you can be sure which details are needed, which exposition is necessary, and you will better understand the pacing in relation to the overall story.

But, Alyssa, you're no doubt saying, how do I find my theme?

Sometimes writers start writing a story with a theme in mind. Inspirational writing often starts with this goal (to show the wonder/mercy/power of a god) so does a lot of children's writing (though it shouldn't - when writers want to show a theme of sharing, self reliance, or honesty). Writers who begin with a set theme in mind rarely accomplish the story they set out to write.

So, start writing because you need to tell the story of your characters. Start writing because a specific setting is screaming to break free. Then, once your story is ready, find the perfect container to place it in.

Have a story and don't know what the theme could possibly be? Well, let's take a look at some famous stories to illustrate theme.

The Great Gatsby - Theme: The collapse of the American Dream and the hollow qualities of material objects.

The Swimmer (by John Cheever) - Theme: The inevitable passage of time.

Harry Potter series - Theme: The pain and emptiness of war and its effects on children and orphans.

Often times, finding a theme is simpler than you think. What is your protagonist's mission? What do your setting and scenes say to a reader? Why did you write this story to begin with?

A theme can be as simple as faith or trust or death. However, whether it's a sentence or a word, your theme should be simple. Remember, it's the container that holds the gumbo - but the gumbo should still be the star.

Theme can be the difference between another form rejection and your first submission acceptance. Present your story with relevant details, fantastically mastered scenes, and great language. Wrap it up in a beautiful theme that says you know what you're writing and what you're trying to convey, and your story will jump from good to great.