Developing Consistent Themes in Your Novel

How is your writing going, Campers? Are you swept away in the world you’re creating, or struggling to write the next chapter? Today, Camper Candace S. Hughes shares a few words of wisdom about developing overarching themes as you write: 

As we move forward in creating our characters and fleshing out the plot, writers must always circle back to ensure that each day’s writing supports the theme and character development. Instead of the reader asking “Where is this going?” we want to ensure that our new additions show a strong relationship to the story you are telling. 

In my own writing, which is mostly creative nonfiction, I use the skills I taught in freshman English. I have an opening paragraph ending with a sentence giving the reader a hint about where I am going. Each new paragraph develops and supports this thesis or theme. If I choose to have several paragraphs of description, I tie them back into what would have been a thesis statement in an English composition. Since some writers may not want to associate in any way with freshman English, the point is to simply take the reader into consideration when going off in a new direction.

I enjoyed this month’s PBS and New York Times book club selection Pachinko, and until I was three quarters of the way through the book I was wondering why it was only a finalist for the National Book Award. Then, close to the ending, new subplots were introduced and not tied into the main story, and that part of the character’s behavior and development was unexplained. I checked with my fellow readers and found that, like me, many loved the book but were puzzled about new and unassociated action toward the end of the novel. 

“Unity and coherence with good details and well-chosen rising and falling action keep the audience interested in completing the book.”

Foreshadowing is a key element that shows why a specific incident is introduced and can help a reader connect different parts of your story. A controlling idea or theme that the reader clearly sees in each new chapter is one of the best ways to revise when the first draft is completed. Unity and coherence with good details and well-chosen rising and falling action keep the audience interested in completing the book and closing the sad thought that an engaging tale has ended. 

To keep the writer interested in completing the first draft, I recall the comedic action in the Pulitzer Prize winner Less. Our hero ends up in bed with an injured ankle and in a hotel in a foreign country with few distractions. He has three weeks to work on his novel, and when he returns to the States is reminded by an old friend that he should not be distracted and should complete his book. While in the summer it may be hard to stay with Camp NaNoWriMo, I encourage all of us to continue toward our common goal.

Candace S. Hughes has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism and has done graduate work toward a master of liberal studies degree. Her poetry has been published at The Arizona Republic Poetry Spot and she has had freelance articles published by Smithsonian.com and Arizona publications.

Top image licensed under Creative Commons from Linda on Flickr.