SCWC: The Road to Publication—Theme and Genre
My notes from the Southern California Writers' Conference.
· Publishing vs publishing a best-seller—1 in 300 becomes a bestseller.
· Exercise—write down your daydreams
· Secrets (theme/hook gets you word-of-mouth, gets readers to share your book)o What is your favorite genre?o The “what’s it about” question.o What secrets have been buried on your journey?o Does your hook connect with your theme?
· What compels people to share a story?
· Entertainmento Theme and entertainment (the book needs to be entertaining!)o Readers want romance, mystery, thrillers, YA, and sci-fio Formulas (rules) of genre fiction can stretch/flow free§ They have a positive and negative energy§ They inspire character (flawed), plot, depth, interest
· Read other writers in your genre to get ideas.· Challenge is to give publishers what they want to sell. Stretch the rules!
· Goalso Do your stories have a moral?o Exercise: write one sentence that would make someone buy your book (keep it simple, create emotional appeal)o The pre-eminent theme of great literature is the human heart in conflict with itself. – William Faulkner
· What is different and unique about your book?· Wisdom is based on doubt, don’t be too full of certainty.
· Voiceo Theme links voice/imperfection. You find the voice through imperfection (idiosyncrasies). Let a little imperfection in, it’s a good thing.o Why do you write? To kill old enemies? Without an emotional desire to write, it will be difficult to sustain for the long-haul. What drives you?o Repressed emotions/dominant emotions (you can edit your own life!)o Writing helps us understand and rewriteo Themes are universal stories with appeal
· Stick to the point, don’t meander.
· Toneo Theme in your tone?o “If writing has a morality it is expressed through tone.” – Philip Gerardo Word choice, what’s between the lines, insight, not easy judgment and “a great humanity.”o Steinbeck—“Then the hard, dry, Spaniards came passing through.”
· Assume your readers are more intelligent than you, don’t explain everything to them. Cut out excess. Let tone do the work.
· Spineo Theme is the spine of your story.o Write with courageo The ghost in the machine—are we whole/part?o Primitive theme—inner struggle. Which is the better path?o Exercise 2: what is your main character’s problem? (make it short and sweet)· Nestingo Are you’re themes nesting (themes inside each other/subplots)?o Big picture themes are plot driveno Character themes need an arco Endings need a payoff· Theme-Tensiono Start with the ending in doubto What is your favorite use of tension?o Four types—task, relationship, mystery, surpriseo Which fits your theme?· Cohesiono Does each chapter matter?o Does the ending twist? (element of surprise)o Does the twist reflect the theme?o Can we sense something coming?o Write down a twist that reflects the theme.· Moodo Everything’s related to themeo Dialogue, action, expositiono Cover, website, title, marketing online/offo What is the mood of a novel?o Hopeful, sad/tragic, romantic, exciting, mysterious· Endingso The final battle provides answers to the story questionso The denouement ties up the loose ends . o Should endings serve the theme?o Does your climax prove your point?o Consider outer problems and inner problems· Beware!o Surface gloss does not a bestseller makeo Overload your theme and it will break aparto Lurid language lacks powero Subtext provides needed deptho Resist the urge to explain!! (“RUE”)
· Publishing vs publishing a best-seller—1 in 300 becomes a bestseller.
· Exercise—write down your daydreams
· Secrets (theme/hook gets you word-of-mouth, gets readers to share your book)o What is your favorite genre?o The “what’s it about” question.o What secrets have been buried on your journey?o Does your hook connect with your theme?
· What compels people to share a story?
· Entertainmento Theme and entertainment (the book needs to be entertaining!)o Readers want romance, mystery, thrillers, YA, and sci-fio Formulas (rules) of genre fiction can stretch/flow free§ They have a positive and negative energy§ They inspire character (flawed), plot, depth, interest
· Read other writers in your genre to get ideas.· Challenge is to give publishers what they want to sell. Stretch the rules!
· Goalso Do your stories have a moral?o Exercise: write one sentence that would make someone buy your book (keep it simple, create emotional appeal)o The pre-eminent theme of great literature is the human heart in conflict with itself. – William Faulkner
· What is different and unique about your book?· Wisdom is based on doubt, don’t be too full of certainty.
· Voiceo Theme links voice/imperfection. You find the voice through imperfection (idiosyncrasies). Let a little imperfection in, it’s a good thing.o Why do you write? To kill old enemies? Without an emotional desire to write, it will be difficult to sustain for the long-haul. What drives you?o Repressed emotions/dominant emotions (you can edit your own life!)o Writing helps us understand and rewriteo Themes are universal stories with appeal
· Stick to the point, don’t meander.
· Toneo Theme in your tone?o “If writing has a morality it is expressed through tone.” – Philip Gerardo Word choice, what’s between the lines, insight, not easy judgment and “a great humanity.”o Steinbeck—“Then the hard, dry, Spaniards came passing through.”
· Assume your readers are more intelligent than you, don’t explain everything to them. Cut out excess. Let tone do the work.
· Spineo Theme is the spine of your story.o Write with courageo The ghost in the machine—are we whole/part?o Primitive theme—inner struggle. Which is the better path?o Exercise 2: what is your main character’s problem? (make it short and sweet)· Nestingo Are you’re themes nesting (themes inside each other/subplots)?o Big picture themes are plot driveno Character themes need an arco Endings need a payoff· Theme-Tensiono Start with the ending in doubto What is your favorite use of tension?o Four types—task, relationship, mystery, surpriseo Which fits your theme?· Cohesiono Does each chapter matter?o Does the ending twist? (element of surprise)o Does the twist reflect the theme?o Can we sense something coming?o Write down a twist that reflects the theme.· Moodo Everything’s related to themeo Dialogue, action, expositiono Cover, website, title, marketing online/offo What is the mood of a novel?o Hopeful, sad/tragic, romantic, exciting, mysterious· Endingso The final battle provides answers to the story questionso The denouement ties up the loose ends . o Should endings serve the theme?o Does your climax prove your point?o Consider outer problems and inner problems· Beware!o Surface gloss does not a bestseller makeo Overload your theme and it will break aparto Lurid language lacks powero Subtext provides needed deptho Resist the urge to explain!! (“RUE”)
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