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by Michael Matheny

author of Into the Woods and Back Out Again: An Inspirational Guide to Writing (and Finishing!) Your First Novel

People want stories. People need stories. Why do people want stories? Because all (good) stories contain bits of wisdom and information concerning the timelessness and universality of the human condition. When this information is extracted from the story and ordered and condensed into a brief statement, we call it a theme. It can be extremely serious (the meaning of life is...) or extremely trivial (guys with expensive sports cars get hotter chicks). As a (potential) writer of prose fiction, you must decide what you want to tell people. What is your message? If you haven't considered this, have you a story in mind to write, either vague or fairly well-thought out? If so, consider what its theme is. Does the story say to people what you want to say to them? If not, why do you want to write it?

In fact, why do you want to write?

Remember, literary fiction without a story is like a song without a melody. A collection of more-or-less pleasing noises. So - develop that theme! Then the story will come more easily, as its function is to get that theme across. If you are unfamiliar with the whole concept of theme, try this exercise: Think of great stories and novels you have read, the ones that probably inspired you to become a writer in the first place. What were their themes? What did they say to you about the human condition?

NOW you have something to write about.

[Transferred from howtowriteanovel.blogspot.com]