This Keeps Writers and Producers from Reaching the Next Level!

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Are you frustrated that your scripts, films, or television shows are not hitting the level you want them to?

I’ve noted in other newsletters that the single best way to create a better story and thus to lift your writing and producing game and opportunities is to develop a killer story concept.

In this article, I want to focus on another key way to make your story more resonant for readers, producers, directors, talents, executives, and audiences.

The Biggest Weakness of Good Writers

In my story work over thirty years, I’ve found that the biggest weakness and struggle for skilled writers (and producers) is coming to grips with theme. It is this deficit that very often holds back creatives from reaching a higher level in their careers.

A weak theme = weak emotions = being ignored and stuck at the same level.

To move to a higher level, storytellers need to create stories that generate stronger emotions in their audiences. How can a writer or producer do that?

What is Theme?

First, what is theme?

Theme, simply, is the abstract meaning or message of a story.

Consider these four examples of themes:  

The theme of Aesop’s “The Tortoise and the Hare” short story is: Slow and steady wins the race.

The theme of many thrillers and action films like Die Hard: Justice over evil.

The theme of the feature film drama Saving Mr. Banks: The importance of dealing with childhood psychological issues to be able to fully enjoy one’s adult life.

The theme of the classic film Casablanca: The rightness of involving yourself in World War Two and life.

Theme and Emotion

Theme is vital to a story for many reasons but arguably the most important is that it is through thematic ideas that a writer most creates resonance and emotion in an audience. The dramatization of ideas to create emotions is especially potent in character arcs.

To understand this better, let’s analyse the dramatic power of theme in one of the most popular and influential films of all time, Casablanca.

As noted, the theme of Casablanca is the rightness of involving yourself in World War Two and life. This theme is especially dramatized through the character arc of the protagonist Rick Blaine. Once a freedom fighter against fascism and the enthusiastic lover of Ilsa, Rick has become, after being “betrayed” by her, a bitter and cynical man who has isolated himself from the world, especially the war against the Nazis.

The deeper story of Casablanca is Rick’s character arc transformation from cynical isolationist to an individual idealistically involved in the war and life/love. It is Rick’s struggle with this change and its beautifully written climax -- where he makes his final choice between isolation and involvement -- that creates the strongest emotion in the audience. It is the final clash of these value-laden thematic ideas that makes the climax of Casablanca one of most memorable scenes in the history of film.

To create deep emotion in your audience, you must develop and concretize abstract but value-laden ideas in your story. That is, you must have a big and important theme.

If your story has no big meaning, it won’t induce emotion in your (small!) audience. No one will care.

If your otherwise professionally written stories have not been resonating, that is most probably because you have no vital theme or it is inconsistently developed.

Great and popular stories have universal themes that dramatize value-laden principles of life applicable to everyone.

Actionable Writing Tip

To apply a strong theme to your story, I recommend starting with these three simple steps:

1. Work out your theme. To do this ask yourself: What is the big idea I want my audience to walk away with at the end of my story? What idea are my events expressing? How is this idea universal, important, and personal?

2. Apply this theme to the motivations and arcs of your lead characters.

3. Work out how this theme is answered in a big way in the climax.

There are of course many other issues related to creating a resonant theme in a story, but the above three should start you along a productive path to develop value-laden ideas in your script that will interest and move a bigger audience.

My two favorite mottos re story developing are:

Concept is King, and Theme is Emotion.

Learning to apply theme to your story will increase your writing skill to add meaningful layers and drama to your story, and thus create stronger emotions in your audience.

Theme could be the best way for you to lift your stories and storytelling career to the next level.

Stronger theme = stronger emotions = more resonance and attention!

Now there’s an idea to consider!

Let’s talk if you want to learn more about theme. Reply with THEME.

Stories are ideas in conflict and action