Writing Your Story's Theme

The Writer's Guide to Plotting Stories That Matter (Helping Writers Become Authors)

By: K. M. Weiland

Narrated by: Sonja Field

Length: 5 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

Theme is what your story is really about.

Theme - the mysterious cousin of plot and character. Too often viewed as abstract rather than actionable, theme is frequently misunderstood and left to chance. Some writers even insist theme should not be purposefully implemented. This is unfortunate, because in many ways, theme is story. Theme is the heart, the meaning, the point. Nothing that important should be overlooked.

Powerful themes are never incidental. They emerge from the conjunction of strong plots and resonant character arcs. This means you can learn to plan and implement theme. In doing so, you will deepen your ability to write not only stories that entertain, but also stories that stay with readers long after the end.

Writing Your Story’s Theme will teach you:

• How to create theme from plot and character.
• Why every supporting character and subplot should enhance the theme.
• How to prevent theme from seeming preachy or “on the nose”.
• What to consider in identifying the best theme for any given story.

And much more!

Conscious mastery of theme will elevate every story you write and allow you to craft fiction of depth and meaning.

Take control of your story via a powerful implementation of theme.

©2020 K. M. Weiland (P)2021 K. M. Weiland

Awesome info if you get past the drama.

I thought she went through extreme efforts to make it sound nebulous and elusive but then gave great examples to help understand the principles. I think that because there is a wide array of ways to use theme, that doesnt make it hard to understand. So if you can get past the over dramatization it's a good read.

Listen Again and Again

I very much appreciate this Lady’s publications on craft and this one is packed with thought keys, pointers toward other learning resources, and a good spirit of self betterment in our art. Theme is a tough planet to land on but Weiland will help you get in a decent orbital pattern. The other books are just as clear, concise, and informative. I bought all the audiobooks and bought them in print too. My not criticism is that I think she’s underselling. These books are worth at least double what she’s charging. The podcast is awesome too. The narrator for these audiobooks is great for them but it’s nice to here Weiland’s authenticity, humility, and love of our craft come through in her own voice. Ok. I have gushed enough I think. But seriously, this is a book to trust.

Worth a second read or listen

I listened to the audiobook (excellent) for my first read. I had not given enough thought to my novel’s theme until Weiland’s treatment of this important element to storytelling. With Weiland’s thorough overview of how theme plays a vital role —it does not have to be unique—I now have new insights into how to filter theme in small ways through mini themes in scenes and character arcs. Theme helps solve the plot v character writing challenge.

I will be re-reading her fascinating section on subtext and symbolism, two ways to deepen your theme. I found her treatment of the truth vs. lie model to theme and character the best I’ve read to date. Identifying the lie a character believes used to present a bit of a challenge for me. Thank you, K. M. Weiland. You cleared that up for me.

Although I’ve written non-fiction for thirty years, I found this book valuable as I work on my first novel. Weiland provides essential understanding in terms of useful principles and approaches to theme, a topic not covered in over a dozen other craft books I’ve studied. I will be ordering the paper copy or ebook because I want to see the lists she provides. The summary of the five main character arcs in her appendix was outstanding and succinct. She has a book on this topic ( creating Character Arcs) but I learned what I wanted at this moment on character arcs from this appendix alone.

I learn best from examples and Weiland givens plenty for why some famous books and films fall flat without well - developed themes. Plot, character, and theme are a “holy trinity” of storytelling. I love threes.  By focusing more on my theme and subtle symbols reflecting it, I feel more confident in how to avoid preaching while each story provides a powerful impact readers will enjoy unpacking.

Amazing breakdown of theme in story

My favorite author on writing. She is extremely clear with her words, which makes consuming her books very enjoyable.

Pinning down the ether

Theme is so hard to pin down and conceptualize, but this book/author does it and more. Clear, concise, effective, and compelling/inspiring. Her other book on character arcs is just as good.

Complete & Utter Fail

This author takes the abstract concept of themes in literature and manages to make it even more abstract rather than less. For example: “When dealing with my theme, I prefer to use the bob and weave concept..” That’s great… What the hell does that mean? This book was a great idea, but I was so disappointed. I noticed some of the good reviews stated that this is a good title to listen to over and over again, but that’s because you have to listen to it over and over again to absorb any of the information. How could the author have improved this book to make it less abstract? Examples! Examples! And more examples! She should have given an example of the Bob and weave concept, as one example. She should have use an example. After every single point she made, examples in literature, Instead, she uses very few examples, and the ones she does use are cheap examples, like Captain America, or Wonder Woman, or other movies that aren’t even books. She never even took the time to go down a list of common themes in literature. I’ve read other authors who describe theme better in one chapter of their book than this author’s entire book could pull off. I will be requesting my credit back.