Theme is a topic, idea or motif that is central to a story. I believe theme is something that evolves organically in our fiction as characters move through their particular conflict and respond to it. As writers, we have to be careful not to manipulate a theme to convey our values. Our heart-theme will emerge if we write honestly.
Why do we write what we write, and how do we incorporate our values into our stories without being conspicuous? I would suggest it takes practice in releasing theme, and allowing the Lord to bring out truths in our stories that will positively influence our readers.
Theme is also an aspect of our lives that develops as we learn and grow and mature. It comes from who we are, what our values are, and how we live them out. Sometimes other people see our life-theme better than we do.
If a theme is organic, that means it stems from our responses to circumstances in our lives.
I’ll be honest. I have trouble maintaining a smoothly-flowing passion for life. When things go well—my relationships are healthy, finances are manageable, plans seem to be following through—then I love life and it spills over into my writing. But when things go less than lovely, which is to be expected in this life, I tend to question my reasons for doing what I do. Thankfully, I know I am forgiven when I fall or fail, and my God is all about redemption and renewal.
So I’m thinking that everything I believe and do must be based on something solid and sure. James 1:17 (NKJV) says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”
God does not change, nor can He be manipulated. We can lean on Him, rely on Him, depend on Him because of those invariable truths. If we base our theme on God and consider the good gifts He gives us, we should be able, with His divine help, to live at peace with whatever circumstance we find ourselves in, whether in our writing life or in our personal life.
I pray that the theme of my life, my commitment to Jesus Christ, would be organic, influencing other lives toward Him.