Writing Theme

In fiction, there is a huge difference between storyline and theme. The storyline is the plot. The theme is the moral of the story. Writers often agonize over storyline to the detriment of theme. The particulars of the story you write are not as important as the theme of your story. There are many types of fiction - horror, romance, science fiction, mystery, literary, etc. - and each type has a very different make-up of characterization, setting and plot. But what they all have in common is they present universal themes that transcend genre and style. These are the themes that encapsulate the human experience: male vs. female, weakness vs. strength, evil vs. good, myth vs. reality, insider vs. outsider, etc. The details of plot, setting, dialogue and characterization are not what make a story resonate with readers. It's the universal human struggles and truths represented by theme that grab readers, pull them in, and keep them riveted for the long haul. Certainly the structural details of your story are important, but never sacrifice the heart of your story to its structure. Write with the moral of your story as your compass and the other details will take care of themselves. To the extent you can capture theme, you can capture your readership with memorable, compelling fiction.