Writers toss out story themes. Theme words grow into what one romance writer aptly labels as tropes = common or overused themes or devises. Tropes typically become overused or cliched because they squarely connect with a universal truth.
A thematic significance statement intended to embody the heart and meaning of your own particular story often begins with a trope. After writing a couple of drafts and with a better understanding of what all the words in your story add up to, now tack on at either the beginning or the end of the trope a qualifying phrase that turns a common theme specific to your story and your story alone.
During a plot consultation, having plotted out all the scenes, we reach the re-development, deepening and refining of that ever elusive thematic significance statement phase. Having starred and circled theme words that popped out during the consultation, I add them to the list he rattles off that his critique group, quite familiar with his story, helped generate (and seem to breath through the speaker at the other end of the phone).
He articulates a thematic statement that is character-centric. Yet his story is so much broader and more meaningful than simply the change to the character. Yes, dramatic action that changes and transforms a character over time makes a story meaningful. However, what that change or character transformation brings to the culture and the community and the family at large is the true thematic significance statement in a story that revolves around the culture and the community and the family and brings thematic significance to the story as a whole.
A thematic significance statement attempts to unite broad universal truths with the specific words you choose for your own individual story. Suddenly, characters snap to attention finally with a clear intent of their own unique contribution to the overall story, confusing subplots crystalize with meaning and symbolism, random incidents become deliberate, minor moments grow sublime.
Write a couple of drafts, smooth the thematic significance into a coherent and meaning statement and then let the real fun begin. A thematic significance statement for your overall story turns the challenge of making every word perfect attainable.
For specific exercises to develop your own individual Thematic Significance Statement:
The Plot Whisperer Workbook Step-by-Step Exercises to Help You Create Compelling Stories)
~~~~Need more help with your story?
- Looking for tips to prop up your middle with excitement?
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The better you are at creating tension through the use of antagonists in the middle of your story, your grasp of the true measure of your character's motivation becomes paramount. To believe she'd keep going forward even in the face of all the adversity you've created for her, your readers have to believe her motivation is strong enough to sustain her even during the darkest times.
Often, the motivation you set up for your character as you begin writing your novel, at the end of the draft you find isn't strong enough to justify her commitment through such a challenging journey. Sure, what you first envisioned is enough to get her moving, to cause her to act, to initiate change and guide her forward. As you dig for more a more substantial, more universal and emotionally connective motivation, you feel urged to think expansively and dramatically. Rather:
Tip #1:
Look at the other side of the character as a potential place to dig -- you created an external motivation for her to start with? Now consider what reward arises internally from within the protagonist to persist? You started with an internal motivation? What external motivations outside of the character pull her up when she falls? Is money, prestige, honor, revenge, social recognition, praise forcing your character ever forward? What is her reason for acting the way she does?
As you brainstorm ideas, you find yourself dismissing one and then another, always with the belief the next one will be better. Rather than jump from one idea to another:
Tip #2:
Sit with the ideas that come to you and consider each one in relationship to the prevalent themes of your story and if you have one, your thematic significance statement. Themes that start in the beginning and continue to the end of the story -- start there. How does her motivation tie into the themes your story explores? How can you more closely tie her motivation to your story themes, always coming back to meaning what? ...and explaining why?
Today I write!
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PLOT WORKSHOPS and RETREATS
***Time Sensitive: Are you in? We're down to our final few spots at the May 30 - June 1st Writer Path Retreat, so we hope to hear from you before this Friday. We can't guarantee availability thereafter, though please do check with us! Remaining lodging includes one secluded cabin, and a few final spots in the gorgeous conference center. Interested? Email jordanwritelife(at)gmail(dot)com TODAY!
WRITER PATH PLOT and SCENE RETREAT in the heart of the Santa Cruz Mountains May 30 – June 1st. Together, Jordan Rosenfeld and I are halfway through the rough draft of Deep Scenes, the Writers Digest book we're under contract for Fall 2015 and less than 3 weeks away from our first Writer Path Plot and Scene Retreat!
We're both deeply committed to breaking writers out of the repetitive scene design you're accustomed to using. Explore and integrate a variety of scene types and lead the reader deeper into the heart of your action and emotion and meaning in the exact way you desire while also satisfying the universal expectations for every great story. Join us May 30th
A PATH to PUBLISHINGI am thrilled to announce the unveiling of the new and improved
to help you prepare for a powerful rewrite. My literary agent, friend and partner in
A Path to Publishing,
Jill Corcoran adds a depth and breath to
PlotWriMo: Revise Your Novel in a Month beyond helping writers revise the thousands and thousands of words you generate into an actual novel with a plot. Along with step-by-step exercises revising character and action, meaning and theme, structure and design, transformation and emotion, subplots and secondary characters, cause and effect, now thanks to Jill, our 8 video 5.5 hour revision series also supports you in revising your all-important story concept and manuscript voice and pacing, hook and polish and every word perfect. The best part? Rather than wait until the busiest time of the year, you can start revising your novel, memoir, screenplay right now today!
In both of the above collaborations, the fluidity, by-the-seat-of-our-pants, showing up openheartedly with a spirit of flexibility and inspiration manifested so many opportunities. I happily share the abundance we created with you.
For more: Read my
Plot Whisperer and Blockbuster Plots books for writers.
