What's Your Story About?

“Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for; it is a thing to be achieved.” -- William Jennings Bryan

What is your story about?  When asked this daunting question, I usually respond one of two ways.  One way is to give a brief description of character and plot.  For example, my story is about Elsie, a girl who’s going blind from a degenerative eye disease, who dreams of being a ballerina but discovers her true talents lie elsewhere.  This short little stab is basically a description of character, the character’s dramatic need and a glimpse of what the obstacles of Act Two and the ending might be.  In other words it’s a synopsis of what happens during the course of your story.

Another way to answer the question is to discuss the narrative in terms of theme.  Unlike a breakdown of what the plot is, this way of talking about the story focuses on the author’s intent.  For example, I could say the story of the blind girl wanting to be a ballerina is a modern tale of delusion and self-realization.

In other words, a story’s theme tells us what moved the author to write the story in the first place. The Three Little Pigs can be said to be about preparedness and perseverance in the face of great danger.    The themes in fairy tales and other children’s stories, as well as in morality plays, tend to be prominent. 

When pitching a story to a potential collaborator, producer or network executive, it's important to talk about both aspects of your project.  Be clear about your plot and characters but also understand the deeper impact your story has.  Explore the thematic aspects of your story and how they contribute to making the “action” more profound.

A well thought out theme will help put your story in societal perspective.  Consider how Harriet Beecher Stowe’s "Uncle Tom’s Cabin" contributed to the societal debate over slavery when it was first published.  A well-constructed theme helps the reader/viewer understand how your character’s behavior may be indicative of the society at large.  The Scarlet Letter is as much a character driven story as it is a portrait of a puritanical society struggling with the issue of adultery.  Theme allows the reader/viewer to compare their morality against that of your imagined characters. 

A well-executed story has its theme invisibly woven into the plot.  Be careful of being heavy handed.

This week’s website: Freelance Writing Gigs – (www.freelancewritinggigs.com) The site bills itself as the Internet's #1 Freelance Writing Community. Special features include job listings for bloggers and writers, a cover letter clinic, interviews and articles about freelance writing.

This week’s writing prompt:  Give yourself five uninterrupted minutes of quiet time.   In a previous exercise we created a resume for one of your characters.  Now, I’d like you to expand on that idea.  Write a letter of recommendation for one of your characters.  Your character may be looking for a new job, renting a new condo or entering an advance academic program.  In either case, you can write from the point of you as the author (yourself) or from the point of view of another character in your story.  Have a great writing week.