Let’s start today’s motey mote with the man who wrote Moby Dick.
Herman Melville (1819-1891), merchant seaman turned author, said this about writing:
“To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme.”
What’s Old Hermy* talking about then?
Well, the theme of any story is the big idea. It’s that singular notion that sits at the heart of your story and refers to the deeper meaning.
I’m currently obsessed by theme because the novel I’m attempting to write is so personal.
Once I realised that I hadn’t read anything with this central theme, an idea that resonated strongly with me, I knew I had to try to put down my thoughts about it on paper.
I’d tell you what it is but it’s early days and I’m gingerly finding my way with it all, so bear with.
While my theme is big I don’t know if it’s going to be a mighty book or a…ooops, hold on…what’s the opposite of mighty?
*shuffles through thesaurus*
Let’s go with miniature.
Or a miniature book. By that I mean, not something you might find in the Alice in Wonderland library but a flimsy pamphlet to be handed out on the High Street like a cosplay suffragete.
But I digress.
The point is that once you have a theme, it informs your writing in a unique way. My main character is behaving differently now because I have established my GRAND THEME.
I’m eight weeks into writing my first effort of a novel (this journey is being charted in The TEN’s Summer Breeze series - see navigation bar), and these are the elements that are finally taking shape. It’s all rather satisfying.
Obviously Old Hermy’s theme was whales are morons.
(“No it’s not. Are you smoking crack today?” - Ed)
Just kidding! And no Ed, I’m not.
The themes of Moby Dick are many and also mighty. There’s obsession with vengeance, the study of man versus nature and of fate over free will (or should that be Free Willy?).
With so much at the heart of this sea-faring game of cat and mouse, it’s no wonder that Moby Dick became a classic.
Hmmm…I think I’m going to need a bigger theme.
Actually, on that note (did you get the Jaws reference?), I went swimming in the sea a couple of days ago. During one of my dips I thought it would be fun to wear my air pods and play John Williams’ famous theme tune. I don’t waste my weekends.
It added a certain frisson, I can tell you. I was laughing and then suddenly I wasn’t. Every splash felt more ominous than the last. Agggghhhh!!!
Once I got back to shore and safely stashed my air pods, I Googled: “Has there ever been a shark in the Thames Estuary?”
And guess what, the answer is yes, many times. And apparently more than one species.
So - new theme - I’m an idiot!
Have a great week everyone.
Lisa
Good luck with your book and establishing the grand theme, Lisa. Your mention of Moby Dick reminded me of the version for toddlers that my daughter recently found in a charity sale. By Cozy Classics. The plot reduced to one word per page and the characters made of felt. Wish I could attach a pic, but do Google it. It’s hilarious.