Thoughts on Writing a Novel. Theme and Plot

 

Thoughts about Writing a Novel

Theme and Plot

The theme of a novel is different to the plot. It is the subject. The plot is action, it shows the reader what happens and answers the questions, Who, What, When, Where and How. The theme is often abstract and drives the plot forward. It might focus on the cause of conflict or a main character’s goals. An effective theme should not overpower the plot. It should be used as a background - the characters’ experience, the author’s individual style and word pictures which tie theme and plot together. The beginning of the novel should indicate the theme.

Some themes can be applied to any time and at any place e.g. conflict between family members, others are specific such as an event that could only take place in a country during a particular time, for example, the London Blitz in the 2nd World War or an issue such as women’s suffrage. Religious intolerance or another form of intolerance also provide strong themes.

Emotion is a thread which can run through a novel and be employed as a theme that creates conflict, for example, any one of the following, fear, greed, hatred, jealousy, loneliness, love, revenge.

Explicit sex might be another theme but, it is not one I choose, although my novels are sensual.

 

The first three chapters of my #classic#historical#romances may be read on my website.

 

www.rosemarymorris.

 

Rosemary Morris published by BooksWeLove

 

http://bookswelove.net/authors/morris-rosemary

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Rocky Path to Novelist's Successful Publication

  Rocky Path to Publication by Novelist, Rosemary Morris.   Many people daydream about what they would like to accomplish. I am fortunate because my dream of becoming a published historical novelist has come true. Looking back, it seems that since childhood I prepared to share my tales of times past. Maybe, while I was in my cot, a good fairy blessed me with a vivid imagination. If so, it was too lively for my parents, who couldn’t relate to it. They wanted a child with her feet firmly planted on the ground. Instead, my head was either filled with history, make-believe people, or the book I was reading.   So many obstacles intervened between my dream and reality. I have three very painful memories connected with writing and reading. The first, is my mother’s refusal to give me some paper on which to write a story when I was ten years old. The second is of borrowing a book every day from the library, and the librarian’s doubt that I had read all of them. The third ...
Read more

More Thoughts About How to Write a Novel

  Thoughts About How to Write a Novel   I can’t remember how many times people have told me they would write a novel if they had time. Serious authors, published or unpublished, find time. It is important to establish a routine. I recommend an achievable schedule, fifteen minutes or more a day, a fixed period at the weekends, or writing a set number of words every day. If you have an idea, don’t dream about writing. Begin with the first sentence and continue to the end. Then revise and edit the drafts until the final one, in the correct format, is ready to submit to an agent or publisher. (Should you be in doubt, pay an editor to streamline it.) If your novel is rejected, don’t be discouraged, either polish your novel or begin a new one. I wrote eight novels before one was accepted. By then, I knew more about how to write. I revised five of my earlier novels, and each year submitted one to the Romantic Novelists Association for a reader’s report. Subsequently each nove...
Read more

Love Affair with Writing

  My love affair with history, reading and writing began when I was very young. At five, I agonised over a peasant woman scolding King Alfred for burning the cakes.at a very early age. I agonised over the story of King Alfred burning the cakes. I thought he should be seated on a throne, dressed beautiful clothes, and imagined a gold crown studded with jewels on his head. Aged ten I wept at my image Princess Elizabeth, daughter of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII, seated on the stairs outside Traitors’ Gate at the Tower of London for fear that like her mother her head would be chopped off.   she would be executed like her ill-fated mother. Later, I thrilled to Elizabeth’s famous speech which began: - I know I have the body of a weak, feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too . As a teenager I visualised myself in love with a dashing cavalier, who fought for King Charles I of England, and booing Oliver Cromwell, who sanctioned regicide...
Read more