My wordcount has gone up for the first time in weeks. Booya. I kept cutting more than I’ve added, a result of trapsing through very old chapters for the first time in a long time.

So themes in fiction. I’ve been thinking about mine, and I’m getting to be very happy with them.

But let’s say you were starting to really crack it with the way people were talking about a particular issue *cough-cough racism* or several issues *sneeze-cough sexism AND racism*, or more to the point, you’d like to convey your own views on these (or other) big-ticket-issues.

Well first you’d need to nail down your argument, then you’d need to structure/re-structure the story around it. My work-in-progress has the core underlying theme that “you can never have too much moderation”, but I don’t want to use that example here because spoilers. That being the case, I’ll use the above-mentioned issues that are really, really, really getting my goat (which is a shame, because my goat is a great guy normally). I’ll write a rubbish story with them. First, a bit of background…

Sexism and Racism are bad. We agree that this is true? Okay good.

This has been the case since I guess the 50’s (before which all bets were off), so why get peeved right now, in 2014? Because it seems that these days, every time either topic is broached, an army of Nice Guys arrive to play devils advocate, and smother procedings with their opinion sacks.

“But not all men…”

“They had to use tear gas because of the looters and escalators…”

“But if she hadn’t been out drinking so much…”

“He attacked that officer, so…”

On the one hand these are rational arguments *chokes back bile*, fact-based *grinds teeth*, and all voices have the right to be heard *clenches fist and pops a blood vessel*. We do need a devil’s advocate sometimes. We’re not always right.

But on the other hand, these arguments are a load of dogs nuggets. These people need to be schooled.

Assuming you’ve remained awake through all that proselytising, let me give my story example. We’ll see if you can get the point behind my theme:

We’re at a university games. There’s a mixed tug-o’-war comp about to start. One uni’s coach has picked a team of bright-and-bubbly all-comers. They’re variously white or black or pink or green and male or female or other, and they’re ready at the rope. They’re slapping each other on the back and fist-bumping, laughing, until university team number two arrives.

And in they march, an all-star team. They’re the biggest boys their school has to offer. They all earned their places (they think), even Token Trevor, the brazilian guy playing anchor (just happy to be here, coach!).

Off to the sidelines are all those students deemed unworthy to join Uni Team Two. For all their colour and all their variety, they’re looking pretty grey and dull right now.

The whistle blows, and the contest begins. Or is it a contest? Uni Team Two lurches backward with every heave. Uni Team One are in shock, falling over one another. This is clearly unfair… not in the spirit of the mixed competition…

The rules state that bystanders may join the contest after thirty seconds (suspend your disbelief please, this is a throw-away anyhow), and the crowd gathers, ready to jump in.

But which side will they aid?

The thirty-seconds-whistle blows, just before the first Team-One toe crosses the line. The bystanders surge forward. Team One gets the most help, and the momentum is checked.

They’re all straining, inching back from the brink, clods of grass squishing through their toes like a garlic press…

And up goes a cry of “Not fair.”

A Bro joins team two. “Team Two were winning until this special rules rubbish. They deserve to win.”

“Yeah! They’ve earned the win. Fair’s fair.”

More guys join Team Two, and things are heading to a loss again.

Then the guys and girls from University Two, the Tug-Team-Rejects, shoulder their way through the screaming crowd. They head towards the rope…

And they slot in alongside the members of Uni Team One!

“Traitors!” Come the cries. “Unfair!”

Token Trevor, no: just Trevor now, stands tall and says “No. Unfair is aiding a side that doesn’t need help, instead of one that desperately does.”

And then he lets go of the rope.

Team Two collapses to the floor, and the crowd cheers.

They all learn a damn valuable lesson, and live happily ever after (though not on the same salary, but that’s another story…)

THE END

So how are you getting your theme in? What theme are you going for? What theme would you like to see?

Oh, and on an unrelated note: the awesome Renafreefall has kindly nominated me for the Liebster Award! Thank you. Much appreciated and it tickles my beard like a jolly santa to be thought of for these things. I’ve just done an awards post a short while back, so I won’t be doing another right now, but please check out her page. Lots of talk about snakes, frogs, camps (lately), shennanigans, and writing.

Best regards,

D.R.Sylvester

EDIT: a word about heavy-handedness, inspired by my good friend ThePaperButterfly’s comments: theme should be hypodermic in the neck, not a nailgun to the face. The story I’ve written above is more like a children’s fable (or let’s be honest, a poorly written short) than a proper narrative. Hopefully it works as an example of presenting a theme, an argument, and then of taking-a-side through the story.

I didn’t go into the nitty-gritty, but suggest that you check out this article that does: http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2011/09/26/25-things-writers-should-know-about-theme/