I remember Louis Meyer's quote: "If you want to send a message, call Western Union," because I recall reading some heavyhanded approaches to theme, bad stuff that was often melodramatic and sometimes leaned toward propaganda.
Like King, I don't set off with any theme in mind when writing stories. The theme emerges from the characters and their values instead, and they do a better job than me in expressing a theme. Sometimes the characters change the direction of the story in a way I never foresaw, and I'm learning to let them show me the better ideas.
I remember that quote too! It was in the writer instructions from the first magazine I ever freelanced for, a million years ago. I still think it’s right to beware of heavy handed or “unearned” theme but it is more than possible to use organic theme as compass.
I remember Louis Meyer's quote: "If you want to send a message, call Western Union," because I recall reading some heavyhanded approaches to theme, bad stuff that was often melodramatic and sometimes leaned toward propaganda.
Like King, I don't set off with any theme in mind when writing stories. The theme emerges from the characters and their values instead, and they do a better job than me in expressing a theme. Sometimes the characters change the direction of the story in a way I never foresaw, and I'm learning to let them show me the better ideas.
I remember that quote too! It was in the writer instructions from the first magazine I ever freelanced for, a million years ago. I still think it’s right to beware of heavy handed or “unearned” theme but it is more than possible to use organic theme as compass.