How to Use Themes in Your Fictional Story

Show, don’t tell! Show what the characters have learned by what they now say and do at the end of your story. How are they different than they were at the beginning of the story? What can they now do that they couldn’t do before? The theme should be shown through their actions.

Never have a character state the moral of the story or their lesson learned (referred to as a ‘thematic statement’ in dialogue at the end of your story.

The reader should be able to grasp the intended theme through the story itself. Theme is revealed through the character’s thoughts, decisions, actions, and through the setting, events of the plot, and the character’s reactions to the conflicts that spring up.

The reader should not need to be told what the theme is.

I recently viewed a holiday movie that left me feeling infuriated. The storyline was all over the place (lack of focus) with unrelated themes and subplots that had nothing to do with one another.

Then at the end of the movie, during the big climax that resolves the entire story, a sub-character announces to a crowd, “Believe in (X) because (X) believes in you!”

I was infuriated because the story did not do its job in proving that this thematic statement was true and furthermore—it certainly did not need to be stated!

It appears the scriptwriter took one idea and then another idea and another to string together a plot. But they didn’t create a cohesive plot. Even the sub-characters had a storyline completely different and unrelated to the main plot. Each storyline suggested different themes, but the author never fully fleshed out any of them. Thus, the storyline was an unbelievable tangled mess.

You do not want a big eyeroll from your readers, or they will never pick up another book written by you again.

Your job as a storyteller is to prove the theme is true. Or present debatable pros and cons to let the reader decide if it is true. Either way, you should present a storyline that gives the reader believable closure at the end of the story.

How will you SHOW the needed actions steps to prove the theme is true? Pretend you are a lawyer presenting a case—what facts can you present? What scenes will you create to move the character (and the reader) to believe the facts or opinions you present? What situations will you place your characters in to change their perspective or beliefs? How can you move the character to a setting that will help instigate their change in beliefs?

Also, your characters should grow or change their perspectives over the course of the entire book in tiny shifts or increments, not all at once in one moment at the end. Otherwise, the change—and the story—is completely unbelievable.

Do the events in your story create believable character growth or change within your characters? Could the situations your characters face really trigger a change in perspective? Or is it weak and contrived?

Your current book sells the next book. If you do not prove your theme satisfactorily, or if you throw a blatant thematic line in at the end… Instead of a next sale, you will get a disgusted eyeroll from readers.

You need to leave the reader in a good mood, satisfied that reading your book was worth their time. You want them to feel happy and eager to buy more books from you. A satisfied customer will give you repeat business. Don’t be a sloppy salesman – close the deal (and end the book) the right way so your readers will be eager to come back for more.

What do you want to say to your readers?

Does your story support that message in a believable way?

Give your readers an ending that proves the core theme of your novel and makes them smile.

Make them believe dreams can come true.

That true love does exist.

The early bird is the one who gets the worm.

That crime doesn’t pay.

Slow and steady wins the race.

There is still good in the world.