I'm going to mix things up and start with...
Our awesome co-hosts this month are Kalpana, Kim Lajevardi, Rebecca Douglass, Jennifer Lane, and Cathrina Constantine!
Today's question: As a writer, do you have favorite themes that you like to explore in your stories? If so, what are they?
REDEMPTION! I especially love this with a villain. But with any character, really. Secondarily, I love the "don't judge a book by it's cover", or things are not what they seem. Isn't it the best when you think you've got the whole plot or a character figured out, but you're wrong?
This leads me to life. So often, we assume we know what people are thinking.
We don't.
I recently had an interpersonal conflict where my intentions were assumed by the other party, and were completely off base. In turn, I looked at their reactions and tried to understand the why. Still puzzling through it.
Tone of voice? Eye contact? Confidence vs insecurity?
It is imposible to avoid conflict. We can only see through our eyes, the lens that life has shaped for us. It's unique. Without effort, it's impossible to understand another person's perspective.
Thus the need to TALK.
Because fiction comes from reality.
Please check it out. Share. Enjoy.
Redemption is the theme I use. And yes, we need more communication!
ReplyDelete100%
DeleteLack of communication is the #1 problem in marriages so no surprise it's the same everywhere else.
ReplyDeleteSo true. I think the real problem is that people struggle with listening anymore.
DeleteGood Post Crystal! I'm agreeing with L.Diane. Lack of communication is definitely widespread in life and helps to hold onto the intrigue in some books. Redemptive novels are a good read. Happy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving!
DeleteMany in our group write about redemption. And I so agree with Diane's comment about spouses. Like you said, it's a big problem in most conflicts.
ReplyDeleteI've blogged about that before -- long ago. It was my grandmother's #1 marital advice: communicate.
DeleteI am not good with other peoples' redemption, I would send everyone to the gallows LOL No chance to redeem themselves at my imperial court! Off with their heads, chop/chop!
ReplyDeleteLOL! What? You mean you don't have a forgiving nature?
DeleteGood thoughts
ReplyDeleteThank you! Lovely to see you here, Christine!
DeleteI'm too old for judgmental folks. Those people who know everything about you by one factoid. Bye-bye. I have a new scene to write!
ReplyDeleteLOL! I'm with you. The unfortunate thing is when it's someone you face regularly or is related to you. Then you just have to figure out how to coexist.
DeleteRedemption seems to be a popular answer. I do love reading a book and realizing the author is taking the plot in an unexpected direction. It's not always an easy thing to do when you're also an author and your brain is subconsciously plotting ahead of what you're reading. ;)
ReplyDeleteTrue. Thus the power of revision, eh? I hate going back and cutting out little clues, but sometimes it's necessary.
DeleteAn excellent moment in a story is when the bad guy does good. Makes me all gooey inside like a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie! Okay, that''s over the top, but you get the idea. I like your theme.
ReplyDeleteAs to conflict...I'm rotten at dealing with that. My strategy is to leave ASAP. Which, of course, is not very satisfying for either party. I suppose you could write " Unresolved Issues" on my tombstone and be accurate.
Haha! Some people struggle with conflict, and I get that. I come from a family of introverts. But when we can work through a disagreement with someone, both parties leave feeling like heroes.
DeleteConflict avoidance LOL.
ReplyDeleteEveryone's guilty at some point.
Delete'Don't judge a book by its cover?' Aren't there certain sorts of covers for certain genres? And, I'm told, woe betide anyone who gets the cover style wrong!
ReplyDeleteRedemption in a villain? Yes, I enjoy that too, but my writing weakness is, over a period of time, to get to like the villain and redeem him too much.
Too true about book covers, but the concept has been applied to people erroneously for ages.
DeleteWhoa, what a great post. I love your use of GIFs. Your fave theme is rocking - what a banger - it's like the mothership of themes. Well done on the musical and on releasing the track on Spotify. Woohoo!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Yvette. I suppose my theme preference is why I absolutely loved A Tale of Two Cities and Les Miserables.
DeleteDisliking conflict is my weakness, IRL and as a writer. I don't like to make my characters suffer too much!
ReplyDeleteLol! I don't know too many people who love conflict, but I suppose that's because I don't know too many lawyers. 🤪😂
DeleteDitto. I hate it when my characters suffer too much. Maybe that's why I never became a bestseller. But I don't like reading about characters suffering either.
DeleteRedemption is needed for many people. It is one of the strongest themes in story. In real life I try to avoid conflict. Not so in fiction or personal essays. No conflict. No story. Thanks for a great post!
ReplyDeleteRedemption as a theme never interested me - neither as a writer nor as a reader. On the other hand, 'Things are not what they seem' is a theme I could stand behind. Besides, it is so often true in real life, as well as in fiction.
ReplyDeleteI'm terrible with conflict. People often assume things about me by the expression on my face, and it's so very exhausting to try to be "on stage" all the time to make my expression something that people aren't interpreting. If others can't be bothered to be curious and are just going to assume the worst...
ReplyDelete