Story Theme Generator
The deeper meaning under your plot
Plot is what happens; theme is what it means. A theme is the question your book is really asking, and it is what makes a story linger after the last page. Describe your story and get theme ideas you can weave through it, so the events add up to something.
What is a theme in a story?
A theme is the underlying idea a story explores, usually a question about human experience rather than a moral. "Can a person outrun where they came from?" is a theme; "family matters" is a slogan. The theme is what your plot argues through what happens to the characters, not something you announce.
How do I write a theme into a book?
Through choices, not statements. Put your character in situations that force the theme's question, and let their decisions and consequences make the argument. If you find yourself having a character state the theme aloud, that is usually a sign to cut the line and trust the story to carry it.
Do I need to know my theme before writing?
Not necessarily. Many writers discover their theme in the first draft, then strengthen it in revision by cutting what distracts from it and deepening what serves it. Knowing it early helps you make choices; discovering it late is just as valid, as long as you eventually see it.
Frequently asked questions
What is a theme in a book?
The underlying question about human experience that a story explores through its plot and characters, not a stated moral.
How do I convey a theme?
Through character choices and consequences, not by stating it. Force the theme's question through the plot.
Do I need to know my theme first?
No. Many writers discover it in the first draft and strengthen it in revision.
Is this free?
Yes, with a daily limit for guests.