5 Tips to Choose Themes for Stories (+ Exercises)

Picking the right theme for your work can take it from good to unforgettable. Whether you're writing a novel, short story, or even a screenplay, the theme should add depth and serve as the backbone that holds everything together.

But with so many themes out there, how do you even begin? In this post, we’ll break down different ways you can figure out the perfect theme for your story, making it both engaging and memorable!

First up, let’s take a look inwards…

1. Think about what matters to you

The best themes often stem from a writer’s own interests and beliefs. Ask yourself: What ideas do you explore in your daily life? What questions do you constantly find yourself drawn to?

For some inspiration, flip through your favorite books and reflect on what the authors appear to have been passionate about while writing. For example:

• ⚖️ If you’re fascinated with justice, you could look into themes of morality and law (like in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee).

• 🪞 If you’re interested in the nuances of identity, explore themes of self-discovery (like in The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger).

• 💪 If you’re curious about how power dynamics shape our everyday lives, write about themes of control and corruption (like in 1984 by George Orwell).

• ❤️ And if you’re obsessed with love and relationships, try leaning into themes of unexpected connections (like in Emma by Jane Austen).

Exercise

Freewrite for 5 to 10 minutes about what excites, saddens, or angers you. Afterward, look for recurring ideas or emotions in your writing. Are there patterns or questions that keep popping up? These can help you identify a potential core message of your story and guide its direction.

2. Consider common themes in your genre

Identifying prevalent themes that have resonated with readers for generations can also help you find inspiration. Each genre tends to explore specific themes; for example, fantasy often delves into the battle between good and evil, while romance focuses on love and personal growth.

Remember, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel here! Genre-specific themes (and tropes) are well-received for a reason, so keeping that in mind can help your writing align with reader expectations — while also bringing your unique perspectives and thoughts to the table.

Let’s consider some of the most popular themes that have withstood the test of time:

• ⚔️ Good vs. Evil: Highlights the battle between right and wrong, where characters face tough choices that define their morality

• 🔮 Free Will vs. Fate: Explores whether our lives are controlled by our choices or if destiny has already set our path

• 💀 Death and Mortality: Examines the impermanence of life and how this affects our views on the world around us

• 💥 War: Delves into the chaos, destruction, and emotional toll of conflict, both on the battlefield and within us individuals

• ❤️ Love: Explores various types of relationships, from romantic connections to deep friendships 

• 🌱 Coming of Age: Focuses on the journey of growth and self-discovery as a character transitions from adolescence to adulthood

Exercise

Pick one of the themes listed above and jot down how it plays out in two different genres (e.g., sci-fi vs. fantasy). This will help you see how different genres handle the same theme, and also potentially give you fresh ideas for putting your own spin on it.

3. Consider your readers’ interests

Understanding what your potential audience enjoys can be a game-changer when choosing themes for your story. While you don’t want to write solely to cater to their tastes, knowing your readers’ preferences can help guide your focus and make your work more relatable or appealing.

If you’re writing for teenagers, themes like identity or family dynamics are likely to resonate with them. Meanwhile, if you’re targeting fans of thrillers, themes of justice or revenge would probably hook them. Here are a few more examples:

• 💖 Children's books often focus on friendship and kindness, like in Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White.

• 🔍 Young Adult fiction typically centers around coming-of-age and self-discovery, like in the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan.

• 💭 Adult literary fiction tends to wrestle with existential questions, like in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

• 🤖 Sci-fi usually explores themes of power, technology, and what it means to be human, like in Brave New World by Aldous Huxley.

Exercise

Think about your ideal reader. What themes are they likely to care about? Write down 3 themes that could resonate with them and brainstorm how they could fit into your story. Bonus points if you can also identify any emotions or experiences you want your reader to take away from your story!

4. Align your theme(s) with character growth

Any theme you’ve chosen should work hand-in-hand with the development or arc of your character. Don’t forget that the theme is often a reflection of your character's internal journey, so you should definitely explore this connection!

If your character is overcoming adversity, for example, then it’d be important for themes such as resilience or redemption to emerge organically. While you write, consider these questions: What lesson does my protagonist need to learn? What internal conflict will drive their transformation?

Let’s look at some popular books that effectively connect character arc with theme:

• 💰 In Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge’s transformation from greedy to generous mirrors the theme of redemption.

• 🔥 In Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen starts out as a reluctant participant but eventually becomes a symbol of resistance, reinforcing themes of power and oppression.

• 🌹 In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet’s journey from negative preconceived notions to love and understanding highlights the themes of personal growth and second chances.

• 🙏 In Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables, Jean Valjean’s transformation from a hardened criminal to a compassionate father-figure embodies the themes of self-discovery and forgiveness.

Exercise

Take the theme you’ve chosen and think of ways you could build the character arc of your protagonist on it. While brainstorming, consider how the theme could shape your character's journey and influence their decisions.

4. Explore contrasts and nuance

The strongest themes aren’t one-dimensional; instead, they explore multiple sides of an issue. Instead of “love conquers all,” for example, consider “love vs. duty” or “love as both healing and destructive.” Life is rarely black and white, so your writing shouldn’t be either. By introducing complexities and contradictions, you’re bound to create a more engaging narrative.

Adding tension between opposing forces (love and hate, freedom and control, innocence and corruption) also helps add depth to your story and makes it feel more authentic. It notably allows for emotional connection — instead of presenting a theme as simply good or bad, you can show how it can exist in shades of gray, like in the following examples:

• 🦸‍♀️ Courage vs. Fear: A character must decide whether to face their greatest fear in order to protect others, highlighting both the bravery and vulnerability of human nature (like in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum).

• 🕵️‍♀️ Truth vs. Deception: A character is caught in a web of lies but must choose whether to seek the truth at the cost of their relationships or remain in the safety of deception (like in The Crucible by Arthur Miller).

• 🗡️ Ambition vs. Morality: A character’s drive for success pushes them to make morally questionable choices, questioning how far they’ll go to achieve their goals (like in Macbeth by William Shakespeare).

• ⚖️ Justice vs. Revenge: A character is torn between seeking justice for a wrong done to them or exacting personal revenge, raising questions of morality and fairness (like in The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas).

Exercise

Think of a central theme for your story. Write down two opposing ideas or forces that could create tension around this theme. Then, explore how they could interact with and challenge each other in your narrative.

And there you have it! When choosing a theme, remember that it should be personal, fit your genre, be driven by your characters, and have the right amount of nuance to keep things interesting. The best stories aren’t written to prove a point but to explore meaningful questions, so embrace the process, go where your writing takes you, and see which themes naturally arise!