How To-21: "How to Find a Theme for Your Short Story"

How to Find a Theme for Your Short Story

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Writer's block can be a real pain. Here are some easy steps to finding interesting ideas to write about.

Steps

1. There is not a specific formula to finding ideas to write about, but there are ways to help you brainstorm.
   
2. Think about topics that you have expertise in. The cliché that states "write what you know" is absolutely true. If you love baseball, write about a fictional baseball character.
   
3. Think about topics that interest you. If you don't have a definite grasp on the subject, find a local library (or Google ) and start researching.
   
4. Another way to find ideas is to start noticing the world around you. Is there something about your life that has always struck you as odd?
   
5. Take an interesting event in your life and change it around a little. Perhaps you got cut from your city's basketball team, but join the rival team and help them win the championships? You could take the basic idea and have a story if you change the setting and the characters.
   
6. Formulate a character. Try mixing traits from people you know. Work with the character and write down their interests, dislikes, desires, occupation, physical features, etc. Sometimes making a character sparks an idea to "write their story."
   
7. If you can't make a character, choose a random person who you encounter during the day. Write their story.
   
8. If none of these ideas work, Google the term "story ideas" or something along those lines. There are several websites that have lists of plot lines waiting for someone to develop.

Tips

• Read, read, read. Lots of writers get ideas from reading the work of other people.
  
• Be observant. You never know when an idea will suddenly formulate.
  
• Write all your ideas down, even the ones that aren't winners. Sometimes a little brainstorming can spark a better idea.
  
• Take a few ideas and "free-write." What you come up with may not be publish-worthy, but it will get you started in the write direction for your eventual Pulitzer.
  
• When you have a good portion of the story, have a trusted friend read and edit it. S/He may give you details for a better direction, idea, etc. Plus, it is always good to get a second opinion about the work. After all, your story will eventually have an audience.
  
• Along this line, think about your audience, is this a story they would want to read?

Warnings

• Absolutely avoid plagiarizing the work of someone else.
  
• No one said that writing fiction is easy. These things take lots of time, energy, and reams of paper.
  
• If you decide to write a non-fiction story, don't write about events that never happened. Research James Frey for details.

Related wikiHows

• How to Brainstorm Children's Picture Book Ideas
  
• How to Come up With a Topic to Write About
  
• How to Develop a Character
  
• How to Get Inspired to Write
  
• How to Stop Yourself from Getting Writer's Block

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