3 Steps to Develop your Story Theme

✅ Get our Scene Writing Checklist → storygrid.com/...
Your story theme is how you write a book that connects with readers and stands the test of time. This 3-step process will help you develop your story theme.
✍️ Join our next Scene Writing Workshop: storygrid.com/...
My name is Tim Grahl, I'm the CEO of Story Grid and I'm the author _The Threshing_, _Running Down a Dream_, and _Your First 1000 Copies_. My partner Shawn Coyne is the creator and founder of Story Grid and he's a writer and editor with over 30 years of experience.
🧰 Additional Resources
• The 1 Thing All Great Stories Have in Common: • The 1 Thing All Great ...
• How to Write a Well Rounded Story: • How to Write a Well-Ro...
• Narrative Device: • Narrative Device: 3-Pa...
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[@spookyfirst9514]

Thanks for the link, Tim. I can't afford classes, and the checklist looks wonderful.

[@bakhshishsingh2711]

I will hand over to my PG in my screenplay the non-nogotiable and double-F problem through internal and ext beliefs. Downloaded your video.Many Thanks TIM.

[@ajfalcone7917]

There is so much conflicting information on Topic, Theme, Message, Moral, and Motif, It boggles my mind. My brain is melting

[@philm9593]

Thanks, Tim a great presentation. Like you, I've garnered through the influence of others some fairly entrenched views on various topics. However, over the years as I've matured I've allowed myself soften my approach to some things. On others, a complete reversal has taken place. Putting this into a storyline is still a challenge. I hope I'm up to the task.

[@wonderwomanx1268]

Fascinating! THIS IS EXACTLY what I will write about. Like you, I was raised in a religious cult and truly did not know how to decide, although knowing how intuitive I am, this was always a conflict of values. Tremendous thanks for this insightful video... although, upon choosing love, it is not a sacrifice. It is the loss of those we have outgrown to stay true to ourselves, we must chase our values.

[@shepirate]

Thank you, Tim. You help me to muster the courage to see my perfect self as I learn how to write my perfect book. I may not meet the mark, but I'll come closer than before I met you, Shawn, and Story Grid! That much I know.

[@starklingspars8956]

Just listened to the first minute and this sounds very interesting. Will watch after I take my rubbish up. I'm in Melbourne Australia and it's really cold and I snuggle up and learn something when I get back from my trip up the yard, as a reward. ❤

[@JohneCook]

Love your SG t-shirt, Tim! (I'm all about that merch!)

[@darylmcmullen99]

Is there a store for SG merch? Not finding anything...

[@SarahMcAshan]

Wow, value-packed as usual, Tim. You are very good at presenting a lot of ideas in a coherent way and in compressed form. Thanks.

[@restlessnative9305]

Good, maybe. Perfect, have you checked the 'net lately?

[@PaulRWorthington]

Really interesting and enjoyable presentation. BUT - there had to be a but, huh? - it all seems like a lot to work through for *every* story. Yes, if I was writing my masterwork, my extra-lengthy society-changing novel, then these are all points I would take into consideration. But I am writing a much more straightforward series of novels. almost adventure stories. I do think every story can't help but make a point - if the hero overcomes a problem, then the moral is that to overcome problem X, you must do Y - but I don't think my stories need the level of moral planning you lay out here. Maybe in a few years I will write a capstone to the series that encapsulate these ideas.

[@v.w.singer9638]

I agree. If I did all that navel gazing for a new book, I'd never bother to write it. Nor am I trying to promote any kind of personal theme. I set up a situation and I place characters into it. Each will have their own principles and red lines. Just as in real life. often these get bent or sacrificed to necessity and practicality. Or the may die.

[@SusiesOnTheScene]

Mindset matters.

[@ingridprivette6543]

Second 😢

[@MrNoucfeanor]

🫂 Still better than third! *Glares at 'that guy'*.

[@ДаринаОлексієнко-ш3в]

Tim, could you please make a video about scene types? I was listening to 624 analysis on KZbin and you mentioned Which Side Are You On type of scene. So now I am trying to analyse a scene from another book and can’t find information on what types of scene there are at all.

[@sambakerman9406]

anyone have any more examples of taking the non-negotiable to a two factor problem? really wish he gave an example about 'changing the world' rather than himself

[@MrNoucfeanor]

This is great information; not just algorithm jargon ridden fluff! Thank you!

[@alinageorge2681]

This helped a lot, thank you!

[@JS-hd5uy]

What if I want to just write a fun story that entertains readers for the few hours they spend reading it & don’t care if I change their lives?

[@StoryGrid]

What are examples of books with no theme that you’ve read and loved? - Tim

[@JS-hd5uy]

@@StoryGrid Tim- First, just to hedge a bit, I’ve NEVER been good with “theme,” since the first time it got mentioned in 5th grade English. And like many writers, couldn’t tell you what the theme might be in any of my own stories. An aside: At one writing conference screenwriter Don Roos talked about writing the script for SINGLE WHITE FEMALE. He told how excited he was when the novel author, John Lutz, visited the set. Roos told Lutz how amazed he was when reading the book because the theme, about losing/changing identity affected every single character. Lutz’s response: I had a theme in it? So, there may be themes but I doubt every story needs to be written to change people. I don’t see how the 007 novels, etc., do that. Nor, for instance, the Don Winslow book I just read THE WINTER OF FRANKIE MACHINE (although it did change things for writer Mick Herron who found a description of a character in there had the perfect phrase for one of his projects, so he used Slow Horses for the title for the first of his MI6 novels - and you may have seen the Apple TV series based on them). I think there’s nothing wrong with trying to write something you know will be light entertainment, because who doesn’t need a bit of diversion now & then. And who am I to try to change people? Some writers may be good enough for that, but as an aspiration for a story, it seems a bit much. Btw, you mentioned Steinbeck (in one of your vids - not sure if it was this one). EAST OF EDEN is definitely one of my favorite “themey” novels. And he did want to change things with some of his work. But do you think he wrote CANNERY ROW with the intention of changing anyone?

[@larshansen252]

Great video, came across the importance of theme last week and kind of panicked because all of my work so far hadn't taken it into account. This is going to be HUGE for my story. Thanks!

[@cherryblossom8061]

I’m grateful that I learned how to identify and describe themes in existing books from a very good English Lit teacher, but I struggle with articulating my own ideas into themes. Thank you so much for your formulaic approach, it resonates with me very much and it’s a fun exercise!

[@cpryan127]

Thank you, Tim for another helpful tool. So clearly presented. I can do this!

[@sumairaahmed1841]

Thank you. Once again another video that was so useful

[@Studiomediacam]

This is a very helpful video!

[@anakinsharksuerink7550]

FIRST!!!

[@luiznogueira1579]

This seems directed at a very specific type of output, perhaps autobiographical novels or something along the lines of self help editions. There's also something disturbingly manipulative about the idea of changing the way the reader thinks about something. There's just too much of that going on in fiction these days, be it literature or scriptwriting for movies and series, otten with negative results. Whatever happened to good old storytelling?

[@StoryGrid]

What are these good old stories you’re talking about that don’t have a strong message attached to them? Do you have a few examples? - Tim

[@daveryan1559]

Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" has been a bestseller for 211 years. Isn't that "good old storytelling"?

[@luiznogueira1579]

@@daveryan1559 I was referring to your video, evidently. Or are you Jane Austen reincarnate?

[@luiznogueira1579]

@@StoryGrid I said "good old storytelling". For a channel about writing, you guys sure don't read things very carefully... By good storytelling I mean the kind that doesn't try to manipulate the reader into changing his/her way of thinking to match the aithor's "non negotiables"(whatever). And perhaps entertain rather than preach to those who might just be looking for a pleasurable read.

[@daveryan1559]

@@luiznogueira1579 I have no video. I'm not a KZbinr. I guess by good storytelling you mean mindless pulp formulas, the kind that are quickly forgotten and are better written now by ChatGPT. I also suspect that by your inference to "manipulation" and "preaching", you don't like stories that challenge your point of view or give you the chance to see the world through someone else's eyes. Someone very different from yourself. They might have a different gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, or they might have a disability. You might go around thinking your tiny, needle-width hole of a view on the universe is the only view -- or the best view. Life is short, Luiz. Release the shackles you've placed around your life. Broaden your horizons. Breathe new air. Find true freedom.