Discovering your writing themes
exploring your big themes and questions, doing research, and modern coming-of-age novels to read
I have some exciting news to share! In October, right after I sent out my last newsletter, I found out that I received a fellowship from the D.C. Commission on Arts and Humanities for Fiction writing. This year was the first time I applied, and I was so thrilled to be awarded this funding and recognition.
Writing about what you (don’t) know
One thing I want to do with my grant is go on a research trip to help inform my current work-in-progress. A pivotal scene at the end of my book takes place on Cape Cod, and although I’ve done a lot of research in terms of looking at pictures and videos and reading about this location, I want to actually go there. It would be really helpful to experience some of the things my characters do to add another layer of depth and authenticity to this final scene.
I’ve never gone on a research trip for a novel or writing project before, so I’m really looking forward to having a few days on the Cape next summer during which my purpose is to observe, take in, and document. The old adage “Write what you know,” is true in some ways; it’s easier to write about experiences, emotions, and places that you’ve encountered firsthand. But, I also think discovering new things – whether a new place, profession, or period in time – can be cool ways to expand what you’re writing about.
Last month, I had the very fun opportunity of reading part of my novel-in-progress at my friend Andrew Bertaina's “804 literary salon”. I've done readings of my stories and essays before at different local events, and earlier this year I started to feel a lot more comfortable reading for an audience. Writers, if you haven’t done this before, I would recommend it! It’s a lot of fun, an audience can provide you with great, immediate feedback, and it’s such an instant connection. You hear people laugh at lines that are funny and just take in their reactions in real-time.
Reflecting on theme
Part of the literary salon also involved a question-and-answer session, which prompted me to sit down and reflect on my writing process and the type of story I’m trying to tell. It feels hard sometimes to articulate the overarching theme or question you’re writing about. Yes, my novel is about ABC characters doing XYZ things, but what common human experience or shared truth is it exploring? It’s especially hard to answer such a big question when you’ve been in the weeds of revising on a scene and even a line level.
In order to pull back and articulate your big guiding questions, a good place to start is with your characters and what they want. What is driving these characters? What are their fears? What do they think they want? And what do they actually need?
This all sounds very vague, so I want to talk about some general ideas of theme first.
Discovering what you’re writing about
There are some types of stories that we all know well and can describe, at least in a broad sense. One example is the coming-of-age story. In its traditional sense, coming-of-age stories follow a character moving from childhood to adulthood and some sort of realization or lesson about the adult world that comes along with that.
Coming-of-age stories can also be a reawakening or a rediscovery of self that happens at a later point than the teenage years. For example, the protagonist in my novel is forty years old, and she's struggling to break away from the expectations that have been placed on her by everyone else and find out what she really wants.
Some other well-known themes are love stories; family dramas; stories of identity; power and corruption; man vs. nature; and survival. Yes, you’ve maybe learned some of these themes in high school literature class, and they’re a great basis to work from when trying to distill and articulate the themes that you’re exploring.
In my next newsletter, I’ll discuss some more ways of thinking about theme.
What to Read
Lastly, I wanted to share some of my favorite recent books that fit under the coming-of-age theme I’ve just discussed.
This summer, I read Sam by Allegra Goodman, which I absolutely loved! The novel follows young Sam from when she is six years old to her college years. I am in awe of how Goodman transitions so effortlessly from capturing the six-year-old voice to the voice of an early-twenties Sam by the end of the book. I loved the transformation in Sam as she learns to let go of other peoples’ opinions and expectations and begins to trust herself. She realizes that her mom Courtney’s advice to pursue a stable career has more to do with Courtney’s circumstances and wishes for her own life than it does Sam’s. They have a beautiful conversation towards the end of the book when Sam is grappling with a choice, and they both come to realize that Sam is the only one who can make this decision about her future.
I think this is a central tenant of coming-of-age stories, realizing that parents and other adults you look up to are just people – people who don’t always have the “right” answers or perfect advice. I love watching characters learn to trust themselves and look within for the answers.
I also highly recommend Maame by Jessica George. The author, George, approaches the coming-of-age story arc on a slightly later timeline, as the main character Maddie is in her mid-twenties throughout the novel. I was so invested in Maddie – gritting my teeth as she began dating a suave-but-shady older man, laughing out loud when she got high at a club with friends for the first time, and crying when she went to therapy and started to dive into all the heavy responsibilities that have been placed on her.
In addition, I really enjoyed At Sea by Emma Fedor, a poignant exploration of first love, and Writers and Lovers, by Lily King, in which a woman in her early thirties comes into her own as a writer.
What modern coming-of-age stories have you loved? Feel free to leave your recommendations in the comments!
