Every writer has a theme they revisit, over and over again.
What is it that haunts you? What drives you? What theme actually plays itself out over and over again in your life?
My muse is one of two themes that I find myself drawn to. It seems to rear itself in every novel I write. I can try writing a Hallmark Channel script about family and Christmas, and sooner or later my imagination tries to insert this theme.
“You just picked on the wrong guy.”
Honestly, I probably should have spent years writing scripts for Chuck Norris.
I think this is a universal theme. The desire to have people stop messing with you. It hasn’t been a part of my life for a long time – we’re talking at least since my twenties.
When you boil my theme down to its lowest common denominator, like we were taught in 8th grade English class – we end up with one word.
Justice.
The need to see justice. To see the righteous, those who wish to live honest, comfortable lives not tormented, set upon, victimized no more. And anyone who wishes to prey upon such people brought to justice, to face their punishment in accordance with law.
That is justice.
What is the universal theme that crops up again and again in your novels? Understand – this may be a crucial part of you. There is something in it that resonates with every person.
What theme presents itself in your writings over and over? What drives you?
How can you reduce that to a one to three word phrase? How can you introduce that theme into your novels, so that readers may identify?
