Picking a good 'theme'

When I originally decided to convert my planned limited-run soap opera into a novel series, my original idea for the theme was "consequences" and the fact that no matter what a person does, consequences are permanent and will occur (and I clearly showed the actions and what consequences - either good or bad - came from them). But lately, I have noticed a great shift in the theme. My original theme is still stressed throughout the story, but now a theme of "death" is starting to emerge and really take over. I think a lot of it has to do with my father's death (less than 2 years ago) and how unfair it was - because in the series, more good people die than bad - and my father was as good as they come. I am really liking the new theme, and I think the story will improve because of it, especially since I can use my emotions and my own idea of "death" while writing the books, but is "death" too dark a theme?

maestrowork said:

...what kind of "death"?

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Unfair death, maybe? There is a lot of grief, remorse, guilt and betrayal felt by my characters. I guess the best way to explain it is: "Death" itself is the antagonist. Death is picking off characters - for a reason - most of them ones who don't deserve to die, and I show the effect of those deaths. My series is becoming very dark and while I LOVE the direction it is heading in, I fear it may be too dark for some people. What do you think?

maestrowork said:

Nah, don't worry about it being "too dark." If it's a good story, people will love it.

That said, I think you do have to think about what is the payoff... is it too depressing? Will there be a gleamer of hope somewhere? If people are dying right and left, unfairly, what's in for the readers? Is there a payoff for them, somewhere, at the end, perhaps?

Not to say a tragic, depressing, angst-filled story won't work... but you do have to wonder, what do you offer the readers for release? A good cry at the end? Some profound lessons about life? If not, your story CAN become emotionally abusive... just beware.

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At the beginning of the series, death is seen as something harsh, rough, jagged, evil and as I explore death more and more, I end up showing the beauty in it at the very end (I also stress the "meaning of death"). I don't kill off everyone, and there is a satisfying ending for those characters who remain. But those who die at the end - it's a battle between good and evil so people have to die - die with dignity and in a way that their deaths are satisfying. That may make no sense, but you'd have to know the story to understand I guess... There's also a theme of the power of life and death.