Thursday, December 3, 2009

Pondering Themes


Tell me what kind of books you gravitate toward.
Do you enjoy the ones that are just for fun, a lot of action and drama with no real 'purpose' except to entertain?
Or do you like the ones that have an underlying message? The kind where the main character learns something in the end, something that makes him/her a better person.

I find that I read and write books that have some kind of meaning, something that is important to me and that I want to be important to my readers as well.
Maybe it's because I am so full of advice and I want to get it out there in mass amounts and hope that everyone LISTENS TO ME!!! :)
Or maybe it's because stories that teach you something always seem to inspire me, even if I already live by what is being taught. In that case, it might actually inspire me more.

The picture I found stands for 'believe in yourself'. This is something I preach to everyone who is in need of advice for...well, pretty much anything.
And because I write YA, I believe that this theme falls into play a lot. Who needs to believe in themselves more than teens who are struggling to find a place for themselves in this crazy world?

How about you? Do you have any favorite themes? Or do you just like to read(and write)books that simply entertain and detach yourself from the real world?

11 comments:

  1. I like to write about people who are stuck in their lives with no direction, and wish they were someone important.
    Then this happens, but then they aren't prepared for it.
    Of course in the end they learn that they already had everything they needed in life, they just didn't know it. Pretty common theme, I think (Wizard of Oz, etc)

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  2. I like to write about the underdog. You know the one, that girl/boy who thinks they're never going to amount to anything. Then suddenly 'boom', and everything folds neatly into place.

    Good post.

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  3. Romance. I'm a sucker for romance. That's why I write it. Something about falling in love. That all consuming need to be cherished. Such a symbol of Christ's passionate love for us, and our desperate need for him.

    Blessings to you!
    Katie

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  4. If there is one message that inspires me, and that I would love for teenagers to internalize, it is be true to yourself. I've tried to include it in my stories (subtly, of course. ) :)

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  5. A message I am trying to incorporate now is finding strength within yourself. I think that is so important for teens to get, that they don't have to always rely on what their peers are doing to make decisions.

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  6. I love the entertainment aspect of reading, but I love it when there's a deeper message there as well. :)

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  7. I love to be entertained, but (to steal a phrase from Jerry Maguire) I want to be inspired. If a book entertains and inspires it is a a complete winner.

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  8. Romance wins but I am also a complete sucker for teenagers who accomplish the impossible.

    Thanks for following me! I shall stalk you now!

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  9. I think both types of reading have a place in my life. Sometimes I just read and write for fun/escape and sometimes I read and write because I want to learn something about the human condition or say something.

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  10. I think it depends on my mood. But, yes, I usually like books with lots of layers in them.

    I like a variety of themes - finding your inner strengths, romance, good vs evil, and survival are a few of my faves.

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  11. These are all great ideas, everyone!
    I love coming up with a message and weaving it in.

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