3 ways to include multiple themes in your story

A rich, complex narrative often explores more than one theme. Life is multifaceted, and reflecting this in your writing can add depth, complexity, and realism.

What’s the difference between themes, motifs, and symbols?

• Themes: Underlying messages or main ideas of a story.
• Motifs: Recurring elements that help develop the theme.
• Symbols: Objects or events representing something beyond their literal meaning.

💡 Read more about how theme and mood work together.

Three approaches to including multiple themes in your story

1. Layering Themes

Layering themes is like baking a cake. Your main theme is the sponge, the base. Additional themes are the layers of jam and cream, adding flavor and complexity. For example, your primary theme might be 'the struggle for power corrupts,' while secondary themes could explore 'friendship overcoming adversity' and 'fear leading to inaction.'

2. Parallel Themes

Parallel themes are like different ingredients on a plate, each with its own flavor, contributing to the overall meal—or story. These themes might not intersect directly but add unique perspectives. Imagine a story where one character’s arc explores 'revenge leads to self-destruction,' while another delves into 'forgiveness leads to personal growth.'

3. Contrasting Themes

Contrasting themes are like a spicy-sweet dish, seemingly contradictory but creating a balanced flavor. For example, a central theme of 'war leads to destruction' could be contrasted with a secondary theme of 'love can bloom amidst chaos,' enriching your narrative and sparking interesting conflicts and resolutions.

How to choose themes

Choose themes that resonate with you and are relevant to your characters and plot. Consider what you want your readers to take away from your story. Themes should naturally arise from the story and not feel forced.

Too many themes can confuse readers and dilute the impact of each theme. Focus on a few key themes to maintain clarity and coherence in your story.

Ensuring themes don’t overshadow your main plot

Integrate themes subtly by weaving them into characters’ actions, dialogue, and plot progression. Ensure that the story remains engaging and that themes support rather than dominate the narrative.

Balance themes by giving each one sufficient space and development. Alternate focus between themes as the plot progresses and ensure that each theme complements the others.

Examples of books and movies with multiple themes

Genres like literary fiction, epic fantasy, and historical fiction often benefit from multiple themes due to their complex narratives and rich world-building.

• Books: "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee (racism, moral growth)
• Movies: "The Dark Knight" (chaos vs. order, heroism)

These examples effectively use multiple themes to add depth and complexity to their narratives.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid forcing themes into the story, having too many themes, and not integrating them well into the plot and character development. Don’t make themes too obvious or preachy.

Themes work well together if they enhance the story and add layers of meaning without confusing the reader. Get feedback from beta readers or editors to see if the themes are clear and impactful.

Using writing software to map your themes

First Draft Pro can be very helpful for mapping out which scenes support each of your themes.

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