September 2018
Theme
A strong theme is not just essential to a great story—it is the juice—the motivation to return to the manuscript and dig. Are you ready to think big? To embrace the motivation behind your stories? To think about theme? Donald Maass, in The Fire in Fiction, calls theme “the underlying conviction that makes the words matter.” It is also the electricity that keeps us motivated to go back to our characters and story events and continue writing—even as expectations, disappointment, boredom, and ego challenge our senses of our selves. In this lecture, author Sarah Aronson will speak to the power of embracing theme as part of your writing process. She will show you how theme can help you tap into the three I’s of writing: inspiration, intellect, and intuition, and will offer tips and prompts to help you embrace theme in your writing and critical reading.
Lecture replays are available after the free trial ends. To end your trial early, email brooke@inkedvoices.com .
About Sarah Aronson
Sarah Aronson began writing for kids and teens when someone in an exercise class dared her to try. Since then, she has earned an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and published three novels: Head Case, Beyond Lucky, and Believe. Her most recent books are part of a new young MG series called The Wish List (Scholastic, 2017-2018). In Spring 2019, Beach Lane Books will publish her first picture book biography, Just Like Rube Goldberg. When Sarah is not writing or reading (or cooking or riding her bike), she is talking to readers about creativity, writing, social action, and of course, sparkle power! She loves working with other writers in one of her classes at the amazing Highlights Foundation or Writers on the Net (www.writers.com). She has served as an SCBWI mentor in both Illinois and Michigan. She loves sports. She overuses exclamation points. When she’s excited, she talks with her hands. Like tips? Sign up for her weekly newsletter on the writing process at www.saraharonson.com.