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Understanding The First Rule Of Writing—Before You Start The Great Bestselling Book
 
In other words, you need to develop a theme that will answer the question of why you want to write. I usually get a blank stare when I ask a budding author, What is your books theme? Eventually the answer I get may be the title of a manuscript.
When I explain that a title isnt a theme, I then may hear, Its the story of my life. That is unquestionably the number-one answer I get. There is a big difference between the title of your book and your theme.
While your title may be the sizzle, the theme is the flavor and is formally defined as a recurring, unifying subject or idea. This is the aim or the main message of your book. Generally speaking, in writing there are two themes: the authors theme and the books theme.
The authors theme is the usual subject matter the writer handles, or the one the writer is most comfortable with. For example, a writer may find his forte in the subject matter of healing or forgiveness. Another may write most of the time in the area of spirituality or motivation.
Dont confuse the authors theme with genre, which is the category of writing. In addition to establishing if you are writing fiction or non-fiction, there are several categories your book may fall into. Some of the most popular ones today are biography, science fiction, fantasy, mystery, romance, thriller/espionage, horror, inspirational, historical, and courtroom drama.
Your books theme is what the reader should learn most after reading your story. There are two answers that you as a writer shouldnt give when questioned about your


theme: 1) This book is about me and the things that have happened to me; and 2) A rambling, almost incoherent dissertation that leaves one asking, Huh? Every author should ask and answer the following questions: Why am I writing? What am I trying to articulate? What kind of outcome will the story have on the reader and what is the outcome Im aiming for?
In other words, what is the rationale behind your book? For example in his bestseller, The Purpose-Driven Life(Zondervan), author Rick Warren, founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, takes readers on a personal 40-day spiritual journey to find the answer to the question, What on earth am I here for? To me, the most important element of your book is its theme.
Writing professors will probably disagree with me, and that is their right. In fact, some say the title is the most important. I understand, because all of this is subjective and mostly based upon personal preference. After all, there are many elements to creating a successful manuscript. But after years of trying to get would-be writers to complete their novels, short stories or even church talks, Ive discovered that nothing has helped to move them off the pot quicker than having a well-developed theme.

About The Author

Marvin D. Cloud is founder of mybestseller.com and author of "Get Off The Pot: How to Stop Procrastinating and Write Your Personal Bestseller in 90 Days." Visit http://www.mybestseller.com and grab a free copy of the "Get Off The Pot" newsletter, dedicated to motivating ordinary people to write, publish and sell their books faster, efficient, and more cost-effective.
marvindcloud@mybestseller.com

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