By the time I\u2019d either finished the first draft, or at least half of a first draft, I\u2019d decided that it was all rubbish. I stored it a folder on my computer\u2019s hard disk before starting with the next idea, which was definitely going to make a brilliant novel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No prizes for guessing how that one came out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So there I was, sitting on a metaphorical pile of manuscripts, with so many stories to tell, and nothing published. I put my predicament to my writing group, who asked me which of my dozens (literally!) of part manuscripts I felt most passionate about. And then they asked me why I felt strongly about the ones I\u2019d chosen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The light bulb above my head didn\u2019t immediately burst into life, instantaneously flooding my authorial world with clear, white light. No. It came on with a slow glimmer as if it were trying out its filament for the first time. And then, happy that it hadn\u2019t broken, it continued to shine, brighter and brighter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I suddenly understood theme in genre fiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m concerned about climate change, about what we\u2019re doing to the planet, and the harsh, distinct voices of those deniers, the voices who say \u201cdon\u2019t worry about this, everything\u2019s going to be fine, the climate change we\u2019re seeing is absolutely normal\u201d. I wanted to show how easy it would be to fall into the trap of continuing to destroy our planet\u2019s resources, with the concomitant effects on climate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When I write crime, I need to show that, despite the best efforts of criminals, crime doesn\u2019t pay. In my Jerry Sanders Mystery series, Jerry is an ex-journalist who can\u2019t overlook what he sees as a crime, even when the police have no evidence. Jerry has a very strong sense of right and wrong, something I share with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my Danni Monroe crime series (in planning), D.C.I. Danni Monroe is a cop who has suffered psychological abuse and bullying in the force. She is gay, and a subject of ridicule and fun for straight male colleagues. Her drive is to put right the wrongs in society, putting her own issues to one side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my political thrillers, I want to show the corruption at the centre of government, and how \u2018normalised\u2019 the corruption is for the perpetrators – the \u2018old boys network\u2019. In my novel Corruption, I show a hard-working woman, drawn into a web of deceit and corruption. She is persuaded to cover up for a small mistake made by someone else. In my novel Deceit, a young woman attempts to find the truth behind the death of her brother in Syria, despite being blocked at every turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, I have the themes for my books. Anti-corruption, climate change, the desire to do the right thing despite temptations to do the wrong thing. Good guys win, bad guys lose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What are the themes in your writing? If you\u2019re just starting out, write what you feel passionate about. What makes you angry? What gets you to reply to the social media post? Where is your inner theme?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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