Theme Practice: This Voice in my Heart

Some board notes from our first attempt at theme:

Theme in TVIMH.

First, we talked about how you need a list of abstract words you think the book is "about" - you can see it written in red in the image.

Pick one word.

Second, think: "What is the author trying to say about [this word] by telling me this story?" In other words, what is the author trying to say? What message is he trying to get across to me about humanity, or human nature?

The good/bad, necessary/uneccessary, leads to..., etc. are things to think about. They are starters.You don't have to use these actual words and phrases in your theme statement. In fact, the most insightful thematic statements will go beyond these basic starters.