Thanks for reading, Adam. And good luck with the script. I'm on the other side: I'm so conscious of being heavy-handed that I end up being too obscure and no one can understand what the heck it is I'm trying to say. :D
I've always applied the show don't tell rule to theme: Don't talk about how the invading aliens represent colonialism, just have the aliens take over the world. The rest will speak for itself. Great article!
Your post really resonated with me, especially this part:
"... I know my themes aren’t there to grab attention, but to guide the building of my story, to express how I feel about myself and the world and hopefully inspire reflection."
Thanks, Steph! I always feel like you've got to be able to write even though it may never get read. Acting without expecting an outcome is how to achieve the best outcome. All very Zen. :D
My themes come so organically that one actor in a short film I wrote and directed pointed out the most obvious theme in that story, and he was right. That’s what my short film was about. 18 years later and it still makes perfect sense.
Wise words! What I knew (mainly) but very well put.
I'm trying to rein in the obvious theme in the book I'm writing but I know during the draft stage it's going to end up being bloody obvious and not worry too much about it at this stage. That's for revision.
Really interesting post Alec, thank you! I apolgise for all the times I've missed your themes when discussing your work on the 2000ad forum. I think the passion always comes through.
I think, certainly with comics, we readers like to find something that's all blatantly thematic and loaded with heavy things to say, so we can prove that we're reading 'real' literature. But underneath the pretension and desire for validation, we also still want to read about about that barbarian in a bikini trying to punch a hydra.
Luke! Mate! No apologies. The thematic stuff isn't there to be noticed. It's all under the waterline stuff. I'm just happy you read something of mine. :D
So glad I read this today. I currently writing a script and was being a bit to heavy handed…
Thanks for reading, Adam. And good luck with the script. I'm on the other side: I'm so conscious of being heavy-handed that I end up being too obscure and no one can understand what the heck it is I'm trying to say. :D
I've always applied the show don't tell rule to theme: Don't talk about how the invading aliens represent colonialism, just have the aliens take over the world. The rest will speak for itself. Great article!
Exactly! I feel like many writers simply don't trust their readers or may even actively despise them. :D Thanks for reading, Luke!
Your post really resonated with me, especially this part:
"... I know my themes aren’t there to grab attention, but to guide the building of my story, to express how I feel about myself and the world and hopefully inspire reflection."
So true!
Thanks, Steph! I always feel like you've got to be able to write even though it may never get read. Acting without expecting an outcome is how to achieve the best outcome. All very Zen. :D
Not just words to write by, but also words to live by! :)
My themes come so organically that one actor in a short film I wrote and directed pointed out the most obvious theme in that story, and he was right. That’s what my short film was about. 18 years later and it still makes perfect sense.
The popularity of elevated / obvious social justice themes explains a lot about why Babel is so popular.
My wife's just read Babel and found the mid-chapter lectures really tedious. Both really enjoyed Yellowface, though.
Wise words! What I knew (mainly) but very well put.
I'm trying to rein in the obvious theme in the book I'm writing but I know during the draft stage it's going to end up being bloody obvious and not worry too much about it at this stage. That's for revision.
Good luck with it, Tom. And cheers for reading.
Love this. Have been thinking along similar lines!
Really interesting post Alec, thank you! I apolgise for all the times I've missed your themes when discussing your work on the 2000ad forum. I think the passion always comes through.
I think, certainly with comics, we readers like to find something that's all blatantly thematic and loaded with heavy things to say, so we can prove that we're reading 'real' literature. But underneath the pretension and desire for validation, we also still want to read about about that barbarian in a bikini trying to punch a hydra.
Luke! Mate! No apologies. The thematic stuff isn't there to be noticed. It's all under the waterline stuff. I'm just happy you read something of mine. :D