Where to Find Story Themes Ideas

Most wonder what is this story about, but this question generates a more robust answer: where can you find story themes ideas?

A Strategic Guide to Story Themes Ideas

The person asking actually wants to know what is this story about?

But by pluralizing themes and adding ideas to the question, the answers can set your story apart from others. For example:

That question can multiply your results, an exponential difference in the outcome.

First, Why Pluralize Story Ideas?

In this quote from Plot & Structure¹, James Scott Bell answered why we should search for many story ideas.

Check out How to Find Book Ideas to build your list of potential novels.

Second, Why Pluralize Story Themes?

When pluralized, you’re asking a question that considers external, internal, and philosophical themes.

If more than one theme per story seems confusing, read How to Take Control of Your Story Themes and also check out Tips to Link Story and Themes.

Multiple Themes Are Not Complex

For example, here’s a primer on multiple themes with brief examples:

• External Theme: The external theme gives meaning to the overarching narrative relating to what your book is about. For example:
  • The external theme in a murder mystery is about bringing the killer to justice.
  • If the criminal gets away, the theme is about injustice.
• Internal Theme: The internal theme gives insight into the protagonist’s life, amplifying conflicts, experiences, discoveries, secrets, and emotions, including the change required for the lead character to solve the story problem. For example:
  • The sleuth in a cozy mystery solves the murder when she puts the needs of the community ahead of her personal needs (e.g., her fear is confrontations and conflicts caused by a childhood incident).
  • In this subgenre of the crime genre, readers expect the external theme of justice to be served, so they empathize with an amateur sleuth who must overcome fear (internal theme) to bring about justice (external theme).
• Philosophical Theme: The philosophical theme taps into the audience’s collective knowledge of a universal truth, and typically provides the lead character with the motivation to learn the internal theme’s life lesson. For example:
  • The cozy mystery sleuth must apply the internal theme (overcome fear) after a friend (foil character) makes her aware of how fear compromises her values, hindering her from identifying the killer.
  • Therefore, the amateur sleuth can’t stop investigating because she’s a pillar of the community, and as she discovers as the story unfolds, sleuthing is her true vocation after her friend makes this universal truth painfully clear: winners never quit. In contrast, if she chooses to not overcome fear, then this universal truth applies: quitters never win.

Consider how the external, internal, and philosophical themes work together within the context of the story you want to write.

Where to Find Story Themes Ideas

There’s no single source for story themes, but don’t worry.

Hunt for external, internal, or philosophical themes, and you’ll discover hundreds.

For example:

• External Themes: Genres often set the external theme, as outlined in Genre: The Secret to Writing Page Turning Fiction. Note: Visit this page and download the free genre overviews that show the external theme and, for some, the internal and external themes.
• Internal Themes: The Trellis Method’s Story Characters Development Workbook emphasizes understanding the fictional people’s flaws and secrets.
• Philosophical Themes: The Literary Devices website offer definitions and examples of literary terms, including a long list of common themes. Many of these fall within the realm of philosophical themes, but you can parse several into the categories of internal and external. Note: Some of these common themes fit more than one category.

Conclusion: Story Themes Ideas

Aim for themes that resonate with readers long after they finish your book.

Reading Amazon book reviews of bestsellers helps you find themes readers love. Once you’ve attuned your mind to external, internal, and philosophical themes, you’ll find an abundance. It’s your story, so you control the number and application of themes.

• Some writers like to wait until they finish that all-important first draft before they identify their story’s themes, and that’s okay.
• Many authors preplan themes before they write, evaluating how the combination could influence characters and resonate with audiences.
• Other writers use a hybrid approach, going in with preconceived themes, but remain open to changes as the story unfolds and their characters develop.

1. This page contains affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, but it won’t cost you a penny more. Learn more in my Affiliate Disclaimer. ↩︎

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