Last week we looked at the difference between theme and plot. How identifying themes, whether they are major or minor, come to the fore once we start writing. What your themes are can sometimes require some intuitive work. Plot is the story, while with themes, we sense the author wants us to think about certain ideas. But what those ideas are, and how the author wants us to feel about them, are not always clear.
Plot is the development of a character's physical circumstances, while theme is the development of a character's intellectual, spiritual, or emotional circumstances. Often those circumstances are resolved at the end of your story.
Irish and Italy-based writer, Orna O’Reilly’s second book is In the Shadow of the Olive Tree. The story is set largely in Puglia with Italy as ‘an escape’ for the two protagonists who attempt to put their old lives behind them.
Looking at the importance of themes I asked Orna what are the sorts of themes that appeal to her?
Orna: I like to create a theme whereby women, who, through no fault of their own, suffer loss and abuse in many ways and find the inner strength to pick themselves up, carry on and emerge stronger. Having been a lone parent of four children over many years and having overcome both divorce and widowhood, starting my own business and finally finding a life of peace and contentment, this is a subject close to my heart. I like to explore the many ways that women find the inner strength and courage to overcome seemingly insurmountably difficult challenges.
I live now in Puglia and thought the area was the perfect ‘peaceful place´ for the two women in my book who were escaping disastrous marriages. Having personally weathered many storms in life and somehow managed to survive them, I like to write about women who find the inner strength to overcome whatever obstacles and emotional upheavals life has thrown at them.
Orna’s first book, The Blonde in the Gondola, is set in Venice. In the Shadow of the Olive Tree, set in Puglia, are available from the publisher, Amazon and Goodreads.
Part 3 of this Blog series on the difference between theme and plot coming up next week!
Sending you my best writing theme vibes from Florence. Let me know how you go! And if you want to, need to or would like to explore your plot and themes in more detail and depth, join me in Florence this year.
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If you’d like to share any comments or thoughts, I’d be happy to hear from you. Email me directly at lisacliffordwriter@gmail.com.