The Mighty Theme of Your Mighty Book

What comes to mind when you hear the word 'mighty'?

It's a strong word. A good word. A word that has weight and meaning. There is no misunderstanding here - whether added to 'mouse' or 'whale', it serves the same purpose. It means substantial. It means strong. It means worthy.

You want that for your book. You want it to be mighty - in words and stories, and in theme.

How do you write a mighty book? What is a mighty theme?

You start with the basics.

You start with the purpose - fiction or nonfiction: what is the story you are telling?

How mighty is the message? Is it one of love or hate? Is it one of accomplishment above all else? Is it one of trials and tribulations and overcoming great strife? Is there a mountain to climb and why are you climbing it?

How is the main character, sometimes you, changed because of the journey to fulfill a quest? How will the reader be changed? Theme implies transformation.

Words, as we all know, are extraordinary - mightier than even swords.

True, - This!

Beneath the ruleof men entirely great

The pen is mightier than the sword. Behold

The arch-enchanters wand! - itself a nothing! -

But taking sorcery from the master-hand

To paralyse the Caesars - and to strike

The loud earth breathless! - Take away the sword -

States can be saved without it!

~ Edward Bulwer-Lytton

How often have you used the third line? Or heard it spoken by others? Today, this is ever more concerning - following the theme of our changing world, in society, politics, and the very earth we live on. But what of this line, "The loud earth breathless!" Did it take your breath away, just reading it?

Mighty Words Come from Mighty Tomes.

When considering your theme, consider poetry as a guide. Consider the classics in literature. Consider the books that have gone before - in whatever genre you write.

These are the agents of your success. Words that giants in the world of writing have shared, kindly, with us. Look to the books that impress you. What themes are apparent? What themes are woven through, almost silently, like an invisible thread attached to the main character - forever pulling back or going slack, depending on its purpose at that moment?

Betrayal. Redemption. Love. Hate. Loyalty. Justice. Power. What can you make of these to create the kind of story your reader will be impatient to consume, in one sitting?

Do Not Discount Theme in Business Books.

Others will say nonfiction, business books, don't have a theme. Don't rely on this necessary part of communicating with the reader.

I disagree.

One of my favorite sites online, Grammarly.com, says this about business books and theme:

In contrast, business and?academic writing?don’t have themes. These kinds of writing can be about themes, and you probably do quite a bit of writing about themes in your literature courses. But these types of writing exist to explain, argue, persuade, inform, and generate business, not to make a statement about people or the world they inhabit. Literature is art, and academic writing about literature is the interpretation of art.?

Perhaps a theme is not necessary for academic writing, but in your business book, I submit that you have a theme. It relates to all of the powerful words I shared above.

Your purpose is not merely to teach or instruct or expose. Your purpose is to share, uncover truths, guide, mentor, reveal - show blood, sweat, and tears. All important things that relate to having a theme. In a business book.

Herman Melville wasn't thinking about your business book when he said, "To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme." He was thinking novels. He was was thinking storytelling. He was thinking of the whale.

I propose this - that you consider the theme of your book before you write it. I propose that you think of your book as literature, first, and a business book, second. I propose that you become familiar with and comfortable with powerful words - words that show us the journey, instead of just telling us about it.

Be mighty in your purpose and message, and you will uncover the mighty theme of the book you want to write.

And the book will be a mighty read, indeed.

Let Master Book Builders guide you on this journey, bringing you the kind of support your need. Our years of experience with the written and spoken word, in our own writing and our work in the publishing world, is the foundation of all we do. Our commitment to detail and to a book's success starts with the first word but does not end with the last. There is always much to do after that last word is written.

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