From the Writer's Toolbox: Thematic Purpose

By Alice M. Batzel (Author, Playwright, Journalist, Poet, Freelance Writer)

When writing a story deep in suspense or mystery, I confess that I want to block off the door of my home office with crime scene tape and post a “Do not disturb” sign. When writing a romance, comedy, stage script, poetry, or an article, I need that same level of isolation, concentration, and I would still consider using the crime scene tape to get it. I’m not unlike other writers. We know of the methodical plotter who uses a detailed storyboard or extensive collection of index cards full of plot points. We also know of the relaxed writer who sits at her desk with an iced beverage, leaning backward in deep thought while waiting for inspiration to come. And when that inspiration comes (after taking a break to make a grilled cheese sandwich), the relaxed writer constructs a story with every ebb and flow of creative impulse or vision that she receives.

I would say that I’m a hybrid writer in that I work more constructively, but I like to allow change to occur, and I do keep my beverage or snack within reach. With this in mind, it’s been my experience that writing with a theme provides a constructive, focused working format. Writing with a theme provides direction, purpose, helps define a timeline for my story and characters to reach an arc that the reader will accept and need. The thematic influence also allows my creative process. But what you might not expect is that writing with a theme also can direct our lives and our goals. 

To illustrate this, here is a recent personal experience. Shortly before Thanksgiving 2019, my stake music program director asked to come to my home and meet with me. That was perplexing enough, but during that home meeting she also asked me to participate in the annual Stake Christmas music program. I was stunned. I don’t play a musical instrument, nor do I sing. I was relieved to learn that my invitation was to contribute as a writer. An invited award-winning composer/pianist would be participating in the program, and he, along with a guest vocalist, would be performing one of his latest compositions. I was provided with the lyrics and asked to write a narrative story that would introduce the concluding number in the program. I reviewed the words, felt that I could provide what was needed, and accepted the invitation.

In the following days, amidst the typical holiday preparations and festivities, I began working on the story I needed to write. I had several ideas, though none came together as hoped. I realized at that point that my approach was wrong. I was trying to create a story, and that was not what I was supposed to do. I was supposed to tell the story that the Lord wanted. I prayed and asked the Lord to help me know what story it was that he wished for me to write, and I would do so. Weary from much, I then retired to bed for rest. While sleeping, I had a vivid dream as if in real time, including place, names, circumstances, characters, plot points, story arc, theme, and purpose. After awakening, I immediately went into my home office, turned on the computer, and transcribed the story as I had seen it in the dream. During the writing, I developed a couple of additional complementary points to facilitate a good flow of the story. 

In the days before the submission deadline, the story underwent five rewrites and extensive line and content editing. I worked closely with the narrator to ensure time compliance for the program. Interestingly, to meet the program’s time parameters, I ended up deleting the additional points I had previously inserted. The completed story was an accurate representation of the dream that I had received in answer to my petition to the Lord for help that I could tell the story he wanted. I felt pleased that the final edition of the story supported the lyrics of the music composition. Furthermore, the story’s message also invited the audience to come unto Christ, provided testimony of the Savior, and gave hope for eternal happiness—each point I had hoped my work would be able to achieve. 

The program narrator read the story at the appointed time, and the audience received it favorably, as did the composer/pianist and stake leadership. Since that time, the spontaneous local response has been positive and heartfelt. A similar response has been received from readers as far away as two thousand miles across the country due to sharing over the internet. Souls have been lifted and invited to come unto Christ, a testimony of the Savior shared, and hope for eternal happiness—all because I asked God for help, listened to the Spirit, followed divine direction, and used my skill and talent to support the theme. 

Having a theme can provide a vital constructive framework and anchor in all genres yet still allow the artist’s voice to be creative, authentic, and unique. It’s also applicable to music composition and performance, vocal performance, film production, visual art, graphic design, and marketing. Having a theme can also direct our lives, our goals, and reaffirm the purpose of our work. An artistic expression that reflects a particular theme and or mission statement is a powerful voice, the equivalent of a signature. 

You can read the story, “Once upon a Christmas Time,” at this link, https://www.alicembatzel.com/once-upon-a-christmas-time. This story was written as an introduction for Garth Smith’s “Heaven’s Hallelujah,” performed at the Brigham City Utah West Stake Christmas music program on December 15, 2019.