Crafting the Thematic Heart and Soul of Your Story

If structure is the skeleton of a story, theme is its heart and soul. It’s what makes your story universal and what raises it above all those that simply entertain. If your goal is to craft a story that resonates emotionally with a global audience, this course guides you through theme and how it unifies character and plot. Through lectures, discussions, and practical writing assignments, you learn why a clearly defined thematic argument is the foundation of a great story, how theme is different from premise, motif, or subject matter, and how to find it for your story. You explore the most successful and often-used themes in classic and modern films, and apply effective techniques to tap into the thematic argument of your story and make sure it remains “invisible” throughout the story. With so many definitions and misunderstandings, this course demystifies theme once and for all.