Every Piece of Writing Requires a Purpose (Developing a Thesis and an Angle)
I work as an editor at a Christian literary publication, which means we accept various types of writing such as poetry, creative non-fiction, personal essays, and short stories. One of the main reasons I reject a piece, no matter how well or beautifully written, is if it has no clear purpose. How do we fix that in our writing? With an angle and thesis.
The How and Why of Themes and Theses
Not every writer likes to outline their work, but you should still have a thesis statement and a theme based on that statement that holds the entire piece of writing together. Think of your essay, article, or short story as a spiderweb, and at the centre, connected to all the strands, sits your theme and thesis woven together. The thesis and theme are the strand woven throughout your work to draw it all into one unit—without it, the entire piece collapses apart into disparate pieces. We don’t want that, do we?
Before you set out to write, decide on your theme and thesis statement. What do you want to accomplish and communicate with this piece? Decide on the message you want your reader to walk away with after sitting with your writing. Remember though: to know the message you want your reader to receive means you must know your reader too. Developing a thesis statement requires that you know who your reader is, what they need, and how they will best receive it (what genre will best communicate this point to them).
Marion Roach Smith says that memoir must follow this formula: “It’s about X as illustrated by Y to be told in a Z.” This formula can be applied to any form of writing.
It’s about the importance of gratitude as illustrated by a story of a dog who hates every toy his owner gives him to be told in a children’s book.
It’s about the normal and slow process of overcoming birth trauma illustrated by my experience and a family of deer from my yard told in an essay.”
It’s about the doctrine of sanctification illustrated by the regular cleaning of my home to be told in a Christian living article.
See how this thesis formula can apply to any form of writing? Try it with your next idea and see how the idea solidifies and grows.
Using Your Theme and Thesis as You Write
As you write, test every point and sub-point against your theme and thesis—this will help you immediately discern if your point is a rabbit trail or on the main path. Each heading, paragraph, and sentence or scene should build on your theme and thesis, whether it be proving or demonstrating it.
Will this theme and thesis show up plainly in your writing? Perhaps. Certain forms like short stories, poetry, or personal narratives tend to leave more mystery and allow the reader to make those conclusions without being plainly told. However, this doesn’t mean you still shouldn’t have one for yourself; in order for the reader to discern your message, it must be woven throughout in some form.
Articles, on the other hand, should clearly tell the reader what to expect from your piece. Within your first few paragraphs, you want to touch on the pain-point of your reader (as you should have defined above when creating your thesis) and offer them a glimpse of the hope and answers you will pass along to them through your work.
An Offering For Your Reader
This may feel like the drab, dusty work that no writer wants to work through. However, for your piece to best serve your reader, it is necessary. Don’t neglect this work and waste your reader’s precious time. Give them hearty words of wisdom, virtue, beauty, and hope—but that can only be accomplished by knowing your purpose behind your writing and holding all your words against it.
Struggling find your theme? Unsure if your piece is a meandering wandering or a purposeful work? Connect with me and I can help you.
