Why Every Book Needs a Strong Theme
Many clients have asked me, “Why do I need a theme? I’ve got so many great stories and ideas. Why can’t I just include them all?”
Because even the richest content needs organization and focus to keep readers oriented and engaged from start to finish. That’s what your theme provides.
Themes in Books Are Like Organizers in Silverware Drawers
You may indeed have a lot of great stories, facts, and insights. But imagine tossing every piece of cutlery you’ve ever owned—every teaspoon, soup spoon, steak knife, fish fork, serving fork, dinner knife, fruit fork, carving fork, dessert spoon, and whatever else you’ve collected over the decades—into one drawer.
What a mess! You’d be constantly searching through disorganized piles of flatware to find what you needed. You might give up using the drawer altogether, and just leave a few knives, forks, and spoons on the counter, so you can find them.
That’s why we use drawer organizers: they separate, categorize, and limit. They help us decide what belongs here, what goes elsewhere, and what should be tossed.
Your book’s theme does the same thing. It’s the organizer that helps you determine which stories and ideas belong in your manuscript and which don’t.
Themes in Books Are Like Clever Campaign Messages
Without a strong theme, your book is like a political campaign with no central message.
You, the candidate, might be full of data, policies, and passion — but voters can’t figure out what you stand for.
A book with a well-defined theme, on the other hand, is like a campaign with a unifying message: it distills your ideas into something memorable and motivating.
Why it works: Themes clarify identity. They show readers what your book stands for — and why it matters.
Themes in Books Are Like Turbocharged Car Engines
Without a strong theme, your book is like an old car with spark plugs that misfire, a rusty radiator, and a nearly dead battery. Getting from beginning to end — that is, reading your book — becomes a long, uncomfortable trip.
But a good theme turns that clunker into a turbocharged engine. Everything runs smoothly, propelling the reader forward.
Why it works: A theme adds momentum. It keeps the narrative or argument driving straight toward a destination.
Themes in Books Are Like Well-Crafted Bicycle Frames
Without a theme, your writing is a pile of bicycle parts: handlebars here, wheels there, pedals rolling away.
The parts may be interesting, but they don’t yet form something that moves.
A strong theme assembles those parts into a custom-made bicycle, giving your readers a frame to follow and a ride they’ll enjoy.
Why it works: Themes bring structure. They connect your ideas into a smooth, seamless experience.
Themes in Books Are Like Sturdy Tree Trunks
Without a theme, your manuscript can resemble branches and leaves scattered across the yard. Each leaf may be lovely, each branch interesting — but together, they lack shape and center.
A book with a strong theme, however, is like a towering tree with a sturdy trunk. Every story, fact, and idea connects to that trunk, forming a canopy that’s cohesive, alive, and whole.
Why it works: The theme is the trunk that supports your creative growth and keeps your message standing tall.
How to Discover Your Book’s Theme
Still wondering what your book’s theme should be? Try asking yourself:
• What single idea do I want readers to remember when they close the book?
• If my book were a TED Talk, what would its title be?
• What problem am I helping readers solve — or what truth am I helping them see?
Your answers will point you toward your theme: your silverware organizer, campaign slogan, turbo engine, bike frame, and tree trunk all in one.
The Takeaway: Themes Bring Freedom, Not Limits
A strong theme doesn’t restrict your creativity. Instead, theme frees creativity.
Once you know your theme, every story, fact, and argument begins to find its place. The writing flows faster, the message lands stronger, and readers finish your book with a clear sense of what it stands for — and why they should remember it.
So don’t fear your theme. Embrace it. Build on it. Let it be the backbone of a book that truly holds together.
