I've been thinking about this idea of repeating themes. The novels and novellas I am working on revolve around themes derived from aspects of human experience like invasion, conquest, refugees, religion, syncretism, and cultural change. I thought that someday I might try writing something humorous, a mystery, or maybe a romance, but that is very far away from my concerns. Writing, for me, is a way of processing information and experience and learning about the world. I want to research, read history, science, and science fiction, and figure out some things about humanity, identity, and culture. Creating artwork serves the same purpose. The projects can feel like a very big orchestra that is very hard for me to organize into something that sounds nice and powerful. You've set me off on research about themes. Maybe I don't understand it well.
I love the idea of a project feeling like an orchestra that needs to be organised! Your themes sound very interesting, and I completely agree about writing being a way to learn about and understand the world around us. I hope you enjoy the theme research!
Going to let this marinade – I think you've touched on something here about my two manuscripts that I'd yet to pinpoint. I've always thought they were very different. But, huh, maybe not...!
I've been thinking about this idea of repeating themes. The novels and novellas I am working on revolve around themes derived from aspects of human experience like invasion, conquest, refugees, religion, syncretism, and cultural change. I thought that someday I might try writing something humorous, a mystery, or maybe a romance, but that is very far away from my concerns. Writing, for me, is a way of processing information and experience and learning about the world. I want to research, read history, science, and science fiction, and figure out some things about humanity, identity, and culture. Creating artwork serves the same purpose. The projects can feel like a very big orchestra that is very hard for me to organize into something that sounds nice and powerful. You've set me off on research about themes. Maybe I don't understand it well.
I love the idea of a project feeling like an orchestra that needs to be organised! Your themes sound very interesting, and I completely agree about writing being a way to learn about and understand the world around us. I hope you enjoy the theme research!
Going to let this marinade – I think you've touched on something here about my two manuscripts that I'd yet to pinpoint. I've always thought they were very different. But, huh, maybe not...!
Isn’t it funny that manuscripts you think you know absolutely inside out can still surprise you?!
You’re right, I think we authors do return to the ‘knot’. I love this post, thank you. 🙏
Thank you, James, I’m glad it resonated! Happy unknotting 😊
My novella is partly revisiting the themes of my unpublished novel drafted 2012/13!
It’s so interesting to be able to draw lines back through your own work and spot the repeated subjects!