MANDIRA PATTNAIK

CRAFT ESSAY BY MANDIRA PATTNAIK

Earlier this week, I was looking at the themes that literary magazines are currently open for. Some of them are “Science” (inScribe), “Memories in Shape” (The Literary Times), “Fairytale, Myths, Legends” (Livina Press), “Letter to the Editor” (The New York Times Magazine) and “I Wish I’d Said That” (THEMA). One or two of these immediately spurred my thoughts. I thnk I could write a paragraph or two immediately. They wouldn’t be anything spectacular but at least they’d make a good start. Wow!

There is a particular allure about writing specifically for submission to a theme. But many writers have confided in me that they struggle when writing to a theme. I do too. But, on the other hand, a lot of my stories written for themed submissions have also done well and received acceptances. Prominently among them, is the “Time” themed story selected for “Scratching the Sands” NFFD Anthology 2023. Here are some more recent ones:

Dystopia will be decided and divided by who can and can’t afford ACs (Flash Frontier; “Windows” Theme)

Kakiya Wears a Half-Sleeved Shirt While it Snows (The Ilanot Review; “Parents” Theme)

Scardust (Variety Pack; “Futurisms” Theme)

The Crocodile Comes to Claim His Bride (Honeyguide Magazine Issue 8; “Reptiles” Theme)

For Those Who Favor Fire to Ice (ZOETIC PRESS NBR #38; “Rituals” Theme)

Writing to a theme is definitely a challenge, but an enjoyable challenge. Let us, therefore, demystify writing according to a given theme. I’ll start by classifying themes in three categories:

1. Themes that are Objects–whether as a Group or Not: Examples can be “Doors”, “Windows”, “Trash”, “Yellow”, or like the one above “Letter to the Editor” from The New York Times Magazine
2. Themes that are Feelings, Emotions and Intangible Ones– “Flaw and Favor” which was the theme of The Ilanot Review’s latest call and which I had the opportunity to guest edit; or like “Science” and “Memories”
3. Current Events & Topical Issues– “War”, “Drought” (South 85 Journal is open for submissions of poetry, fiction, flash, and creative nonfiction until August 15. Ibua Journal also welcomes submissions of stories and poems related to climate change, including the impacts of drought), and “War, Refugees, Famine” (now open at Months to Years).

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Here are some reasons:

1. It helps unlock hidden stories from your memories. When triggered with a specific theme, your mind is sure to find associations and related experiences which can help writing your next.
2. Even if the piece is not selected by the call it was written for, you can always find related themes from other places to submit to in the future. In fact, from my experience, it often turns out to be a better fit, having had the time to rest and be revisited before submitting to the second and subsequent submission calls.
3. A strong sense of theme holds and binds the story, helping with overall unity.
4. Writing to a theme requires time and effort. Not everyone will be in the race as opposed to say an un-themed general call. So number of pieces that will be selected will be high and competition will be less.
5. When you have several pieces written to a theme or closely related themes, whether they are published or not, it’d be easier for you to put them together in a collection.

APPROACHING A THEME

There are two broad ways in which you can approach the theme:

• The question is raised in the beginning and the theme is proven true by the end of the story. For example, in the case of the theme “Flaw and Favor”, readers come to know which things (or characters) were “flawed” and who were the “favored” ones.
• Position the theme as an argument that runs throughout the story–such that the story “explores” the theme, especially through the middle or body of the story. By the end of the story, readers should be able to make out conclusively that the takeaway from the story–its essence–was the given theme.

Now in both these approaches, I find nothing wrong. They are both equally efficient and useful. Some writers find the second approach easier to write, but that is a personal position.

an effective trick!

Think of the theme as a reflection. A quick shortcut is to mold your characters, setting or plot or structure (or all of these!) as that which will cast that reflection (theme). Because it is you, the writer, who is the only one who knows beforehand what this story is about, think of it as a puzzle, which, when complete, will “reflect” the theme.

what else?

At the initial drafting stages, do not be too perturbed if the story “shows” the theme too much. After all, you are “seeing” it (noticing it too much!) because you know what the theme is. It may not be the case for readers. In fact, to make the concrete components of your story “show” the theme you want to write, is actually the blessing. Once you are at the editing stage, consider if you want to rearrange some components to “hide” some of the “theme-showing”.

Some writers find it effctive to write a single line statement about their story. What is it about? Such a statement illustrates the theme and helps with building-up the story.

Of course, some themes make us do a lot of research. Especially, say, when writing to fit themes such as “war” or “climate-change”. I’m sure you love going down many research-rabbit-holes, as much as I do. They provide good opportunities to explore “tangential” ways to approach the theme and are highly effective.

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