Building a Thematic Novel: From Themes to Character Arcs

How to move from ideas to stories

writing the great novel

Introduction: Why Themes Matter in Storytelling

Every story starts with a question—what do you want to say? For Silicon Dreams, that question became: How has the rise of the web and artificial intelligence shaped our world, and how have those dreams unraveled? The themes you choose are the foundation of your story. They guide every decision, from the characters you create to the arcs they follow. This lesson will show how to start with powerful themes, build characters around them, and develop meaningful arcs that bring your story to life.

Not all novels are driven by themes. Many focus on plot or character goals. But in a thematic novel, characters exist to explore big ideas—to wrestle with tensions that define the world you're creating. This structure works well for complex, interconnected stories like Silicon Dreams, but it can also apply to any narrative aiming to say something meaningful.

Before we jump in: keep in mind also that you don’t have to write a thematic novel. I’m focusing on a creative update of the thematic novel Red Plenty, as I’ve explained. But in thinking about this class, it might be better for everyone to take on the project that you’re passionate about, rather than trying to write another version of Silicon Dreams. I think the information and my exploration of how to do this using AI, where helpful, applies to a wide range of fiction and nonfiction. So feel free to write your own novel and use what I’m saying in this class as a guiding light. Do your thing! And I should say also that writers tend to own their projects, so it feels more natural for everyone to follow their own light. Let’s continue.