Part of what provides a story its depth and structure is its theme. The theme is the writer's opportunity to explore a topic or an issue alongside their readers and, possibly, get across an insight or statement about the topic. However, the tricky aspect about developing themes in a story is that they can easily feel tacked on, preachy, or distracting from the story's narrative.
Storywriting Basics: Story Themes is a writing course on the principles of finding, developing, and integrating themes in your story without compromising the story's narrative flow. The course will provide you with examples and techniques that will help you to spot potential themes in your work in progress, to flesh out the discourse within your theme, and to blend your discourse seamlessly with your story's narrative.
Minimum age for this workshop: 8 years old(Online students aged 8-12 are required to have a parent or guardian to assist the child in accomplishing coursework.)
Our course creator
Storywriting Basics: Story Themes was created by Filipino writer, Dr. Joem Antonio. A published author and playwright, he holds a Ph.D. in Creative Writing from UP Diliman and is an eight-time Palanca Award winner. He believes that writing is a skill that can be learned by even those who weren't magically "born with the talent." Through his writing courses and workshops, he teaches writing as a science, leaving students with clear methods that allow them to move their writing projects forward.
Take this course through one of our writing coaches.
View each coach's class schedules, course fees, and other information by visiting their course page.
Dr. Joem Antonio is a teacher, published creative writer, and print-and-play game designer. You'll find his works at joemantonio.com.
Coach Joem teaches this course regularly online. On occasion, he also conducts workshops at various venues in the Philippines.
Esther Suson is an editor, writer, and writing coach. Read more about her work at hashtagesther.com.
Coach Esther teaches this course regularly online. If you're interested in face-to-face instruction, you may contact her directly.