So over the weekend my friend had a Glee themed birthday party. At first, I was... reluctant.
I didn't want to dress up. I wasn't feeling the theme. To be brutally honest, I thought the whole idea was stupid. So to spite the whole thing, I figured: why don't I make my own theme?
I planned it all, I would wear a skirt and white blouse, pin my slytherin crest on, wear my tie lanyard and finish the look with my scarf. My excuse? Glee could totally have a Hogwarts episode. They'd sing about cauldrons and witchcraft and Wingardium Leviosa-ing themselves on a magic carpet ride through the sky with the love of their life (after they'd glamored themselves to be a prince).
And then I stopped being a jerk (even though I still somewhat liked my idea). In the end, I went all out.
Once I started, I actually had a lot of fun putting together the costume and getting ready.
I went as Tina.
It's the same with writing though. When I think, actually think, about the themes that are entwined with the core ideas of my book I don't think I can pull it off. I mean, there's just so many: family, love, friendship, betrayal, hate, believing in yourself, death... The list is longer and is more specific but I can't really explain any of it without ruining the book.
Sometimes, I get so worked up with thinking about what I'm trying to achieve that I don't do anything. It's too big and too much and I can't possibly pull everything together into a seamless whole, into something I can be proud of.
But, I'm trying to think of it like my costume. If I just sit down and write and stop thinking about what I'm trying to do, it'll be a lot funner then I gave it credit for.
And who knows, maybe I'll even surprise myself with how awesome it turns out. (I can dream.)
Are there any themes in your writing? Do you plan them or do they just happen?
I actually have a character comment on this in one of my books. He's doing an English assignment and he says that he thinks it's all BS -- that writers don't actually sit around thinking about a theme; it's just something English majors and teachers do.
ReplyDeleteI don't plan my themes. I'm sure they're in there. Love. Friendship. Family. But there's in there because it just happened that way. Not because I sat down and thought "I want to write a story about the importance of love."
I don't watch Glee, but nice costume!
First of all great costume! As for my writing, if I do overthink it, I get blocked and get no work done at all. I have to just relax and let the ideas come, if they don't for some reason, I work on edits or something else until they do come. Great post!
ReplyDeleteLOVE it! You rock Tina HARD!
ReplyDeleteI love Glee and costumes, so I think yours turned out great! I'm kind of a sucker for theme parties (though who can resist a chance to dress up like a Hogwarts student).
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had fun!
I actually started writing with two themes in mind, but the Beast has grown into an animal of its own and I'm also struggling to fit everything into my story.
ReplyDeleteSo in the end I gave up and decided to just write the thing and see where it goes...
Great post :-)
I don't necessarily have a theme in mind when I start writing something, but as I go it sort of develops itself. Usually it has something to do with cooperation and/or working together to achieve the impossible (Yay Teamwork!), though a couple of times it came down to accepting yourself for who you are... :)Love the costumes!
ReplyDeleteUgh, I hate overthinking about themes. It makes me way too stressed, and I know if I don't think about it, the themes will be in my writing anyway. Love your Tina costume! So cool.
ReplyDeleteyou look great!! Glad you went along with it. Sometimes it can be a lot of fun just to suck it up and do it.
ReplyDeleteGlad you had fun!
There are always themes in my writing, but I rarely plan them. Most of them just come out naturally through my writing. I actually find that it works better if I don't think about them and just let them flow out on their own. If I over think the theme, you can tell it my writing.. it just feels forced.
ReplyDeleteI don't watch Glee, but it looks like you rocked that costume!
I wonder how many times you have heard variations of "just sit down and write" or do the math, project, etc etc. If the energy expended on stressing over the thing in question was exerted into actually doing it....of course having said that it is a maxim that can be taken into any aspect of one's life....
ReplyDeleteThemes will work their way into stories, whether you plan them or not. My themes usually revolving around love and overcoming adversity.
ReplyDeleteLove the "Glee" look! Sounds fun!
ReplyDeleteI don't write with themes. if there is one, it's usually by accident or as I'm writing I'll see it. Maybe... :)
Sometimes I have a theme planned in the beginning, and sometimes I don't think about it too much; I'll know the plot and characters and a theme just kind of happens.
ReplyDeletewell Im not really a writer myself, but I do have a best friend who writes :p. I am pretty sure the exact same thing happened to her. hahha. I know, "Not funny Ramona!" Ah well. Your costume was soo good. Don't worry you beat all the other Tina costumes! I love the skull necklace and earrings.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great Tina costume! She's probably the most fun to dress up as.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great point you make about writing. That's what I do ALL THE TIME. I overthink things so much that I just get paralyzed. It's sometimes better to just go for it.
You looked GREAT! What a fun idea for a themed party...maybe I'll have a themed birthday party this year!
ReplyDeleteHalf mine are planned, the others just happen. The ones that just happen start as small sparks and grow. When I'm reading through for a rewrite, I usually catch the little sparkle. I fan it and see what happens! It's fun.
That is an awesome party idea! I had a couple of girlfriends come over to watch the Britney/Brittany episode and one of them dressed like Sue Sylvester. Too cute!
ReplyDeleteI find that i may start with one theme in mind or one topic that i want to explore but as like you said i just sit and write whole new ones come accross with out me having any real control over it!
ReplyDeleteUsually, I plan one theme in the book. If others emerge, I might play them up, but I don't spend a lot of time planning various ones.
ReplyDeleteYes . . . I have themes, and some of them are planned, and some of them show up. I was struggling with one of my characters because she just didn't want to work within the theme I had . . . she's bossy, overconfidant and determined to take the fastest path no matter how many brambles catch at her clothes so she didn't want to play out any theme about doubt being healed by faith. So, now I'm going for pride goes before a fall . . . lol.
ReplyDeleteFaith, friendship, truth, family, loyalty and sacrifice are all in there, but getting it to all come out on the page is tough sometimes.
I'm so writing to Glee and telling me to do a Hogwarts edition... I mean why couldn't they do it? I can't think of music but dressing up like they're attending hogwarts would be awesome!
ReplyDeleteGreat job on still participating!
Ah, fun post! Love me some Glee. For me, themes sort of emerge naturally in the first draft. Then, through revisions, I discover them and do my best to make them sing a little louder.
ReplyDeleteSounds like fun and you're very creative. I would have been intimadated too. Awesome group picture.
ReplyDeleteNext time you can borrow my King Diamond make-up from this pic. LOL
ReplyDelete