Post History

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/16063
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/16063
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

There are some very good answers posted here. I have read the one you marked as the answer, and glanced at the others, but none seem to mention the thing I find most obvious. Keep in mind they are great answers, and should definitely not be disregarded. However, I believe this is your problem, as it is with so many others:

Why do you write? What are you trying to do with your story? Are you just writing to get it out there? Or do you actually have something to say, something to prove to your reader? Based on your question, it sounds me like you lack a **theme**.

Theme is what you are trying to say. It is the thing you know to be true, and feel your readers need to know to be true, also. The urge to write often starts with inspiration, but the flame is kept alive by the need to tell your readers something. If you feel, _really_ feel, that your theme is important, and that everyone should know it, you _will_ be passionate about getting it on the page in the best form possible. You _will_ be fired up about writing, not just for the first few pages, but from beginning of development to publishing and beyond.

So, do you get bored with your writing once the initial excitement dies down? It is likely due to a lack of theme, or perhaps because your theme is not strong enough. Here's a hint: what issue (political, religious, moral, whatever) gets you fired up? What can you go on for hours about? What really gets you where it matters, makes you feel the need to do something about? Make that the theme of your next story. You can go on for hours about it, right? How can you lose interest in that?

I would highly recommend Donald Maass's book, _Writing the Breakout Novel_. Chapter fourteen is entirely on theme, and the instruction is invaluable.

@Henry Taylor I would be interested to hear your opinions on this.

Original score: 2