Philosophy, psychology, and themes in writing. What is your story trying to say?

[A_veil_of_red_ink]

Hi! You can probably guess from the title that I've asked a deep question: What is your story saying, or what do you want to say with your story?

I love this kind of question, especially since I'm a huge fan of "Attack on Titan." The show deals with serious themes such as humanity, sacrifice, war, corruption, and the consequences of our actions.
Unlike in most shonen shows, where friendship will fix everything, "Attack on Titan" shows that there are real consequences to choices. This is the same with shows like "Berserk" and most other seinen shows. (My take on this might differ from yours)

In the context of my own story, I will explore questions of humanity and ethics, as well as philosophical ideas such as nihilism—the idea that nothing matters—and optimistic nihilism, which acknowledges that even though nothing matters, it's still worthwhile to search for meaning in life.

I would like to know what philosophies or themes you are attempting to express in your fiction and how you incorporate them creatively in your storytelling.

 

[AstreiaNyx]

Nothing serious just 100+ chappies of foreplay.

 

[zephyrtrillian]

Pretty sure mine has something to do with overcoming societal expectations, found family over bloodlines, and being flexible and dynamic when faced with adversity. And pushing through no matter what for the people you love.

I like optimistic nihilism. What else are we going to do while we're here, right?

 

[Bald-san]

Hi! You can probably guess from the title that I've asked a deep question: What is your story saying, or what do you want to say with your story?

I love this kind of question, especially since I'm a huge fan of "Attack on Titan." The show deals with serious themes such as humanity, sacrifice, war, corruption, and the consequences of our actions.
Unlike in most shonen shows, where friendship will fix everything, "Attack on Titan" shows that there are real consequences to choices. This is the same with shows like "Berserk" and most other seinen shows. (My take on this might differ from yours)

In the context of my own story, I will explore questions of humanity and ethics, as well as philosophical ideas such as nihilism—the idea that nothing matters—and optimistic nihilism, which acknowledges that even though nothing matters, it's still worthwhile to search for meaning in life.

I would like to know what philosophies or themes you are attempting to express in your fiction and how you incorporate them creatively in your storytelling.

Aside from random bullshit, I guess it's something like 'Even a person of immense pride and immesurable ego can let him/herself get controlled as long as the endgame is the well-being of that person's people'

 

[Frowfy]

Hi! You can probably guess from the title that I've asked a deep question: What is your story saying, or what do you want to say with your story?

I love this kind of question, especially since I'm a huge fan of "Attack on Titan." The show deals with serious themes such as humanity, sacrifice, war, corruption, and the consequences of our actions.
Unlike in most shonen shows, where friendship will fix everything, "Attack on Titan" shows that there are real consequences to choices. This is the same with shows like "Berserk" and most other seinen shows. (My take on this might differ from yours)

In the context of my own story, I will explore questions of humanity and ethics, as well as philosophical ideas such as nihilism—the idea that nothing matters—and optimistic nihilism, which acknowledges that even though nothing matters, it's still worthwhile to search for meaning in life.

I would like to know what philosophies or themes you are attempting to express in your fiction and how you incorporate them creatively in your storytelling.

Honestly, someone may find a meaning based on what I wrote. Actually I don't think about it at all. My protagonist is traumatized and he is rehabilitating himself with his efforts and help of people around him.

I was pretty surprised when I saw people emotional about it, deeply moved by the concept of a traumatized child. So I believe my story is about someone trying to find happiness even after a lot of suffering.

Now if I had that intention from the beggining? I just wanted to write a fanfic lol.

 

[Martin_Banos]

The thesis is "This is why you shouldn't be a bad person."

 

[Corty]

I only provide pure escapism from real life for those who want nothing but to have some fun, ignoring the outside problems.

 

[LilythGeist]

I am writing Dwynveia as very much a deconstruction of the Portal Fantasy as a genre and how actually traumatic being Isekaid would be.

In general, my entire party is a broken mess at the currently written point of the story (chapter 152).

 

[WhaleSprite]

I said it in RR. But basically overall theme is resilience through hardship and isolation. That's the shortened version.


Plus several sub themes, like escaping or being stuck in toxic family relationships and structures, individuals stuck in a crappy system through no fault of their own but the things they're willing to do to escape it might be just as wrong as the system they're stuck in, the reality that there are horrible individuals that try to justify their actions by blaming anything else than themselves. Again Isolation, and even worse self inflicted isolation. Etc.

?

There will be several others but my story hasn't been written that far yet.

 

[A_veil_of_red_ink]

I said it in RR. But basically overall theme is resilience through hardship and isolation. That's the shortened version.


Plus several sub themes, like escaping or being stuck in toxic family relationships and structures, individuals stuck in a crappy system through no fault of their own but the things they're willing to do to escape it might be just as wrong as the system they're stuck in, the reality that there are horrible individuals that try to justify their actions by blaming anything else than themselves. Again Isolation, and even worse self inflicted isolation. Etc.

?

There will be several others but my story hasn't been written that far yet.

Ay, howdy we meet again, though. different site

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Mine says: "Hi there. If you need to pass some time, I'll help you. I hope you'll enjoy it and that I'll eventually get some money from it."

 

[Naravelt]

My story explores whether something fake can be justified if it brings happiness, and the cost of power. It suggests that learning history is about understanding its meaning to prevent repetition. A recurring subplot focuses on ethics such as human exploitation, mirroring problems found in specific real-world regions. The planned ending features three possible choices for the protagonist, each reflecting the cost of power. All of them circle back to the story's core themes.

 

[SeaJay]

My story explores such themes as identity, innocence and humanity, memory, loss, absolute faith and dogma, survival, hope, relationships and resistance, and systemic power versus the individual.

---

My story: https://www.scribblehub.com/series/1716658/who-we-once-were/

 

[RepresentingCaution]

Love can't be put in a box.

 

[soupsabaw]

My first novel had a lot of politics, abuse of power, and issues with bloodlines and race. The one I'm posting right now is just a love story. Following that, my third one will be both. Welp. Time to combine it and see what I can do

 

[LeilaniOtter]

Nothing serious just 100+ chappies of foreplay.

Good for you, Nyx! Keep those readers hanging! ?

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Mine says: "Hi there. If you need to pass some time, I'll help you. I hope you'll enjoy it and that I'll eventually get some money from it."

To be fair, Strange Awakening ALSO explores a bit identity and perception but mostly is the above. The other stories are all pretty much that.

 

[TheBestofSome]

Hmm, I'm not sure that I'm trying to say anything with my story. What I do end up saying with it is another matter.

What I've ended up writing (as far as I can tell) is a story about found family, interpersonal relationships, and prejudice, both justified and unjustified, with a solid helping of smut.

But I have been trying to adhere to the advice (from C.S. Lewis, I believe) that "No man who cares about originality will ever be original. It's the man who's only thinking about doing a good job or telling the truth who becomes really original - and doesn't notice it." Or put another way, I haven't been trying to make my story 'interesting and original'. I've been trying to make it true - in the same way that the Lord of the Rings is true. It's not literally so, but it embodies values and concepts which are, and that's no small part of why it's viewed with such respect even so long after it was written. (Of course, comparing my story to the Lord of the Rings may be pushing it a bit. )

I may be writing smut, but that's no reason not to try to make the story which connects that smut something worth reading. And I think I've succeeded to some extent, considering I've had multiple people tell me they're reading for the characters and the plot now, as opposed to the 'plot'.

Bit of a shame I don't have any of my readers here, I'm curious what they'd think I'm trying to say with my story (if anything). Maybe I should ask them next time I post a chapter.