Does Your Story Have A Purpose

I have been reading a lot of stories with some great characters, great writing but the stories go absolutely no where. Why? They have no purpose! And for a romance, this really becomes a huge problem. 

Consider this. We know, with a romance, there will be a happily ever after. We know that the two characters, by the time we get to "the end" will be together. We know that along the way they will, to quote some very poorly written query letters, "will meet some quirky characters, have some awkward moments, engage in some passionate time together between the sheets, and have to overcome some difficult decisions" OK, we got it. But these are all just scenes. These are episodes. These happen in EVERY book and EVERY story. But what is the point? Where are we going to with this?

The same goes for women's fiction stories where we have that main character who is just going though life in a small town. Sure, small town USA in Minnesota might be cute. The cafe with those great cinnamon rolls and that "quirky" owner who knows everyone's name is awesome. We all love Stan the barber who sits on his porch every day waiting for people to come by and hear about his latest fishing trip. But what is the point. We are just sitting there watching a dog sleep in the sun (Thank you Ben for this cameo). While it is nice to just enjoy, there is no point to the story. 

As you think of your story, you need to focus on a theme of your story. You need to think of a "take-away" What do you want your readers to leave with by the time they finish the story. If it is a romance, do we want us to learn that it is OK to change a dream that we had and take on a dream of someone else because love conquers all? Is it that sometimes we have to look outside of ourself and our comfort zone to find true love? If it is a women's fiction, are we to learn that maybe that small town is not that perfect place that we thought it to be (Consider the poem Richard Cory). 

Seriously, on my Kindle right now, the majority of the stories that I will be responding to all have fallen into that category. There does not seem to be a point the story. The writing is fine, but the stories are episodic and just plod on with no real purpose. 

So find a reason for the story to happen! 

And, by the way. If you story is ALREADY written, you CANNOT just go back and claim that there is a purpose. If you did not have one when you started writing,  you cannot just go back and mysteriously find one. It probably is not there.