Why Are You Writing Your Book? What Is Your Take Away?

There are so many times when I have started reading a book, and simply put it down and asked a simple one word question - "Why?" No, it was not, "Why on earth did this author think this story was a good idea?" although yes, that has crossed my mind a lot. It is more of "Why am I reading this?" Or, maybe the better question is, "What is the big take-away?"

This is a concept a lot of business people use in meetings or when looking at proposals. What do you want me to take away from this concept? As I walk out of the room, or leave this Zoom call, what do you want me to leave with? 

The same can be said with a book. It doesn't matter if it is to be a humorous book or a serious book. It can be a romance or a thriller. An author needs to have something that is going to guide the reader through the story. No, just simply saying you want them to have fun is not it. We are talking about a hidden message that maybe only the author is aware of. It doesn't even have to be stated.

Over the weekend, I was reading a book that was pretty well written. Now, when I say pretty well written, I am not saying it was blow my socks off written. I was there reading it and I kept flipping the pages so something was going well. Characters were fine. Writing was fine. Plot was Ok. (I haven't finished it yet so I will have to let you know later). At this point, I'm giving it a B-ish grade???? (maybe????) Yes, I know there are a ton of question marks but it is early.

And......

I am stuck with that single question of the big WHY?

I think there MIGHT be a why in the story, but I am not sure. Because I am a literature major I can pretty much create a theme in almost anything so I have to be cautious when I am in a situation like this. It is the responsibility of the author. 

This "take away" by the way, is really what builds your "high concept" of your story. And no, you cannot make this up after you have written your story, which is why I am sitting here with this book struggling with wondering if I am trying to force that take away and why on a book that doesn't have one.

So, why do you need it? This why gives your story meaning. It gives yours story purpose. The why gives every action and every scene in the story a reason for existence. For most writers, you are just putting things in your story to move to the next scene or to add word count. That creates a lifeless story, and yes, to rejections.

Your homework? Do you have a why?