Thought Production Muscle

Generating content is a mental habit. Psychotherapists teach people to see situations with equanimity until that way of thinking becomes their default. Likewise, some spiritual people practice becoming more aware of their actions or thinking about people with kindness so that they can improve their character over time. These new ways of thinking feel forced at first, but then they become normal.

Similarly, I find that when I stimulate in myself some interest in writing — working on my existing writing ideas, spending some time wondering what I could write about, or just daydreaming about possible stories or poems when I take walks — my mind becomes more accustomed to generating writing content. It's something I have to will myself to do at first, but then over the next couple weeks, I find myself more naturally entertaining a broader range of writing possibilities and spending more effort throughout the day considering them.

At the same time, I don't feel there's much worth in writing when you don't have anything to say. It's fine to wait until some idea or purpose strikes you as deserving the pen.

I think the thing with themes is to write about what matters to you. What DOES matter to you? Making a list of things that trouble you, deeply affect you, hurt you, cause you gasp with "OMG, what is humanity doing to itself?" Those things spur story themes. 

Exercise: To find the right character for that theme, brainstorm someone in opposition to that theme, and another in favor of that theme, then set them on a collision course. Example: one character is in favor of abortion because she was assaulted and had an abortion afterward. The other character is against abortion because she also had an abortion and now regrets it. How do these women interact, and what is the resolution they reach?

Lots of times, I'll be writing some kind of shallow adventure story, and find those things that matter to me naturally surfacing in the story, because it's just an integral part of myself, my human experience.

And because those things I deal with are NOT unique, those themes will resonate with readers. That's what makes themes universal and meaningful, no matter what story they're packaged in.

Oh, absolutely! Nobody wants to read preachy fiction, no matter how well-meaning it is. We writers do want to inform and affect our readers with new ways of thinking, certainly, but at the end of the day, people read fiction to be entertained, to escape. Starting out with a theme in mind, it does seem easier to fall into this heavy-handed approach. Subtle is better, IMO -- and harder, I think, to balance/achieve. We do want to make that impact, but we don't want to make our readers roll their eyes either. Plus, going for universal themes (survival, love, sacrifice, human vs. nature, etc.) are going to fly more broadly than themes with agendas (religious views, political views, etc.).

Though it may be our goal to portray and push our views, just know that you're writing to a smaller audience (because people who disagree with you are less likely to continue reading) and will generate more negative feedback upon yourself. If you are geared to handle that negativity, all well and good. If not... on your own head be it.

OR handle those views with extreme delicacy and subtlety. Even then... people can be jerks.