This is K.M. Wyland and you are listening to the 463 episode of the Helping Writers Become Authors Podcast.

In response to last week's topic of the mutuality of theme and character, someone left a comment on the blog talking about how they were using the techniques in the article and the podcast to help dispel the

mystery surrounding the topic of theme. That's awesome because that is of

course the reason I'm doing this informal series of episodes about theme. But in

responding to her comment it made me realize that the more I know about storytelling

and art the more mysterious it grows which honestly I think is fantastic

naturally all these discussions of theme have had me thinking lately

about the theme in my own work in progress, the currently untitled final book in my Dreamlander

trilogy. I started out with every intention of

using this final book as an exploration of faith, the things we put our faith in,

the things we shouldn't, and why I believe faith is an intrinsically important

part of life.

But the book surprised me.

First, by revealing that its central theme is shaping up to instead be one about personal identity and by extension how that impacts and is impacted by faith.

That was cool, but then everything surprised me again as the story's emerging theme immediately began

coinciding with lots of things I've been thinking about lately in my own life.

I didn't plan this.

It's hard to even say it that it was my subconscious

revealing deeper patterns since much of what's

emerging in this book was set in motion years ago when I started outlining the preceding book.

As ever, it's a humbling experience in the face of the great mysteries that art and life are forever intertwining and to which we as artists are gifted with a particularly intimate vantage point.

So today here's to demystifying the craft of writing even as we embrace the

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