: Re: Can I use the same message over a series of novels? This question is slightly less straightforward than the title implies, and requires a little explanation. Firstly, I am an entirely self-taught

@Jennifer354

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The theme (I think that's what you're talking about) is something that is often part of a novel, but it's not part of the plot at all, if that makes sense.

The theme is also not the concept (a vague, 7-ish word plot summary) or the premise (which is a one or two sentence description of your novel with specifics). I think that's where you're getting messed up. The concept is plot-related, while your theme (what you call message) has nothing to do with the plot. It's woven into how you tell the story.

Here's a concept: Two lovers struggle aboard a sinking ship

And a premise: Aboard the powerful Titanic ship, a poor painter and a wealthy young woman fall in love, but struggle to save each other when the ship hits an iceberg

The theme: Love is timeless. Or, kids are stupid.

I haven't read Harry Potter, but from analyses online, you pulled a completely different theme out than a lot of people. Which is fine. Please be careful not to be too ham-fisted with your theme. People really don't want to be preached at, and if the "moral of the story" is obvious, they will be irritated.

But to answer your basic question, yes you can repeat the theme for each of your novels. Because the theme is completely separate from the plotline, and because as your characters evolve and their situations change, so will the specifics of how the theme is applied.

Please, please check out the extremely helpful K M Weiland writing about Theme vs Message. You may also want to read about plot and theme working together.

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