Develop characters whose motives reflect the work’s intention. Here is an illustration:

The Everhard Manuscript by Bix Santana: The story centers on the evils of capitalism, proposing socialism as a solution to the problems posed by a capitalistic structure of governance and economics. The story follows the growth and social consciousness of its main character, Avis Cunningham. Initially, Avis is opposed to the whole socialist movement and its leader, Ernest Everhard. Having lived a privileged life, she is not aware of the downside of capitalism until she begins examining the lives of the less privileged around her. With time, her perspective begins to change and, later, she becomes a determined proponent of social and economic change through the establishment of a socialist state.

Conflict: The conflict in a book brings out and justifies the theme. If your work proposes the value of leaving the past behind and moving forward, a conflict should exist and the resolution of it which should involve the path that your main characters take after the resolution magnifies the intention for your work. Below is an illustration:

Bright Yellow Souls: An anthology of short stories by Luca Favaro, a book about a nurse’s experiences as a health worker taking care of elderly patients, Favaro is at a crossroads in his life. Having had a difficult relationship with his father and little to no emotional connection with his parents, he struggles to find the right path in his life. This exists as a conflict within him for a while until he decides to enroll in nursing school and his life takes a different, fulfilling trajectory. As he treats the patients, most of whom later pass on, he discovers his ability to care for other people and the fulfillment in having his gesture reciprocated.

Setting: This is another tool that you can use to bring out your theme at the beginning and in other parts of the story. Different settings represent different themes as can be seen in the following illustrations:

Coming Home to Greenleigh by Cassandra Austen follows the love story of young sweethearts whose paths intersect later in life. The story is set in the small town of Greenleigh, New England. Having had a troubled childhood with an abusive mother who holds on to her, Elisabeth Burnham feels tied down in the small town. The town of Greenleigh represents Elisabeth’s boundaries that she wishes to break. Though she has the potential to grow her firm and make a better life for herself, she is unable to leave her house and the town behind.

In Nancy Cathers Demme’s novel, The Ride, Diego Ramirez escapes from home, trying to leave behind his troubled past. Having suffered years of abuse from his step-father, Diego sets the barn in which his step-father is in on fire. He leaves El Paso, Texas for Odessa, hoping to move on. On his journey, he hitches rides from different travelers and every town in the book that he stops at represents Diego’s hope for redemption from his obsession with fire.