You must always know exactly what your work is about. If anyone asks, you must be able to express your theme in one sentence, like this:
‘This [novel, story, poem] is about the futility of life in a post-postmodern world of transvaluated values, and the radical failure of the spirit in the face of human cruelty and cosmic despair.’
If this exact sentence does not describe your work, you are writing the wrong story. Get it right, or throw it out.
(signed)
H. Smiggy McStudge
I am really enjoying these. Subtle wit is a pleasure to behold.
Keep the Octopus out of the cosmic despair pool for us, would you?
Ah, but I want my work to be subversive! So I decided to subvert “a post-postmodern world of transvaluated values, and the radical failure of the spirit.”
I originally read it as “comic despair.” I was intrigued.