Tuesday, December 10, 2024

SYMBOLS and SIGNS

 

We grasp reality through stories. But before we have sentences that make paragraphs, we have symbols.

 

I quote the first part of my favorite sentence from another writer’s post, “Life speaks to us through symbols….” Lisa Tener’s whole post is worth reading.

 

Unlike the notion that using symbols makes a story literary, I contend it makes any story better. It makes a story good.

 

Think of weaving consistent symbols into your storytelling. Now make their appearance organic, and you have better stories.

 

Thoughts as I finished draft number two of my current WIP. 😔

 

Can you guess what my current woven symbol is? Don't try too hard. My Beta readers are yet to comment on it. My hope is that it's seamless, and they so won't.


6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Congrats on finishing draft #2 :D

MirkaK said...

Good luck!

Vijaya said...

That was a lovely post. I've found that we add symbols unconsciously. It's only during revision that I've been able to spot them and use them more effectively. Hmmm, I love those tiny books--maybe they appear in your WIP? Congratulations on finishing the draft!!!

Barbara Etlin said...

I love the use of symbolism in novels and find that I do that naturally in my own manuscripts, discovering them later when I revise. I'll guess that books are the symbol you used.

Mirka Breen said...

Not books ;)

Evelyn said...

Interesting. I look forward to reading your WIP.