The Newsletter Stand

Action/Adventure 8-20-08

There is no dark side of the moon, really. As a matter of fact, it's all dark. The only thing that makes it look light is the sun.
Gerry Driscoll, Pink Floyd, "Eclipse", The Dark Side of the Moon

Symbolize This

Last week's newsletter reminded us to add conflict and tension at every twist and turn. When we’re doing that, why not take a few extra steps and add symbolism to your work. Doing so will round your story out, lift it up and engage the reader on a whole new level.

Symbolism, by way of definition means the practice of representing things by means of symbols or attributing symbolic meanings or significance to objects, events, or relationships.

Once you’ve mapped out your rough draft, ask yourself a few simple questions:

Is there an underlying theme that crops up often? Or even on occasion?
Is there a physical object, or certain thought process that arises on several occasions? If so, these are perfect opportunities to weave in symbolism into your story.

Common symbols:
In nature
River, ocean
Nature trail, wilderness, field of flowers
Sky, stars, moon, sun, wind

In Characters
baby, young school girl
jester, knight,
animals

In Religion
steeple, sanctuary, cross, star and crescent moon, Mandala, prayer shawl.

Abstract
colors
numbers

If you were to use the moon, you could capitalize on its ever-changing appearance. It rise signifies the beginning. Of what? Well, darkness, or just the beginning of something new, a birth of sorts. The moon has nine stages and therefore lends itself to the entire full circle theme. Or, things change but somehow remain the same. The moon will forever(we hope) pass through these nine stages.

1 New Moon
2 First/Waxing Crescent
3 First Quarter
4 Waxing Gibbous Moon
5 Full Moon
6 Waning Gibbous or “Disseminating” Moon
7 Last Quarter
8 Waning Crescent or “Balsamic” Moon
9 And back to the New Moon

Tailor-Made Symbols:
The author holds complete creativity here. These are any items you want. For instance, maybe your main character has a fear of bright red objects. Then, a new red Mazda RX 8 induces anxiety into the heart of your character. Or, maybe cats symbolize your main character’s childhood dreams.

In tailor-made symbols, the author has absolute control. He(or she) only has to convince the reader of the connection.

Incorporating symbolism into your Action/Adventure works gives your story, poem, and novel automatic depth.

Until next time,

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