EMOTIONAL SYMBOLISM
The aim of any novel is to evoke in the reader an emotional response to the story. Symbols automatically evoke emotion. If you can work a symbol into your story, part of the work of portraying the humanity of your characters will be done for you.
Parables, fables, and fairy tales remain popular because they embody archetypes. Nine examples:
01) Ugly duckling/frog prince - in which a person of any age experiences a transformation for the better. (If the change is natural or inevitable, it’s the former tale; if it requires assistance it’s the latter.)
02) Beauty and the beast - looks at the hidden aspects of two apparently opposing forces, or the hidden traits of two apparently conflicting characters;
03) David and Goliath - deals with underdogs;
04) The prodigal son - in which one who has strayed finds his/her way back "home";
05) The Good Samaritan - stories of do-gooders, rewarded or not (such as the mouse who removes the thorn from a lion’s paw);
06) The tortoise and the hare - where small steps gradually lead to big accomplishments;
07) The little engine that could - stories featuring characters who overcome definite and recognizable obstacles, with the focus on conquering self-doubt rather than overwhelming odds;
08) The persistence of Job - where endurance is the focus, if there is no hope of triumph (or even progress);
09) City mouse and country mouse - extolling the virtues of one lifestyle over another.
Make your stories seem real by imposing a real-to-life pattern on your character’s actions, but not so tight a pattern that the story feels mechanical.
01) A story which is too chaotic will leave readers bewildered; it must impose order on life’s chaos, yet allow for unpredictability, so that the reader can be surprised;
02) Scenes and opinions unconnected to the plot help suggest life’s randomness;
03) To keep the story real-to-life, include unexpected turns;
04) Hint at the larger world the characters occupy - add details that are independent of their actions, the settings, or the time;
05) Give your characters mixed - and even contradictory - emotions, just like real people often have.
"Poetry reminds us that literature is a journey. The journey has a name (title), a purpose (topic), a vehicle (theme), and a destination (ending)." The importance of writing lies not in the delivery of a manuscript to an editor, but of an epiphany to the readers. After all, an editor may choose to publish a story but, if the readers aren’t moved by it, it won’t sell very well. In poetry, the use of repetition is one technique used to draw a reader into the story being told:
01) Use repetition to draw attention to a compilation of images and information;
02) Remember that repetition can create a tension where the reader feels both lulled and aroused by text, and can be used to incite a desire for action;
03) Repetition is not limited to one set of repeated words or phrases. In fact, multiple sets of repetition can facilitate progression.
For an example of the power of repetition to arouse passion in a reader, read the Declaration of Independence.
PONDER THE PLAIN POSITIVES
Focus your writing by keeping it simple:
01) Get to the point - skip the meaningless introductory sentences, unless they’re part of your character’s voice;
02) Shorten complex sentences - while variable sentence length adds interest, most sentences should be 20 words or less;
03) Use active voice - in other words, write sentences from a specific P.O.V. rather than from a generic viewpoint;
04) Avoid empty subjects - "it is" and "there are" make weak lead-ins;
05) Drop waffle words - adverbs of degree (somewhat, very, rather, etc.) are hedges which weaken writing. Any adverb which doesn’t change the sentence’s meaning should be deleted;
06) Replace multi-word verbs - replace "leave out" and "run off" with "omit" and "elope", for instance. (PERSONAL NOTE: Unless it is in dialog and that is the way your character speaks.)
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