Writing a book - tips from an author #10
Symbolism and your novel
Every work of fiction contains symbolism, at least at some
level. You may think you are writing a bluff, no-nonsense gritty
factual history, and yet there will be readers who can analyze
what you wrote and extract a symbolism that may astound you. You
may even end up wondering 'how did I write that?'! Your
characters, the things they do, the places and situations you
set them in are all powerful opportunities for symbolism,
whether you want it or not, and you should at the very least be
aware of this phenomenon. The most successful novels inspire
human urges and drives by that very symbolism - an example would
be the bizarre fact that private school numbers in the UK have
risen since the publication of the 'Harry Potter' novels! This
is not to say that UK parents are so weird they think they are
sending their kids to a 'school for magic', it is the SYMBOLISM
that attracts them - the idea of adventure amongst a group of
friends, in an environment that is at the same time stimulating,
yet controlled.
The reason for the presence of symbolism in everything we write
is, of course, fairly obvious. We draw on our own experiences
and imagination when writing, and we are all part of the culture
in which we live. Cultures, by definition, have strong symbolic
themes running through them, and these themes have a tendency to
resurface regularly in order to reinforce the culture. In many
ways, you can't help applying your culture-specific experiences
to the actions and drives of your characters - after all, YOU
are writing it, and the internal voice that tells you what to
write down is part and parcel of all that makes you YOU. If you
try and go against your own internal promptings, you may find
that your writing becomes stale, or unconvincing. Your internal
symbols may very well be the most powerful writing tool you
possess!
There is a theory that every story can be reduced down to this:-
There is a problem, the problem gets solved. At www.GetPlotted.com we
believe you can go a step further - the solving of a problem is
in all cases actually a search for identity on the part of the
characters doing the solving. The identities of your characters
start off as a reflection of their position in society (or lack
thereof!). Comedy typically involves a character moving from an
isolated position (poverty, misunderstanding, social inability)
to a position of acceptance - the so called 'happy ending'. A
tragedy, on the other hand, tends to show a character moving
from social acceptance to a state of isolation.
Likewise, the meta-symbolism of a story may involve the
restoration or saving of an entire society, in which case the
protagonists have a heroic role, a concept stretching all the
way back to the Greeks. The dangers faced by the hero are
symbols of the dangers everyone must face in everyday life. This
is not to say that we all must fight monsters or evil cattle
barons on a daily basis, but that the hero's actions are a
symbol for our own daily struggles, 'writ large'. Avoiding going
too 'over the top' is one of the most important lessons that you
can learn at www.GetPlotted.com, because
there is no faster way to alienate an audience than to
mis-manipulate their comfortable symbols. Most people, if they
understand this at all, only do so on an unconscious level,
which is, of course, why story telling has such a powerful role
in our society.
The symbolism of surprise is also a strong undercurrent in most
cultures. People generally know what it is like to be surprised,
and this is why the 'twist in the tale' story is such a powerful
genre. By experiencing second-hand these surprises, and the way
the protagonists deal with them, people subconsciously get a
warm feeling, perhaps even an intimation that they could also
now deal with a surprise of that kind, should it arise. We'll
look a little more closely at symbolism in the next article.