In this video, I delve into the art of embedding themes and symbols into your narrative.
With my Josie Prescott Antiques Mysteries series as a backdrop, I illustrate how I’ve subtly integrated themes into my stories—sometimes explicitly and other times through nuanced depictions.
From exploring themes of second chances to discussing the visual representations of themes through symbols, I aim to demystify these critical aspects of writing. Using an acorn’s symbolism as an example, I guide you on how to subtly hint at your narrative’s overarching theme.
If you’ve ever struggled with infusing your work with thematic richness or pondered about the role of symbolism, this video could be the resource you need to move forward in your writing journey.
Hello, Jane Cleland here. Interesting question: how can I integrate themes and symbols into the plot without making them overt?
First of all, theme is different than symbolism. A theme is a unifying element. For example, in Hidden Treasures, one of my Josie Prescott Antiques Mysteries, I used “second chances” as a theme. Sometimes it was overt—Josie said, “I believe in second chances.” But other times, it was not labeled. I don’t want to say it was subtle because it was still pretty overt, but it was not labeled specifically.
An older woman who’d been emotionally abused enters a room, sees the abuser there, and sits down with her back straight. It was a nice way of saying: “I’m open to a second chance, but you know—first time, shame on you; second time, shame on me. So I’m not going there again. But that doesn’t mean I can’t have a relationship with you in other ways or look at you perhaps with fresh eyes.”
So that’s one way to do it. You want to have it be woven throughout—whatever the theme is. Whether it’s finding love, whether it’s “money can’t buy happiness,” whether it is the search for redemption—you want to have some incidents that reflect it openly and others that do not.
In terms of symbolism, symbolism is usually a visual manifestation of the theme. For example, think about an acorn. An acorn comes from an oak tree, and oaks grow very slowly. Many families used an acorn as their family symbol. It might be woven onto their gate—a wrought iron fence where the top of each little spoke might be an acorn—or it might be the knocker on the door. This implies: we’re in it for the long haul; for those who are patient, great things accrue. That would be an example.
Interesting, right? Themes and symbols are important parts of writing. I know you can do it!
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[Music] Thank you!
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