In this video, I’m exploring the when, why, and how of using epigraphs effectively.
Do you need one? Not necessarily, but if you choose to include an epigraph, I’ll cover everything you should consider in this video. I also share my go-to method for finding the perfect quote and an important caveat that every writer should heed.
Jane Cleland here. “What’s an epigraph, and do I need one?” An epigraph is an apposite quote. It starts the novel, sometimes each chapter within a novel. It sets the tone, the theme, the mood. I like them, but do you need them? No. If you’re going to use one, you want to really spend some time thinking about what the overarching theme of your story is. Which means that people often choose the epigraph at the end, after they’ve had time to consider the entire story arc.
The other thing to consider is that you want it to be quite short, just a sentence or two, although sometimes you’ll see a verse of song lyrics or a verse of a poem. The next thing to consider is you need to make sure it’s available to you to use. Is it copyrighted? And for that, you go to the copyright office, but you might need to do additional research as well, find out what year it was first published, and then find out and confirm whether the copyright is still in force. Now, keep in mind, I’m not an attorney, so I’m giving you general, um, advice here.
You choose your epigraphs with not just the theme in mind, but also your genre. Are you trying to lay the groundwork for something that’s quite serious and dark? Or are you trying to be humorous and playful? There’s no right or wrong. This is genre specific and your style specific. These can be very effective. Something to think about.
Now, if you’re going to use one, how do you find quotes? Well, I use BrainyQuote. Type in keywords and it’ll bring you all sorts of intriguing ideas and suggestions. One caveat, one warning I’ll pass along, is if you find one you like, research the author. Make sure the author is not affiliated with a cause, a position, or an organization, a situation, uh, that you’re not comfortable, uh, being associated with. You just never know. You never know. So check it out. Do your research.
But epigraphs, I think they’re pretty powerful. If this tip had value for you, would you like it? Would you share it? Would you subscribe to the channel? That opens up features that lets us make these videos even more helpful for you. So thank you for that. And I welcome your comments. I, uh, read them all. Thank you.
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