Writing motifs are cool. They are one of those elements that elevate your novel from something crooning Celine Dion off-key on a karaoke stage to Ms. Dion herself.
Seriously.
They are a big deal.
Here is what LitCharts says about them:
MOTIFS ARE THE SHEBANG SHEBANG
Basically, motifs:
Make things moody;
Help pimp out the main themes of your story;
Act a bit like foreshadowing and make your readers psychic; it helps them ‘get’ the story on a deeper level;
Uses repeating symbols or patterns to make a deeper layer of meaning; and
Are cool.
A MOTIF IS NOT A THEME!
According to MasterClass,
“Themes are the main ideas of a work of literature. They represent the meaning or question behind the series of events that make up the narrative.
“Motifs are recurring elements that point to these themes. In other words, motif is a tool used to craft theme. While themes are abstract and conceptual, motifs are tangible and concrete.”
So . . .
“If a story features repeated images of handwashing, mopping floors, and refreshing rain, then these images of cleansing water are a recurring literary motif. A theme of the story might be ‘the desire for purification.’ The theme is a matter of interpretation, open to debate, but the motif is an indisputable pattern in the text.”
A MOTIF IS NOT JUST A SYMBOL!
Motifs use the heck out of symbols (hello green light at the end of the dock in The Great Gatsby) but they are not always the same thing.
Sometimes a symbol is just a symbol, just a sweet object that’s representing something abstract (like love or power).
The big difference? A symbol can show up once and be done. A motif requires multiple appearances.
WHY ARE WRITERS INTO MOTIFS?
Again, according to LitCharts,
“Writers incorporate motifs in their work for a number of reasons:
“They help writers organize symbols, plot developments, and imagery into broader patterns that emphasize the main themes of the work.
“They give a work a sense of structure and continuity by creating patterns that recur throughout the work.
“They can help writers weave together different and seemingly unrelated parts of a narrative.
“They enable writers to subtly restate or remind the reader of certain ideas throughout a text using vivid and often memorable imagery.”
LAST WEEK’S PODCAST
We talked a bit about writing! Yay! You should check it out if you’re into people bickering on unprofessional podcasts and husbands making their wives blush. Or not. It’s all good.
PLACE TO SUBMIT
Blink-Ink Call for Submissions: Issue #54 Family
Deadline: October 15, 2023
Family farm * Family tree *Family jewels * Family finances * Family fortune* Family feud * Family plot * Family dinner * Family resemblance * Family vacation * Family reunion * Family photos * Family traditions * Family heirlooms * Family friends * Family album * Family values * Family ties * Family practice * Family business * Family trip * Family problems * Family picnic * Family atomics * and Family dog. What else? Send us your best unpublished stories of approximately 50 words, about Family. Submissions are open September1st, 2023 through October 15th, 2023. No attachments, poetry, bios, or AI generated content please. Send submissions in the body of an email to blinkinkinfo@gmail.com. www.blink-ink.org
WRITE SUBMIT SUPPORT
And also there is this happening at the Writing Barn. The link is highlighted if you want to check it out.