We (mostly) all hated it as kids, but as writers, we better understand how symbolism helps us add layers to our story and convey our themes. In a post on Writers Helping Writers, Angela Ackerman talks about ways you can use symbolism to add depth to your story.
“Symbolism can turn an ordinary object (or place, color, person, etc.) into something that goes beyond the literal,” Ackerman says. “As such, using universal symbols in fiction means writers can deliver a deeper message without having to state it outright. Not only that, symbols tighten description too. By its very nature, if something is understood to be symbolic, it’s conveying something more.”
Symbols also can be specific to a character or group of characters. A place or possession that triggers a memory or emotion can become a symbol throughout your work. The symbol should be something your character can encounter regularly. It can also do double-duty, if the symbol represents conflicting memories or emotions.
