This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida, Kathryn, & Robert discuss motifs, those recurring elements in a story that seem to live in the background yet enhance the power and meaning of narrative.
VIDEO
AUDIO
SHOW NOTES
What we talked about:
What is a motif? (0:25)
So what kind of motif’s can you use? (3:30)
How do we translate this to literature? (6:00)
Use your motif’s to support your revelatory moment. (11:10)
When does a motif become too much? (13:50)
Should you bury your motif’s? (19:24)
Should the motif serve the theme? (22:15)
Do you need the whole story to make the motif have meaning? (26:25)
LINKS
Get Alida’s Writing Tips here.
Things we mentioned:
Encanto
The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Fur Elise by Beethoven
Have thoughts, questions, other examples? Join the conversation at the Story Works Writers Facebook group.
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Do you learn something every week?
Do you feel like you have company on your writing journey?
About Your Hosts
Kathryn Arnold writes fantasy and anything else that sparks her creativity from her home in Kingston, Washington. She currently earns her living as an insurance underwriting assistant, where she also creates marketing and web copy. When not writing, she plays (and teaches) piano and keyboard in a band (or two), and is working on starting a ministry team with her husband. You can find Kathryn at www.skyfirewords.com.
Robert Scanlon was born in Australia, but whisked off to England when only a baby. After many years complaining about the weather, he did the sensible thing and moved back to Australia. Despite a career in the music industry, followed by decades teaching public speaking, Robert is an introvert who adores reading. Robert grew up on a diet of sci-fi masters, eventually discovering he had read the library’s entire science fiction section. Now he has to write his own. Robert is the author of Constellation, book one of the Blood Empire space opera series. Find out more at www.RobertScanlon.com
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