Many think that writing a story can be as simple as telling one direct tale, but every good novel has deeper meanings, motifs, and powerful symbols. Even if the whole point of the book is for it to be simple and basic, many of the best stories will always have layers and deeper meanings rather than simply the words on the pages. Many of the best books, including Lord of the Flies, To Kill a Mockingbird, and even our beloved Harry Potter novels all contain deeper meanings, and to write a great novel is to include these messages.

So, how does one include deeper meanings into writing? Well, you can make a leader that gains a power that mirrors that of historical figures, or you can use other symbols to hide how certain plot lines may reveal the truth in some humans. Many stories after the Second World War would display ideas of conformity and the evil within all humans, making it incredibly interesting to read through the tale. Being able to read a story on the easiest level as well as through the deepest messages makes it more exciting and engaging.

It’s important to note, though, these deeper meanings—contrary to popular opinion—do not have to be political. These messages can be about politics or turning it into a political drama, but it shouldn’t be pushing a political agenda through a novel. That turns a great novel into a horrible mess.

Motifs can also make a story more interesting. Having a recurring object or idea helps connect different aspects of the story easier as well as giving the tale an easy way to connect everything together. Telling a story on a basic level is rather easy, while being able to tell a deeper tale alongside it can make the novel not just more interesting but also can boost it from just being a base level novel. A motif could be fire or water, yet it could also be things like marriage or death. Whatever it may be, the recurrence of motifs makes novels not just more interesting but also gives the reader a sense of joy when recognising the real meaning of the motif. Remember, though, that a motif is not just any random object. A motif has to have a reason to be there. If not, then it will seem like a random decision and will look messy, so keep that in mind!

A final topic is symbols. Whether that be a specific object or even a colour, the way a symbol can be used to represent a larger idea is commonly used but not always executed well. When using a symbol, make sure that it has both a basic and deeper meaning. Make it so that two different people can understand the object differently. It should also be that the hidden meaning is not always so obvious. It can also help justify the characters actions in certain scenes or foreshadow actions later in the novel.

The combination of symbols, motifs, and deeper meanings turn a novel from being a basic and mediocre read to being incredibly interesting and a symbol of genius literature. It shows how the novel was thought out and can offer foreshadowing or allusions to the outside world. Either way, these are secrets in storytelling that are necessary to transform a book into its incredible final product. Thank you for reading… goodbye!

Written by Michael I.
Edited by Hazel Antler.
Proofread by Sara Rowan.