#Symbolism in Writing

[novlr]

The symbolism of flowers

Flowers have a long history of symbolism that you can incorporate into your writing to give subtext.

Symbolism varies between cultures and customs, and these particular examples come from Victorian Era Britain. You'll find examples of this symbolism in many well-known novels of the era!

Amaryllis: Pride

Black-eyed Susan: Justice

Bluebell: Humility

Calla Lily: Beauty

Pink Camellia: Longing

Carnations: Female love

Yellow Carnation: Rejection

Clematis: Mental beauty

Columbine: Foolishness

Cyclamen: Resignation

Daffodil: Unrivalled love

Daisy: Innocence, loyalty

Forget-me-not: True love

Gardenia: Secret love

Geranium: Folly, stupidity

Gladiolus: Integrity, strength

Hibiscus: Delicate beauty

Honeysuckle: Bonds of love

Blue Hyacinth: Constancy

Hydrangea: Frigid, heartless

Iris: Faith, trust, wisdom

White Jasmine: Amiability

Lavender: Distrust

Lilac: Joy of youth

White Lily: Purity

Orange Lily: Hatred

Tiger Lily: Wealth, pride

Lily-of-the-valley: Sweetness, humility

Lotus: Enlightenment, rebirth

Magnolia: Nobility

Marigold: Grief, jealousy

Morning Glory: Affection

Nasturtium: Patriotism, conquest

Pansy: Thoughtfulness

Peony: Bashfulness, shame

Poppy: Consolation

Red Rose: Love

Yellow Rose: Jealously, infidelity

Snapdragon: Deception, grace

Sunflower: Adoration

Sweet Willian: Gallantry

Red Tulip: Passion

Violet: Watchfulness, modesty

Yarrow: Everlasting love

Zinnia: Absent, affection

[writers-potion]

MASTERPOST (PT. 1)

Daily Writerly Updates! | Open to post requests & questions My Writing Tea & Tips Community: @@writing-tea-tips

+ Feel free to chat with me anytime :) Think of me as your next door writer neighbor 🏡

If you like my blog, buy me a coffee☕ and find me on instagram! 📸

For worldbuilding, vocab lists, weapons &fighting, and more: MASTERPOST PART 2>>

❤️ Romance Writing Prompts

Meet-Cute Ideas

Reponses to: "How Could You?"

Responses to: "Break my heart." 💔

How would you develop a relationship that’s been constantly one-sided?

Enemies-to-Lovers Dialogue Prompts

List of Relationship Tropes <3

Library Romance Prompts

Arranged Marriage Prompts

Responses to: "I love you"

Soulmates AU Prompts

"I love you but I don't" Prompts

Romance Novel Tropes & Subgenres: a comprehensive list

The Romantic Academic

Forbidden Love Dialogue Prompts

Angry Love Confessions

---

☕📜Writing Scenes

Scenes: The Basics🏕️

Structuring Your Fight Scene

Writing Funny (But Intense) Action Scenes

Ideas for Flashback Scenes

Writing The Perfect Kiss Scene

Fantasy Battle Scenes 101

---

✧𑁍.ೃPlot Tips & Tropes

A Very Brief Outline of the Three-Act Structure

Plot Type 1: "The Quest"

Writing Text Conversations - follower question

Fairy Murder Method Ideas 

Gossiping Scene Idea Prompts

Child Eating Fairies Ideas + The Mysterious Cave Trope - follower question

Writing Political Intrigue

Comforting a Fire Girl Scene - follower question

Energize a Sluggy Middle

2 Types of Deaths in Fiction

Literary vs. Commercial Plots

Fantasy Tropes that I Love

Writing the Perfect Betrayal 

Writing Strong Opening Lines

Plotting Tips for Romantasy

Dark Fantasy Tropes List

Dark Academic Plot Must-Haves 

---

✩₊˚.⋆☾ POV Related

1st vs. 3rd POV For Mad Characters

Emotionless Character POV

🧛🏻‍♀️Character Writing Tips

Redeeming The Bad Boy Character

How to Write Redemption Arcs 

Writing Diverse Characters - Things to Remember

Character Nickname Ideas

How to Write Liars Believably

Choosing the Right Character

Organizing Character Relationships

Writing 1st POV Character Fears 

Introducing Non-binary Characters

Teasing Sibling Dialogue Prompts

Writing A Drug Addict Character

No Redemption Villains

Emotions and humanity for the Non-Human Character - follower question

Writing Gangsters

Characterization: Unforgettable Characters

Human Feelings for the Non-Human Character

The Character Arc: 101

Emotional Mini BIO

Writing Autistic Characters

On Writing Blind Characters

Writing Homosexual Characters 

Establishing the MC-Reader Bond

Writing Child Characters Believably 

Toxic Parent Prompts

Writing Morally Gray Characters 

Writing the "Mean Girl" Character

Writing Introverted Characters

Strong Female Characters 

Fantastical Asian Monsters (Part I)

🕐List of Dirty Character Traits

Dark Backstory Ideas

Good Characer Traits to bad

A List of Toxic Traits for Your Character 

Character Names with Unfortunate Meanings

---

MASTERPOST PART 2>>

[cknchicken]

This song makes me feel like this

[ancientroyalblood]

Weaving Themes into Your Writing: Crafting Meaningful Narratives

Stories are more than a sequence of events; they are a reflection of the human experience. Themes form the backbone of storytelling, providing depth and significance to the narrative. In this exploration of weaving themes into your writing, we will delve into the art of incorporating themes into your stories and why they matter. Themes are the heart and soul of your narrative, and understanding…

[farialyton]

The curtains were blue. The curtains were blue because the man who lived in the apartment's mother had always had blue curtains hanging and that little familiar touch always made him feel safe and loved. At home, in essence. His mother had blue curtains hanging in every room in her home because the rich neighbors from her childhood had blue curtains in their windows and it made her feel like she'd finally "made it". The rich neighbors of so many years ago had blue curtains because they reminded the husband of how happy his mom was when she got matching blue curtains for every window in their house, so very long ago. And the woman so long ago? Why did blue curtains make her so happy? Because she'd never had matching curtains in every window before finding them on clearance at Sears. Joy and meaning can come from any place and can grow and seep into even the most mundane of places.

What are your blue curtains?

[minutiaewriter]

I’ve said this before but:

I love symbolism.

Reading back through my work for the umpteenth time, I realize I love using insects and all other nature as symbolism the most

What do all of you favor for motifs in your stories?

[doll-poetry]

Love this🌸

Symbolism in Writing

Weather Symbolism

Rain: cleansing, sadness, renewal, obstacles

Sunshine: happiness, hope, clarity, energy

Storms: conflict, turmoil, dramatic change

Snow: purity, stillness, coldness, isolation

Fog: confusion, mystery, uncertainty

Wind: change, freedom, unrest, communication

Animal Symbolism

Eagle: freedom, vision, strength, courage

Lion: bravery, power, leadership, pride

Dove: peace, love, innocence, spirituality

Wolf: loyalty, cunning, survival, community

Snake: transformation, danger, temptation, wisdom

Butterfly: transformation, beauty, impermanence

Plant Symbolism

Rose: love, beauty, passion, secrecy

Oak Tree: strength, endurance, wisdom

Willow Tree: sadness, flexibility, resilience

Lotus Flower: purity, enlightenment, rebirth

Ivy: friendship, fidelity, eternity

Cactus: endurance, protection, warmth

Object Symbolism

Mirror: self-reflection, truth, illusion

Key: opportunity, secrets, freedom

Bridge: connection, transition, overcoming obstacles

Candle: hope, spirituality, life, guidance

Clock: time, mortality, urgency

Mask: disguise, deception, concealment

Number Symbolism

One: beginnings, unity, individuality

Two: partnership, balance, duality

Three: creativity, growth, completeness

Four: stability, order, foundation

Five: change, adventure, unpredictability

Seven: mystery, spirituality, luck

Season Symbolism

Spring: renewal, birth, growth, hope

Summer: vitality, abundance, joy, freedom

Autumn: change, maturity, decline, reflection

Winter: death, stillness, introspection, endurance

Light and Darkness Symbolism

Light: knowledge, purity, safety, enlightenment

Darkness: ignorance, evil, mystery, fear

Shadow: the unconscious, secrets, mystery

Twilight: ambiguity, transition, mystery

Element Symbolism

Fire: passion, destruction, energy, transformation

Water: emotion, intuition, life, change

Earth: stability, grounding, fertility, growth

Air: intellect, communication, freedom, change

[cjjasp]

Art, symbolism, and storytelling #writing

I love looking at visual art. Viewing paintings and photographs offers us a glimpse of a moment in time that may have occurred centuries ago or may not have occurred at all. Regardless, that moment is frozen and will never change. But I’m a writer. Paintings always show me a story with a past and a possible future. I’m not educated as an art historian and would never claim to be one. I’m just a…

[kimiko24]

DOG MOTIF

Are you looking for me?;I'm looking for you..

[vebokki]

wait! i get it, you're a luo binghe super fan huh

[novlr]

A quick guide to animal symbolism:

Animals have a long history of symbolism that varies between cultures and customs. As literary tropes develop, some animal symbolism has become universally recognised in the western literary canon. Here are some examples you can use in your writing to give subtext, develop motifs, or promote your thematic content.

🐥 Birds: freedom, hope, escape 🦁 Lions: strength, courage, royalty 🐶 Dogs: loyalty, devotion, protection 🐱 Cats: independence, stealth, mystery 🐺 Wolves: intelligence, nature, wildness 🦊 Foxes: cleverness, cunning, deception 🐍 Snakes: temptation, evil, deceit 🦋 Butterflies: transformation, change, new beginnings 🦉 Owls: wisdom, knowledge, mystery 🦅 Eagles: strength, freedom, nobility ◾ Ravens: death, mystery, the unknown 🕊️ Doves: peace, love, purity 🐻 Bears: resurrection, strength, power, new life 🤘 Bulls: virility, sovereignty, wealth

[allnovellas]

The Role of Symbolism in Your Story

Symbols have been an integral part of human communication since prehistoric times. We see them in ancient cave paintings, hieroglyphs, and now, they continue to play a vital role in modern storytelling. In literature, symbolism is a technique that can enrich your story, adding layers of meaning and emotional depth. In this article, we will explore the power of symbolism and how it can enhance…

[ouchmyghostskin]

[ancientroyalblood]

Exploring the Power of Symbolism in Writing

Writing is a craft where every word, every sentence, and every detail serves a purpose. It’s a canvas upon which authors paint their stories, and, sometimes, the paint they use is not just the ink on the page, but symbols that convey deeper meanings. Symbolism in writing adds complexity and depth, transforming a simple narrative into a profound, thought-provoking experience. In this exploration…

[somnimagus]

My page for @sheikahzine; about Impaz's duty to her village, empty of people and full of memories.

[id in alt text]

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Reference: The "Magical" Properties of Oils

Courage: Cedar, Musk, Rose Geranium

Fertility: Musk, Vervain

Friendships: Stephanotis, Sweetpea

Happiness: Apple Blossom, Sweetpea, Tuberose

Harmony: Basil, Gardenia, Lilac, Narcissus

Healing: Carnation, Eucalyptus, Gardenia, Lotus, Myrrh, Narcissus, Rosemary, Sandalwood, Violet

Hex-breaking: Bergamot, Myrrh, Rose Geranium, Rosemary, Rue, Vetivert

Love: Clove, Gardenia, Jasmine, Orris, Plumeria, Rose, Sweetpea

Luck: Cinnamon, Cypress, Lotus

Lust: Cinnamon, Clove, Musk, Vanilla

Magnetic—to Attract Men: Ambergris, Ginger, Gardenia, Jasmine, Lavender, Musk, Neroli, Tonka

Magnetic—to Attract Women: Bay, Civet, Musk, Patchouly, Stephanotis, Vetivert, Violet

Meditation: Acacia, Hyacinth, Jasmine, Magnolia, Myrrh, Nutmeg

Mental Powers: Honeysuckle, Lilac, Rosemary

Money: Almond, Bayberry, Bergamot, Honeysuckle, Mint, Patchouly, Pine, Vervain

Peace: Benzoin, Cumin, Gardenia, Hyacinth, Magnolia, Rose, Tuberose

Power: Carnation, Rosemary, Vanilla

Protection: Cypress, Myrrh, Patchouly, Rose Geranium, Rosemary, Rue, Violet, Wisteria

Psychic Powers: Acacia, Anise, Cassia, Heliotrope, Lemongrass, Lilac, Mimosa, Nutmeg, Sandalwood, Tuberose

Purification: Acacia, Cinnamon, Clove, Frankincense, Jasmine, Lavender, Myrrh, Olive, Sandalwood

Sleep: Lavender, Narcissus

Spirituality: Heliotrope, Lotus, Magnolia, Sandalwood

Excerpt from Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs More: Writing Notes & References