There is much about autumn to inspire. The changeable
light and variable weather, along with the approaching holiday season, make
fall the perfect time to explore the essential craft elements of mood, motif,
setting, story and theme. Here are ways to make the most of these indispensable
artistic writing tools.
Mood
One definition of mood is the story’s emotional
setting or atmosphere. When considering mood, ask yourself these questions:
- How might the reader feel while reading the piece?
- Does the mood of the prose complement a particular scene, the chapter and the overall story?
Motif
Motif could be
described as a concept or an idea, usually repeating, that conveys the story’s
theme in a subtle way. When using motif, ask yourself these questions:
- Do my motifs deepen the story and its theme with each repeated mention?
- Do the repeats vary sufficiently in wording and/or subtlety so as not to be obvious to convey something more about the story with each mention?
- Do the types of motifs complement the story’s theme? For example, if your story is about a struggling musician, you might mention timing, the sound of the wind or scaling a mountainside while on a hike.
Setting
Setting is a broader category of
craft element than writers may realize. Setting includes the story’s time or
era, its place, and the conditions wherein the action takes place and establish the
story’s context. When using setting, ask yourself:
- Is my setting sufficiently developed?
- Does it include the timeframe, location(s) and broader landscape of the story?
- How does the setting mirror and/or contrast with the plot and/or character(s) for which it forms the backdrop?
Story
The definition of
story is actually simpler and more straightforward than most writers realize.
It could be described as what happens in the story overall. When working
out your story, consider these questions:
- Are the events presented in an original way?
- Do the events reflect the writer’s knowledge of the plot without overshadowing the story?
Theme
Theme is what the story is really
about, not what it seems to be about on a surface level. Theme is all-important
and should be conveyed upfront, in the first paragraph, if possible. When
working with theme, ask yourself:
- What is my story really about?
- Does the subject have both universal and individual appeal?
- Is the theme conveyed in an original way that shows what’s at stake?
- What are the consequences of the characters’ choices, and how do they impact the story?
People
often find that when the seasons change, their mood changes, too. And the decreasing
daylight hours of autumn usually mean a period of adjustment, maybe a dip in
energy levels, changes in routine and some missteps in modifying our lives to
match the time of year. Given this reality, it can take a couple of weeks to move through the
continual light of summer to the growing darkness of fall. Yet, throughout the
transition, writers can embrace the changes and even use them in their
writing while adjusting their lives accordingly.
The changes in weather, and even
the increase in darkness, can serve to inspire writers — and not just those who
write dark stories. It’s the mood. It’s the magic. It’s change itself, to
cooler climes and pristine skies, and the shushing sounds of falling leaves.
Happy
writing and happy and safe holidays!
Adele Annesi is an award-winning author, editor
and teacher. For questions on writing, email Adele Annesi.
