Symbolism in Writing

It may come from my study of literature during the pursuit of my bachelor’s degree in English, but I love the idea of using objects to symbolize emotion. Certainly, this occurs outside of literature. Our society is teaming with symbolic gestures. Wedding rings symbolize the commitment or bond between married partners, while engagement rings similar a promise of commitment.


Even elements found in nature hold symbolic meaning. Keep this in mind when writing about the environment of your characters or the gifts they exchange. If your hero gives your heroine a bouquet of pink roses instead of red roses, a very different meaning is conveyed to your reader than you might have intended. Maybe you meant to suggest feelings of admiration, but if your novel is a romance, your reader will be looking for that universal gesture suggested by the receipt of a dozen red roses.


Even the long stem rose can hold a symbol all its own. Maybe the long stem represents a potential for long lasting love. I think of red roses as being very classy, I even get an image of a long-legged classy woman when I think of a long-stemmed rose. If you are stepping outside of universal meanings for symbols definitely be sure to define it for your readers. Have fun with symbolic gestures to add more depth and originality to your writing.

Hispanic Heritage Book Giveaway Contest - BONUS!

Sable Lit Reviews presents the Hispanic Heritage Book Giveaway Contest Bonus!
Over-achievers unite!! If you recall the giveaway contest rules, only one correct entry garner’s you eligibility to win one of the 5 boxes of 8 Hachette Hispanic Heritage bestsellers….

Well, Marcia McNair, the former assistant editor at Essence and current professor at Nassau Community College contacted me to offer up to five people who have faithfully answered additional questions to earn an increased chance to win a box of books to also be eligible to win an autographed copy of her new book E-Males.

Wahoo!! See, it does pay to do a little bit more!!!

So, for those of you who have correctly answered more than one question, not only have you increased your eligibility to win the box of 8, you also are eligible to win Marcia McNair (who’s of Cuban descent and nicely ties in to the theme of this contest….thank you very much!!)’s new book E-Males…

What’s E-Males about?

Whether it’s a handwritten note, diary, or e-mail, we’ve all been tempted to read someone else’s private writing. E-Males is a chance to indulge yourself without guilt and get an intimate glimpse of what African American women really think and say when they think no one else is reading. Ebony and Wanita tell each other everything. No subject is off limits or too politically incorrect. They rant and rave about on- and off-line romances, meddling mothers, single parenting, workplace drama, and brothers on the Down Low while simultaneously debating serious issues about race, class, and gender.

So, what if you’ve only answered one question or Heave-forbid you are just hearing about this and haven’t answered any?
Well, I suggest you get busy! You have until the original deadline of October 15th 2008 at 11:59 pm PST to answer at least two of the four questions correctly in order to be eligible for the giveaway and the bonus! If you’ve already answered one question and been notified that it was correct, then you only have to answer one more by the deadline. All four questions have now been posted so it doesn’t matter which two you answer.

Answering only one question only makes you eligible for the original Hachette giveaway. You must correctly answer two of the four questions to be eligible for the Marcia McNair bonus!!

Trust me, you don’t want to miss the opportunity to win Marcia McNair’s book! I will be reviewing it in the coming months as well!

Thanks Marcia for your graciousness and supporting Sable Lit Reviews as well as Hispanic Heritage Month!

Hispanic Heritage Book Giveaway’s Final Question

Welcome back and thanks for participating in Sable Lit Reviews’ Hispanic Heritage Month Book Giveaway! If you missed the three questions be sure to consult the Win Books Page or find them at the following links:

http://www.sablelitreviews.com/hh-book-giveaway-1

http://www.sablelitreviews.com/hh-book-giveaway-2

http://www.sablelitreviews.com/hh-book-giveaway-3


You will be provided with a question, a few clues, and the answer in a scrambled form. There is only one possible answer. Each week for four weeks, a new question and its supporting details will be provided. At least one of the four questions must be answered correctly and be provided by 11:59 p.m. PST on October 15th to be eligible for the book giveaway. Those answering more than one question will have increased chance of winning in direct proportion to the number of questions answered correctly. Once you have your answer(s) send an email to LMReviews@SableLitReviews.com to enter for a chance to win 8 free books from among Hachette’s bestsellers in the Hispanic genre. Here’s a reminder of the books up for grabs:

Dream in Color: How the Sanchez Sisters Are Making History in Congress By Linda Sánchez , Loretta Sánchez ISBN: 0446508047
Gunmetal Black By Daniel Serrano ISBN: 0446194131
The Gifted Gabaldón Sisters By Lorraine López ISBN: 0446699217
Bless Me, Ultima By Rudolfo Anaya ISBN: 0446675369
Brownsville By Oscar Casares
The Hummingbird’s Daughter By Luis Urrea ISBN: 0316154520
The General and the Jaguar By Eileen Welsome ISBN: 0316715999
Tomorrow They Will Kiss By Eduardo Santiago ISBN: 0316014125
Final Question: Name the Mexico City-born author who won the 1990 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Clues:

He wrote Labyrinth of Solitude.
He was appointed Mexican Ambassador to India in 1962.
He traveled to the U.S. to study on a Guggenheim Fellowship.
Answer Scramble:

OVIATOC ZAP

That’s the last question. Be sure to send the answer(s) in an email to LMReviews@SableLitReviews.com by 11:59 PST October 15 to be eligible to win one of the potential book packages each containing the 8 books indicated above.

For full disclousure of the rules, please review the Win Books tab at the top of this page!

Thanks for your participation in Hispanic Heritage Month!