Writers in the Storm

by Dr. Diana Stout

The motif is an important literary device used in film and literature to deepen meaning.

A motif is an object or idea represented through an action or an object and is repeated throughout the story. The motif creates tension, deepens emotion, and is often well-remembered. Overall, the theme and motif work together. While the theme is a message that comes out of the story’s main idea, the motif is a symbol that visually embodies and supports the theme.

Motif use in film

Remember the little girl’s red coat in the black and white film of Schindler’s List? The red color symbolizes blood, and with a little girl’s coat colorized, the symbol further represents innocence. Because we see her several times, the coat becomes a motif, supporting the theme of innocent blood being spilled.

In Top Gun, there are multiple motifs, including his best friend’s dog tags. When Goose dies, Maverick hangs on to them tightly, wanting to quit, thus following Goose out of service. Then later, Maverick talks to the tags wanting Goose to tell him what to do, and then near the end of the story, Maverick throws the tags into the ocean, releasing Goose, thus forgiving himself.

Using multiple motifs

The movie, Out of Africa, presents many motifs. A few of them are:

• Karen’s possessions – so many in the beginning, so few at the end; how she learns to let go.
• Coffee crops – trying to grow a crop not natural to Africa, the meaning behind the crop’s growth and then its loss in the ultimate destruction of fire replicates her own journey there.
• Water – how she tries to corral and control it, yet lets it go in the end by allowing it to flow naturally again.
• Karen’s hair – so precise in the beginning, then goes totally wild—like Africa. She becomes less precise in multiple areas.
• The true Romance – she tries to contain it, to put a name to it. Then, is forced to let it go.

(To read the paper I wrote about these motifs and others in detail and what each means, click here.)

Motifs with multiple meanings in literature and film

In Wuthering Heights, the moor’s beauty and wildness duplicate the characters’ struggles, especially Catherine and Heathcliff’s.

In the Hunger Games, the Mockingjay is first seen as a sign of camaraderie and hope; then, as a sign of united rebellion. Before the contest, she uses the bow and arrow to hunt for food. Later it’s her weapon of choice in the game both to secure food and as security against her enemies. Later, the bow and arrow are used for security and rebellion, securing freedom for the people.

Jane Austen uses walking as a motif in many of her books.

In the 1995 movie, Persuasion, Anne Elliot is walking when she experiences an injury, which mimics the emotional injury of her feelings for Captain Wentworth, especially as she overhears him talking about her. In the end, when Anne and Wentworth finally face each and kiss, a large group of noisy people are walking past them. Among the crowd are clowns, a band, a juggler, and someone on stilts. It’s a circus. As Anne and Wentworth walk arm in arm in the opposite direction, they’re leaving the circus life they’ve endured over the last decade behind them.

Exploring motifs in opposition

The dandelion in my book, Grendel’s Mother, represents both death and infinite life.

• As a young girl, she plucks a dandelion seed ball out of the ground and blows on it. Quickly, her mother chides her, saying, “You dance with death.”
• The second time, it’s late at night and she’s in the forest alone. Once again, she plucks a dandelion with a seed ball out of the ground and blows on it. She’s grabbed from behind to find that it’s her love interest who chides her about being out in the woods late and alone. When he leaves, she finds a second seeded dandelion and blows on it with a horrendous event following immediately. Weeks later, with the event uncovered, she’s removed from the community via a dragon who instead of destroying her, ends up rescuing her.
• Years later, her son, Grendel, while giving her a seed ball dandelion, holds it up to her face and blows on it, dispersing the seeds all around her. Immediately, she recalls her mother’s warning.

In the end, she acknowledges she is very much like the dandelion—hardy and unable to be erased.

Motifs can come from any object:

• Weather
• Animals
• Food
• Modes of transportation & pathways
• Plants
• Household goods: teapots, mirrors, door, clocks, etc.
• Light & darkness
• Language
• Colors
• Music & Art
• Societal rules & tools: money, meetings, the law, etc.
• Buildings

Final thoughts

When crafting a story and you find the protagonist handling an object, consider how it can be used to represent change, growth, a downfall, moods, feelings, events, speech, friendship, and so forth.

Find ways to turn the ordinary into a motif, by which to deepen the story and the main character.

In doing so, your story and its main characters become memorable.

When thinking about a favorite story, can you name any of the motifs that were used?

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About Dr. Diana

Some content from this blog comes from the Motif element page in the just released book, Dr. Diana’s Toolkit for Better Writing: Proven Tips and Tricks for Every Writer, Every Field. More examples were added here to provide more illustration.

This new resource book is a practical, no-fluff guide packed with proven tips, tricks, and real-world strategies to help every writer—creative, business, or academic—write clearly, confidently, and effectively in any field, any genre.

An award-winning writer, Diana is a screenwriter, author, former English professor, and indie publisher, writing in multiple genres. Her split-in-time psychological thriller, Harbor House: Deadly Intentions, will be published November 18, 2025.

To learn more about Diana visit her website at sharpenedpencilsproductions.com.

Top Image by Goran Horvat from Pixabay

by Ellen Buikema

Self-doubt can stifle the creative process and block the ability to express oneself. This can cause real problems when writing a story.

When you ponder your writerly identity, what comes to mind?

• Your strength? Great confidence. “I can do this!”
• Or weakness?  Fear of failure. “What was I thinking?”

Self-doubt is an equal opportunity issue. Pessimists aren’t the only ones who deal with it. Optimists are not immune to the self-doubt train.

Steps to overcome writerly self-doubt

Questions may pop up in your mind, “What makes me think that I can actually write a book? Is it any good? Will anyone buy it?”

Do you use positive thoughts and build yourself up or negative self-talk, comparing yourself to others?

If it’s negative self-talk, recognize it for what it is to curb self-doubt from damaging your ability to write and cause feelings of unworthiness. Tell yourself that you are good enough and worthy of being heard. Recognizing the problem is the first big step to overcome it.

Where does self-doubt come from? 

At its core, self-doubt stems from many things.

Childhood experiences

• Highly critical adult authority figures
• Unrecognized talents
• Lack of encouragement
• Social awkwardness

When confidence has been stripped away at a young age, it is hard to get it back. A good dose of stubbornness helps.

Perfectionism

• Standards set too high
• Fear of failure
• Comparing self to others
• Seeing things only in black and white with no possibility for compromise or shades of gray

The Inner Critic

• Constantly questions our decisions and abilities
• Chips away confidence

Silencing that inner beast is tough. But when you discover the root causes of self-doubt, focus on your strengths and accomplishments so you can ignore the inner critic.

Writers on self-doubt

In the publishing world, writers are confronted with a plethora of competition, and criticism. Then there is the rejection. Know that writers, even the accomplished ones, deal with this.  All of it—food for self-doubt.

Writing is an artform. Many artists are prone to self-doubt, so it isn’t surprising that writers face the same struggle. There’s much self-doubt to go around. Consider the following greats who did battle with that fear.

“The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.” –- Sylvia Plath

“Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win,
by fearing to attempt.” ― William Shakespeare

“Writing fiction, especially a long work of fiction can be a difficult, lonely job; it’s like crossing the Atlantic Ocean in a bathtub. There’s plenty of opportunity for self-doubt.” ― Stephen King

“I'm not too fond of the hard work and the constant battle with self-doubt that goes on when I write, but I figure that's part of the territory.” ― Robert Sheckley

“Each time I write a book, every time I face that yellow pad, the challenge is so great. I have written eleven books, but each time I think, ‘Uh-oh, they’re going to find out now. I’ve run a game on everybody and they’re going to find me out.’”
― Maya Angelou

Overcoming self-doubt

To quiet the negative voice, you not only need to hear that you are worthy to be heard—you need to believe it.

• Set aside your worries as you are able
• Step away from the writing world for a time
• Focus on overcoming the blocks that are walling you off from the success you want, then return to writing

Begin your journey to face self-doubt today. Bring that confidence to your writing and see how that effects your life.

Kick your inner critic to the curb

There is no “I’m not good enough.” Don’t allow negative self-talk to sabotage your creativity.

Sometimes it helps to lavish encouragement on others. Tell them how proud you are of them, how wonderful they are, that it’s okay to make mistakes, as errors help us learn to be better writers. Sometimes those errors lead us to new and interesting stories.

In helping others, we may encourage ourselves. And your encouraging words will be passed along to others along the way.

When you recognize that your inner critic is creeping in, have a go-to phrase you can say out loud to lessen the impact of that negative inner voice. 

Here are some suggestions:

1. “Stop!”
2. “Nope. I’ve got this!”
3. “I can do this.” 
4. “I’m talented.”
5. “I’m better than this!”

“What if I fall? Oh, my darling, what if you fly?”— Erin Hanson

If you focus on (failing) falling, you’re letting doubt take over. Instead, focus on flying free from limitations, doubt, and fear. Dive into new experiences and possibilities.

Your thoughts create life, keep them positive.

Build yourself up when experiencing self-doubt

Give yourself some grace. No one is perfect. Recognize your humanity.

Listen to music. This is something I do to help myself. Songs can be inspirational and truly are mood-changing.

Sing and dance until negativity leaves you. Your motivation will return.

There will always be critics. Work on developing a thicker skin, and be open for constructive criticism.

Build up your love of self and confidence level to better face doubts.

Celebrate your wins

Many people talk about writing a book. The fact that you are working on one is a big win.

Celebrate when you recognize moments of self-doubt and confront them—building a shield made of confidence and positivity.

Do you struggle with self-doubt or imposter syndrome as an artist? What do you do to handle self-doubt?

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About Ellen

Author, speaker, and former teacher, Ellen L. Buikema has written non-fiction for parents, and The Adventures of Charlie Chameleon chapter book series with stories encouraging the development of empathy—sprinkling humor wherever possible. Her Works in Progress are The Hobo Code, YA historical fiction and The Crystal Key, MG Magical Realism/ Sci-Fi, a glaze of time travel.

Find her at https://ellenbuikema.com or on Amazon.

Top Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

By Jenn Windrow

It’s spooky season and I was given the chance to post on Halloween and what better topic to talk about than adding suspense in your writing. As a developmental editor, it is something I look for in every manuscript, not just thrillers or mysteries. Even romance needs a certain amount of suspense on the page. It might not include creaky doors or people lurking in the corners, but even a first kiss can be suspenseful. The moment before lips meet, the held breath, the fear that the other person might pull away, those are emotional jump scares, and they keep readers hooked as much as any ghost story.

Suspense is the writer’s version of creaking floorboards and flickering lights. It’s not about jump scares or gore; it’s about making your reader lean forward, clutch the book tighter, and whisper, don’t go in there.

And a haunted house is the perfect blueprint for how to build it.

1. The Front Door: Hook Them Immediately

When you step up to a haunted house, you already feel the unease. The same goes for your story’s opening. Suspense begins with atmosphere. A strange smell, an offhand comment, a door left ajar. Any detail that tells the reader something’s wrong here.

In romance, this might be the first meeting. Something is off, too electric, too intense. One glance across the room and the reader already knows: this isn’t going to be simple.

Writing tactic: Start with a detail that doesn’t fit. If everything looks normal, give it a crack in the veneer. Surprise your reader with something odd, abnormal, even a bit unsettling, and you will hook them from the start.

2. The Flickering Lights: Raise Doubt

In haunted houses, the lights never work quite right. They tease you with glimpses, then plunge you back into the dark. Suspense thrives on partial information. Show readers just enough to keep them curious but deny them certainty.

In romantic suspense, this means secrets. One character holds something back. Trust wavers. Every smile could hide betrayal, every touch could mean danger.

Writing tactic: Reveal in pieces. A noise without a source. A figure glimpsed, then gone. A hesitation in a lover’s eyes. Let the reader fill in the blanks with their own worst fears

3. The Creaking Floorboards: Layer the Tension

Every step deeper into a haunted house adds weight. The sound grows louder, the air grows colder, and the reader knows something is coming. Suspense builds in layers. Each unsettling moment stacks on the one before it.

In romance, tension layers too. Emotional stakes climb with every misunderstanding, every almost-confession. The fear of heartbreak is its own kind of haunting.

Writing tactic: Escalate gradually. Add small, unsettling beats that pile up until the reader feels trapped in the best way. Early glimpses of the unknown are scarier, and more engaging, than a sudden reveal.

4. The Locked Room: Delay the Reveal

Every haunted house has a door you shouldn’t open. Readers want to know what’s inside, but the moment you reveal it, the suspense collapses. The trick is to delay. Tease, hint, and make the anticipation unbearable before you finally turn the knob.

In a romance, this might be the secret that changes everything or the confession that risks breaking them apart. The longer you wait, the more the emotional payoff matters.

Writing tactic: Hold back the answer. Stretch the reader’s patience until they’re begging for release. When that final reveal lands, whether it’s a kiss or a ghost, it hits twice as hard.

5. The Ghost in the Mirror: Pay Off the Build-Up

The payoff must justify the dread. Suspense that fizzles out is worse than no suspense at all. Whether it’s a shocking twist, a terrifying confrontation, or an emotional confession that shatters both hearts, the reveal needs to deliver on the promise you’ve been making since page one.

Writing tactic: Don’t always explain. Sometimes the scariest, or most romantic, thing is what the reader never fully understands. Leave a trace of mystery lingering in the reflection.

Final Thought: Keep Them in the House

Suspense is about control. You build the house, lead your reader inside, and shut the door behind them. Every creak, shadow, and silence keeps them moving deeper, even when they desperately want to leave. That’s the haunted magic of a well-built story, whether it ends with a scream or a kiss.

Because in the end, love and fear live in the same dark hallway. Both make your pulse quicken, your breath catch, and your imagination race ahead to what might be waiting just around the corner. Romantic suspense isn’t just about who’s behind the door, it’s about whether your heart can survive opening it. Keep your readers chasing that thrill, and they’ll follow you into any haunted house you build.

Do you have a moment in your story that has readers holding their breath? Share it in the comments.

About Jenn Windrow

Jenn Windrow once attempted to write a “normal” book—and promptly bored herself into a coma. So now she sticks to what she does best: writing snarky, kickass heroines, broody supernatural men, and more sexual tension than a vampire in a blood bank.

She’s the award-winning author of the Alexis Black novels and the Redeeming Cupid series, where the undead never sparkle and the drama is always delicious. Jenn moonlights as a developmental editor, helping other writers wrangle their wild plots and tangle-free prose.

When not arguing with her characters or muttering about Oxford commas, she can be found binge-watching trash TV, wrangling the slew of animals that live in her house (husband and teenagers included), or telling herself she’ll only have one more cookie.

You can find her at jennwindrow.com or lurking on social media where she pretends to be an extrovert.

Header image by Ján Jakub Naništa - Unsplash