The search for interesting and better ways of telling a story is in the forefront of most writer's minds. Symbolic images can be included to enhance the reader's experience. In all cultures, certain images and ideas convey the same meaning to all participants. It is these images that writers use to explain or emphasise a particular point. The symbols may be good or evil, for example, a river can be described as "a river of life" it may also be the only safe way to get to a good location or it may be a place of death (drowning).

Wood may conjure many images like a tree (as the tree of life), a ship (as a vessel that saves lives or a vessel that is at the mercy of the seas), a cross (as a Christian symbol) or a utensil (that serves a practical purpose.

Here I will list symbolic images which are generally understood. It is by no means an exhaustive list. However it provides insight to may common symbolic images in the English-speaking world.

12 Symbolic Images used by Fiction writers:

• Sky may mean heaven, fate or necessity.

• Hell usually means death and fire. It defines a place where no one want to go to.

• Garden usually means something ordered or something that nature intended to be a service to mankind. However when it is described as 'overgrown,' the reader has an image of something 'out of control' or even 'evil.'

• Wilderness and dark forest usually depict nature being hostile to mankind.

• River has a beginning, a journey and end. It can mean life, starting small and ending in death much larger as the river ends in the sea.

• Sea usually depicts chaos, a sense of smallness in nature and death. It can also mean a source of life.

• Bridge usually means a link between two places. Often it links a good place to a bad place. It can link life and death or an other opposing image.

• Flowers depict beauty and innocence as well as youth and sexuality. Different coloured flowers have different meanings.

• Earth depicts a solid foundation and a source of sustenance for mankind.

• Farm (domesticated) animals provide sustenance and a sense of order and subservience.

• Wild animals depict evil and threats to mankind.

• Fire may mean light, life and even hell.

Symbolic images add value and depth to a work of fiction. Plan the inclusion of any literary devices so as not to confuse the reader. However, in the right place they can add great value and richness. Experiment and see there it leads!

Reading and writing are two great pastimes. I enjoy them both. My works are now available in Kindle and Paperback editions. They can be found through http://vur.me/giver2000/DNBOOKS
If you have any comments, please email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .