Is There a Hidden Message in Your Writing?

Angelinity · Jul 25, 2008

So we write. Mostly because we are compelled to, there's nothing else we'd rather be doing full time.

Some of the writers I met say they write because they 'have something to say'.

Sometimes it's difficult for me to find this 'cloaked' personal message, but sometimes not. Going back to every piece of my writing, I was surprised to find there was always a statement, a message, often in plain sight. So I wondered whether I was conscious of this every time I wrote something, but it turns out I wasn't always.

Does your own writing come with a personal statement, a message of sorts? Is it premeditated, or does it just turn out that way?

Calla Lily · Jul 25, 2008

I write to scare the pants off readers, or to make them chuckle, to make them swoon, or to make them want to head for the kitchen and start cooking something yummy. That's it.

StoryG27 · Jul 25, 2008

The subliminal publish me message, yes! But it has not worked thus far.

Seriously, I don't write to push my beliefs onto others, so there's always a theme (and not even that is on purpose) but not really a message.

Danger Jane · Jul 25, 2008

My writing doesn't come with a moral--I leave that to Aesop. However, I don't actively prevent my beliefs/morality from seeping into my story, unless it's inappropriate. If a character happens to share a story-important belief with me, it's probably as much a coincidence as something like that can be.

Of course, the themes of my stories are tied in with my most fundamental beliefs, I suppose, so in that way, yes, my stories do have messages, in the forms of themes.

Writing is the ideal method of communicating and expressing, for me, but I do not write to promote an agenda or my own ideas about morality. ~~So I don't really know which option to choose.~~

ETA: Option 6 :tongue

Fillanzea · Jul 25, 2008

I think this is from Damon Knight: "A story exhibits theme, like a billboard, but contains meaning, like a jug." That works for me. I get annoyed at stories that are billboards; so frequently my reaction is something like, "But that isn't always true!" or "But I already KNOW that!"

The stories that I really love are the stories that reveal something about what it means to be alive, to be human, to love and try and fail, in a way that can't be summed up in just a sentence or two. The meaning is such that you need a couple of thousand words to convey it just right. And they're the stories that aren't afraid to contradict themselves a little. They're about the terror and pain of love AND the wonder of it, or about the life-changing aspects of art AND the limits of art.

None of the poll options really cover that for me - because I don't perceive my writing as ideological (okay, it is a little bit), but rather, as a story first, and a way of asking questions and thinking about life second, and a way to tell people what to think 833rd.

Angelinity · Jul 25, 2008

Sorry guys, mea colpa. I should have included this:

6. My stories often carry symbolism or meaning that is important to me.

I can't edit the poll options, so if the above is better suited to your personal experience, just indicate Option #6.

Clair Dickson · Jul 25, 2008

My writing often reflects consequences of certain choices, but beyond that I wouldn't give it any meaning or such.

As a writer, it always bugged the stuffing out of me when my english teachers would tell us what this author meant or what that symbolized-- how did they know? Did they know? To me, unless the author TELLS me themselves that they intended a certain thing, it's only interpretation. (Which, there's nothing wrong, I guess, with reading meaning that wasn't intended... but what if what has been interpreted is wrong?)

Calla Lily · Jul 25, 2008

#6, definitely. But I abhor authorial preaching with a high and holy hate, so yeah, if my MCs get a clue, it's possibly about something important to me. But only if it moves the plot along.

Richard Martin · Jul 25, 2008

My stories are thick with personal beliefs & morals & hidden meanings & complex symbolism, but it's all from my subconscious, so I'm not responsible.

Pike · Jul 25, 2008

I'm a 6. Danger Jane summed it up nicely. I don't actively write to preach but things leak out, both good and bad. Now somebody publish me.

benbradley · Jul 25, 2008

Clair's avatar reminds me that I would want to write an episode or two of South Park, unfortunately, those episodes have already been written and aired!

I don't know that I've ever "subconsciously" or "unconsciously" put any message into my writing, but yeah, I can preach a heavy sermon when I feel strongly enough.

BenPanced · Jul 25, 2008

"Please make checks payable to BenPanced..."

So my subconscious writes messages using clippings from magazines.

AZ_Dawn · Jul 25, 2008

There's no point in me adding hidden messages or meanings to my stories. For one thing, even a blatant message would be drowned by the "Cool, pirates!" factor. For another thing, everybody and their dog will make up one for me! :rant:

C.M.C. · Jul 25, 2008

A hidden message is useless. No one can see it if it's hidden. Oh, there I go being literal again.

Brutal Mustang · Jul 25, 2008

I put lots of "hidden" messages in my writing. Some people get them, others don't. And some people pick up messages and symbolism I didn't deliberately put in.

Mel · Jul 25, 2008

No messages here. My only mission is to cause my characters pain. It helps them grow.

Alpha Echo · Jul 25, 2008

By message, do you mean an underlying theme? Because every piece of work should have that. It doesn't have to be blatent, and it probably shouldn't be. That would be too intrusive. But, I know for me, there are several themes, several messages, and if one reads my work they would have a feel for who I am and what my beliefs are by the time the get to the last page. I don't set out to send a message, with a message in mind. But they are developed through my characters and their story.

Joycecwilliams · Jul 25, 2008

Angelinity said:
So we write. Mostly because we are compelled to, there's nothing else we'd rather be doing full time.

Some of the writers I met say they write because they 'have something to say'.

Sometimes it's difficult for me to find this 'cloaked' personal message, but sometimes not. Going back to every piece of my writing, I was surprised to find there was always a statement, a message, often in plain sight. So I wondered whether I was conscious of this every time I wrote something, but it turns out I wasn't always.

Does your own writing come with a personal statement, a message of sorts? Is it premeditated, or does it just turn out that way?

I love to write. I am sure that at times there are "messages" but at other times I write... just to write. I think it depends on what you writing about and what frame of mind you are in at the time.

i spy · Jul 25, 2008

Brutal Mustang hit on what i was thinking. mine have some that others relate to. others relate to some i wasn't aware of but became so after another person related to it. the mind is so much more than any definitive thought could categorize. how we think we could contain something within the expression of it is beyond me. and even if we could, someone else who reads it may not. i love connecting with others through words and meanings we may share, even if inadvertently.

Finni · Jul 25, 2008

If there was an option six I would've picked it.

I picked option 2 as the second best though. I am a very opinionated person about a lot of controversial subjects (like Palestine, religion, freedom from occupation), but I will never write about them. I see how divisive a soapbox can be, and the last thing this world needs is another soapbox speaker telling them what to think.

So I will keep my passionate opinions out of my stories and poetry. I only wish to inspire unity and peace -and a good story- with them.

JoNightshade · Jul 25, 2008

I pick #6.

Like everyone else has said, I don't use my writing as a soapbox because nobody likes to be preached at. (Well, except for those of us who attend church... there must be something wrong with me...) But yeah, I'm sure my values and beliefs leak through.

It was interesting... about a month ago I had an agent who suggested I make a fairly major change to my novel to make it more 'marketable' or so it would have more 'conflict' or something. At the moment I'm totally rewriting another novel for an agent, so it's not like I can't take a critique and run with it - but when I got this suggestion I thought about it for about 2 minutes before my brain just said NO. No, that is NOT what this story is about and it's never going to be about that. And I don't care if it never gets published, but there are certain things I refuse to change.

And then I remember just sitting there for a minute and thinking, "Wow. I'm NOT just writing for entertainment or fame or money. I'm writing because I actually feel like I have something important to say."

That was a cool feeling.

BenPanced · Jul 25, 2008

Mel said:
No messages here. My only mission is to cause my characters pain. It helps them grow.

Plus I get to practice my evil cackling, hand wringing, and mustache twirling.

virtue_summer · Jul 25, 2008

#6
I'm not trying to push a particular belief on others, but I do often use my stories to explore themes and ideas that I find interesting and the way the stories play out is certainly at least partially an expression of my own world view. For instance, my current story was written partly to explore what I see as a thin line between good and evil. I think that this is a natural consequence of writing. Our personal worldviews are going to shape everything we write, sometimes in a direct way and sometimes in ways that aren't so direct but are still there, lurking beneath the surface if we care to look for them.

dpaterso · Jul 25, 2008

When I read my writing backwards I often find Satannic messages...

But really, I'm too much of a "plain bread" writer to include anything so clever as a hidden message.

-Derek

Angelinity · Jul 26, 2008

I count 6 sixes:

Danger Jane
callalily61
Pike
Finni
JoNightshade
virtue_summer

So far, Option 3 is in the lead.

Is There a Hidden Message in Your Writing?

Is there a message in your story?

Writing is the ideal tool for communicating my beliefs

I am very careful about keeping personal beliefs out of my writing.

If there is a message anywhere in my story, that's news to me.

Yeah, there's a subliminal message in my writing: PUBLISH me already!

Message? You better let me drive, 'k!

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