Three Writing Mechanisms You Can’t Live Without
Writing Tips
When I was 6 or so, my father read me a bedtime story, Little Red Riding Hood — a somewhat terrifying tale that he somehow thought would lull me to sleep. Here, in this most innocent setting, my writing journey began.
The stories my father read to me, held the key to some powerful literary devices and writing mechanisms. One of my favorite examples of this is the Big, Bad Wolf.
What is a literary device or writing mechanism?
A literary device or writing mechanism is one of many techniques used by writers to create a desired effect. Examples would be alliteration, irony, simile, metaphor and so many other mechanisms of language.
There is an ancient proverb that says, deep inside the soul of every writer lies a wolf, disguised as a reader.
The reader’s mind is bombarded with words and cues—beyond elements of plot, character, and conflict, and eventually comes to understand motivation and identity— underlying elements of what makes the character tick or the plot advance.
Ultimately, the reader will uncover the wolf in the story.
As a writer, I know that the symbolism of the wolf has become a significant writing mechanism in literature. Here, I’ve included three essential literary devices you can’t live without — to add fuel to your writing.
1. Danger and Suspense — The Big, Bad Wolf, Villain or Anti-Hero
The metaphor of the wolf draws the reader in, with a host of emotions: fear, deceit, danger.
It turns out that the wolf is one of the writer’s best friends. The presence of the wolf, or the shark, or the dragon to be slayed — is a source of excitement for the reader.
The villain or the flawed anti-hero adds an extra dimension of danger or suspense to the story, as a source of conflict. A torrential storm, the high seas, or someone’s internal struggle with addiction, can also serve the purpose of being the wolf of the story.
The mysterious college ex-roommate who turns up at the reunion to blackmail you with the threat of exposing your deepest, scandalous secrets from years ago can be a scintillating device that moves the plot with friction.
What would a hero be without a villain? What would the story of Red Riding Hood be without the wolf? (Just a little lackluster?)
2. The Screw-up and The Rags-to-Riches Metaphor of Cinderella’s Lost Glass Slipper
The consequences of not going back for the fallen glass slipper is the key here. This inaction (or screw-up) is a literary device that successfully moves the plot along for everything that is to follow. Her accidental mistake (or what some call an unplanned happy-accident) is what leads to the outcome of the story. The rags-to-riches cliché is another literary metaphorical device.
Related to the screw-up is the device of coincidence.
Which brings me to the third literary device:
3. The plot twist or surprise ending
Many readers lament the predictable or formulaic happy ending. That leads to the affirmation of plot twist and surprise ending.
One of my favorite writing mechanisms is to be aware of the implausibility, then come up with the twist the reader didn’t see coming. This advances the plot in the most delicious. devious ways that engage the reader.
A plot twist is a manipulated, unexpected paradigm shift in the story. It startles, then grips the reader’s interest. So, shake it up a bit, bend it like Beckham, tip over the apple cart.
You can feel free to utilize subtle clues and foreshadowing techniques that will make more sense to the reader, after the fact, without spoiling the plot. That is an art, in itself.
Think back to some films you’ve seen, like The Usual Suspects, Fight Club, Gossip Girl and how you felt when the story shifted.
Takeways
Keep these writing tips in mind:
- The elements of danger and suspense, via a source of conflict (a.k.a. the wolf of the story).
- The element of the screw-up.
- The plot twist or surprise ending.
© Connie Song 2021. All Rights Reserved.
- *Gratitude Note: Bend it, inspired by Medium Writer, Amy Porter ( #plot bend)