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Writer's Workshop

"Objects as Symbols"

Join us for our next Writer's Workshop, where we'll uncover the stories objects carry and the truths they reveal.

Every object tells a story. A crumpled photograph, a dusty key, a locket hidden in a drawer—these items can hold memories, secrets, or entire histories. In this session, we’ll explore how to use objects as powerful storytelling tools that anchor narrative, evoke emotion, and symbolize deeper themes.

We’ll look at examples from literature where a single object changes the course of a story or reveals a character’s inner world. You’ll learn how to use physical details and emotional resonance to bring meaning and weight to seemingly ordinary things.

Writing Challenge

Write a piece (650 words max) in which a single object plays a central role in the story. It could be lost, found, inherited, broken, or rediscovered—what matters is how it shapes the character or the story around it. The object might carry emotional weight, trigger a memory, connect characters across time, or hold a secret of its own.

Consider:

Why does this object matter to the character?
What is its history—or mystery?
How does it drive the story forward or reflect a deeper theme?
Use sensory detail, symbolism, and emotional depth to show how this object becomes more than just a thing—it becomes a turning point.

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