Scarlett Van Dijk
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Blog
  • Sky Stone Series
    • Map of Branzia
  • Poetry
  • Other Writing
  • Contact Me
  • Other
    • Images
    • Links
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Blog
  • Sky Stone Series
    • Map of Branzia
  • Poetry
  • Other Writing
  • Contact Me
  • Other
    • Images
    • Links

Guest Post: Roxanne Smolen - The Hidden Message

26/8/2014

3 Comments

 
I write to entertain. That’s the plan, anyway. But beneath the tomfoolery of my books is a hidden message. It has to be hidden because no one, especially a teenager, wants to be preached at. Most readers are blissfully unaware of the theme—but their subconscious won’t be, and that’s where I’m aiming.

My books are about werewolves. Not the growly kind. No, my main character is a bumbling nerd who turns into a bumbling wolf. One of my favorite scenes is when his girlfriend yells at him for spying from the bushes, saying did you think I wouldn’t recognize a wolf wearing a t-shirt?
The Amazing Wolf Boy
The overall theme of the series is believe in yourself and never give up. But I have specific themes for each book as well. In The Amazing Wolf Boy, Cody turns into a wolf while at a fancy Christmas dinner with his parents. He is subsequently banished to live with an uncle he met only once. The theme for that book is rejection. In book two,Werewolf Asylum, he withholds information because of a promise to a friend. That theme is about how some secrets are too dangerous to keep. The third book, Wolfsbane Brew, starts out with the death of a loved one, and the theme of how to deal with death carries through the entire book.

How do you hide a message in a book? I find it helpful to know your theme before you begin. If you write with the message in the back of your mind, your characters will respond accordingly. Think back to when you were a teen. What was important to you then? What message would you impart to the teenager you were? Then write away. No need to spell it out. Your message will hide behind your words.

About Roxanne Smolen

Picture
Roxanne Smolen is a leading professional in the writing industry. She is a sought-after writing instructor and editor whose tireless efforts help other authors reach their dreams of publication. She co-founded the Coral Springs Writers Workshop and has been a contributor there for over twenty years. She is a prolific writer with twelve published novels and three more expected soon. She also writes a line of children’s books with two of her granddaughters. Roxanne has been married to her high school sweetheart, Gregory, for 40+ years and has two children. You can connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. Visit her website at www.roxannesmolen.com.
3 Comments
Molly Tabachnikov link
26/8/2014 05:36:43 pm

You do an excellent job of presenting your message while keeping it subliminal. Your books are also entertaining, which further gets the message across. This is a good posting, Roxanne, and much appreciated.

Reply
Roxanne Smolen link
26/8/2014 07:20:12 pm

Thanks for those kind words, Molly. I appreciate you stopping by.

Reply
Betty Housey link
28/8/2014 10:46:04 pm

I am too entertained by your books to be aware of any message, and I think that's what you want. Anyway I hope it is. But I do realize that many of your themes are deep. A running theme throughout many of your books is how does a child forgive a parent for unspeakable actions. I will be quite interested to see how you resolve that problem.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    A Writer's Tale

    Scarlett Van Dijk

    Writer of young adult, fantasy series, the Sky Stone series, poetry and short stories.
    I hope to update this blog weekly with tips for writers and some personal stories. There will also be guest posts from fellow writers. Stay tuned!


    Categories

    All
    Guest Posts
    Guest Posts
    Guide To Fantasy Writing
    Life
    My Writing
    Writing Tips
    Writing Tips

    Archives

    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013

    Subscribe to my blog to receive email updates of my latest posts.

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    RSS Feed

© Scarlett Van Dijk 2016