Write Stories That Truly Haunt
The one where we talk about metaphors and symbolism, Superman, trying new things, and *A BIG OPPORTUNITY FOR FICTION WRITERS*
We made it to another week! (And what a week it’s been. 🥴)
Do big concepts like “symbolism” and “metaphor” automatically make you feel overwhelmed and confused? Do terms like this make writing feel too fancy and elusive for you to figure out? I totally get it. These essential storytelling ingredients can be overwhelming, but they are absolutely necessary to write a story that stands out. Don’t worry— is breaking it down super simply with examples from the wonderful novel “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” walking you through how to choose symbols that connect to your own writing, AND explaining why it matters. Read on!
Cheers,
(OBA Media Newsletter Editor-in-Chief)
P.S. Scroll all the way down to get your early release of our next podcast episode where we talk about the 1978 Superman film, and for a chance for you fiction writers to receive a FREE story audit with our professional editors!
WHAT WE’VE BEEN CHATTING ABOUT THIS WEEK AT OBA MEDIA:
📑 Symbolism in the Novel Their Eyes Were Watching God Will Change the Way You Tell Stories
Write Stories That Truly Haunt
Some stories stick with us. Some get inside our blood and become a part of us. One such story I’ve talked about before and I’ll likely talk about many times more: Zora Neale Hurston’s "Their Eyes Were Watching God." It’s one of the only books I’ve ever read that has become a part of me. I couldn’t put it down and wanted to read it again as soon as I was done. The novel is not just a story but an experience–full of moments that touched, infuriated, and blew my mind.
But why? What is it about this story that gets under my skin, and how can YOU get that same result with your stories?
Hurston used a piece of the writer’s toolbox which we all should learn from: metaphors, but not just simple ones. She mastered the art of using metaphors that are super contextual and rooted in the story’s setting. I mean, the queen herself turned a simple pear tree into a symbol of the protagonist, Janie’s, desire, love, freedom, and self discovery in a way that hits home for every reader.
So how can you use metaphors that capture your reader’s imagination and touch their hearts? Let’s get into it.
🎧”Let’s Talk Stories” Podcast
Every other week the team here dissects a story mechanic you can use in your writing through a piece of pop culture media. Subscribers to OBA’s newsletter get early access to our newest episode sent right to their inbox.
Let's Talk "Superman": How the '78 Film Shaped the Superhero Genre (For Better or Worse)
In this episode, we’re nerding out about the iconic 1978 film "Superman," exploring its impact on superhero storytelling and its legacy. The OBA team and their special guest, composer and filmmaker Brian Henderson, share personal experiences with the character and analyze the hero's journey as depicted in the film. We also explore the portrayal of villains, particularly Lex Luthor, and how modern audiences perceive hope and storytelling. At the end of our discussion, hopefully you’ll recognize the need for relatable characters and the impact of tone in storytelling, as well as understand how timeless stories can be adapted for contemporary audiences.
Catch up on our previous episodes here:
Join our ✨LIVE✨ “After Hours” sessions every Monday here on Substack and our YouTube channel so that YOU can chime in with your thoughts and ask questions about what it’s like to be a creative writer. Stop in and chat with us about good and bad stories and what we can learn from them!
📣 Calling All Fiction Writers—We Want Your Story!
HUGE announcement: we’re opening up limited spots to earn a FREE session with professional story editors who will give you feedback on your draft—what you’re doing well, what needs improvement, and how you can fix it!
Do you have a story that just isn’t working? A plot that feels off? Characters that don’t quite land? On our new podcast segment “Let’s Fix Stories”, we want to help you fix it. Whether you’ve got an outline, an unfinished draft, a rough first draft, or a stuck draft, are struggling with structure, pacing, character arcs, or just need a fresh perspective, we’re here to help you get unstuck and turn your story into something truly compelling.
These free story audits are open to fiction writers who need feedback on their work. ***Submissions are closing April 14th, so don’t wait!***
💬 Question of the Week
Here’s the deal: we want to hear from you more. No one likes a one-sided conversation, and we believe that creativity is most powerful when we get to see multiple different perspectives! So, our question to you this week based on the topic we’ll discuss next is:
Why do us writers struggle so much to carry hope in our stories?
Hit “reply” or comment and drop your answer. We’ll pick some of your responses to feature in next week’s newsletter and tag you there!
CAPTAIN’S LOG
3/16/2025
Part of being a startup company is being in constant flux, testing and pivoting almost daily as we try to blaze our path to growth so we can help writers and share meaningful stories in the way we dream of. This doesn’t always jive well with my personality’s need for structure. I always need to know what to expect, and I don’t like changes that bring me out of my comfort zone or the overwhelm of constant new information, new things to figure out, and new plans. BUT, I am learning to also embrace the excitement of change and the calm of knowing that if a new idea doesn’t work, we can always go back to the old.
That said: you’ve probably noticed that OBA Media’s newsletter, website, and social media looks different this week. We’re trying to make our little corner of the internet and the information we share here feel as much like home as possible for YOU. So please reach out and let me know your thoughts—if you’d like to see anything different or what format you like more! We want to hear from you because ultimately, we consider you our family. Our tribe. This thing we’re building is as much yours as it is ours, because stories are for everyone!