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How often do you use similes and metaphors?
If you're behind on your terms, a simile is a comparison that contains a connecting word ("like", "than", "so", "as", etc.), while a metaphor is one lacking this.
Similes:
Metaphors:
A while back, I noticed a big differentiator between good and great lyricists was the use of inventive similes/metaphors.
Recently I've reread King's wonderful On Writing and trained with a top copy coach. Something I keep returning to are these word comparisons, similes and metaphors.
My writing is stronger with them in it. My speaking, too.
The difference between a speaker who neglects metaphors and one who doesn’t is the difference between a painter painting magnificently in black and white and one painting equally magnificently, yet in color. The art may be the same, color aside, yet you rarely see much black and white in art museums, and for good reason.
These take a little thinking to get accustomed to using. And you need to be wary of overworn comparisons your listener has heard too much already. Don't tell her you ran like your life depended on it, or life is like a box of chocolates. Makes you sound like an old VHS recording someone dug up from 20 years ago. Tell her you ran like a pack of pit bulls were hot on your heels, and life is like a broken vending machine that always gives you something but rarely the something you pressed the button for.
If you never use comparisons, or only sometimes do, spend a while coming up with some, then use them. Many of the most well-liked public speakers in history have been liberal users of metaphorical speech, and you'll benefit from using this too.
(side note: why do these work so well? It seems to be because they are both a.) unexpected, YET b.) perfectly related to the context. e.g., they're another way of snapping a girl, or anyone, out of autopilot, because she was talking to you about what it's like being a vegetarian and wasn't expecting you to say something about camels, yet you did, and what you said made sense, too. It's a fun little thing, and heck, sounding like an artsy coffee shop poet with a French beret and a mug of cold coffee never hurt anyone)
Chase
If you're behind on your terms, a simile is a comparison that contains a connecting word ("like", "than", "so", "as", etc.), while a metaphor is one lacking this.
Similes:
- Her smile was like sunshine reflected off a rippled sea.
- He tore the money from his wallet as though he might chuck it at Steve.
Metaphors:
- There were so many people they became a forest, arm-branches interwoven, impassable.
- The vodka went down harshly, a river of fire splashing inside his empty stomach.
A while back, I noticed a big differentiator between good and great lyricists was the use of inventive similes/metaphors.
Recently I've reread King's wonderful On Writing and trained with a top copy coach. Something I keep returning to are these word comparisons, similes and metaphors.
My writing is stronger with them in it. My speaking, too.
The difference between a speaker who neglects metaphors and one who doesn’t is the difference between a painter painting magnificently in black and white and one painting equally magnificently, yet in color. The art may be the same, color aside, yet you rarely see much black and white in art museums, and for good reason.
These take a little thinking to get accustomed to using. And you need to be wary of overworn comparisons your listener has heard too much already. Don't tell her you ran like your life depended on it, or life is like a box of chocolates. Makes you sound like an old VHS recording someone dug up from 20 years ago. Tell her you ran like a pack of pit bulls were hot on your heels, and life is like a broken vending machine that always gives you something but rarely the something you pressed the button for.
If you never use comparisons, or only sometimes do, spend a while coming up with some, then use them. Many of the most well-liked public speakers in history have been liberal users of metaphorical speech, and you'll benefit from using this too.
(side note: why do these work so well? It seems to be because they are both a.) unexpected, YET b.) perfectly related to the context. e.g., they're another way of snapping a girl, or anyone, out of autopilot, because she was talking to you about what it's like being a vegetarian and wasn't expecting you to say something about camels, yet you did, and what you said made sense, too. It's a fun little thing, and heck, sounding like an artsy coffee shop poet with a French beret and a mug of cold coffee never hurt anyone)
Chase
