Unlock the Power of Motifs for a Compelling StoryA motif is a powerful literary technique you can use to captivate your audience through your story and make a strong thematic statement by the end. In this post, I give you the definition of a motif and examples, plus show you how to create effective motifs in your book, screenplay, or short story. Want to write an awesome story? Download my FREE outlining guide. What is a motif in writing?A motif is a recurring element in a story that plays a significant role in the story's overall message, or theme. Motifs can be abstract ideas, such as freedom or violence or guilt. However, they can also be physical parts of your story world, such as places, objects, colors, and sounds. What's the relationship between a story's theme and motifs?A story should have just one theme. The theme is the message the audience is left with after the story ends. For instance, "Hard work leads to success" may be the theme of a story. Though a story's theme can be explicitly stated in it, often it is not. Instead, the audience infers the theme from the resolution of the story events. For example, if a story is about a protagonist who works very hard and is successful at the end, "Hard work leads to success" is a natural takeaway the audience would have. On the other hand, let's say a protagonist works very hard, then is beaten out by a rival who cheats. "Hard work leads to success" would not be a message the audience would walk away with. Instead, the theme may be something like "Wiliness leads to success." A motif expresses a concept that's related to the theme, though is not the theme. A story can have multiple motifs - each would cover a facet of the larger theme. In the story with the "wiliness leads to success" theme, the following could be motifs:
This story may feature a protagonist who engages in "hard work," squaring off against a villain who employs "deception." Story events occur in "skyscrapers," corporate arenas of battle. Various characters drive "cars" of different price points, signifiers of their level of financial success. These four elements would surface multiple times through the story, in different ways, adding depth to the characters and plot while fortifying the impact of the theme. What a motif is notTo understand what a motif is, you should also know what it's not. Just because a certain element may show up multiple times in a story does not mean it's a motif. For instance, let's say you're telling a crime story with the theme "The legal system doesn't always deliver justice." The protagonist is a prosecutor. His sidekick is a junior lawyer who wears chintzy clothing and consistently tells funny stories about his disastrous dating life. Dating would not be a motif of this story, neither would the chintzy clothing. Though the sidekick's funny comments and outfits may provide consistent comic relief in an otherwise serious story, they're not tied into the broader message, "The legal system doesn't always deliver justice." On the other hand, here are some motifs a story like this could have:
Tips to create motifs in your story - with examplesI suggest you start by looking at the battle between your hero and villain. What's the main conflict in your story? What abstract idea does your protagonist embody? What about your antagonist? For example, if you're telling a sci-fi thriller, you may feature "the rebellious citizen" (the hero) versus "the oppressive ruler" (the villain). The abstract ideas rebellion and oppression would be natural motifs for a story like this. Next, ingrain the concept of rebellion into the parts of your story world your protagonist inhabits, and oppression into the areas where your villain operates. Are there places you can associate with rebellion? Possibly the protagonist and his allies meet in an underground bunker to strategize. Are there places you can associate with oppression? For example, maybe the villain's government spies on the population from a high-tech surveillance facility. Even further, are there objects, actions, images, or sounds you can tie to the ideas of rebellion and oppression? For example, to avert the omnipresent spy microphones around the city, the rebels develop a way to communicate with sophisticated codes. Whenever the oppressive government catches a citizen acting out of order, blinding lights shine down on him. This technique of associating an idea with a character, then extending that idea into the character's sphere in the physical story world, is not just reserved for your hero and villain. You can use it with other characters too. However, your hero and villain's conflict should closely tie into your theme, which makes motifs built around these two characters very straightforward. If you're going to create a motif around another character, be sure that character represents a concept linked to the theme. Symbols vs. motifsA symbol is another of the devices writers use. It's a specific element in your story that represents a specific idea. Often they are physical-item motifs themselves (or represent an abstract-idea motif). However, not all symbols have a direct connection to a story's theme, and not all symbols recur (requirements for motifs). Thus, a symbol can exist in a story completely outside the story's set of motifs. Tips for writing symbolic motifsIf a symbol does happen to be a motif, you can convey a lot of strong thematic information by showing the symbol change through the story. For instance, in the legal story we've been discussing, a mansion on a hill can represent the power of the wealthy. A young man who grew up there committed murder and now his family is wielding their clout to win the court case. Early in the story, after the alleged murderer's charges are announced, a swarm of reporters closes in on the mansion to interview the defendant. However, the press can't get past the imposing gate. Here, you'd be symbolically conveying, "Wealthy families are protected." Later in the story, after the verdict is announced - not guilty - people in town turn on the killer's family. Locals who were close with the victim jump over the mansion's gate and set the house on fire. In this story, even though the legal system does not deliver justice (the theme), those close to the victim are able to get a form of justice outside the courts by burning down the mansion. Here, you'd be symbolically conveying, "Wealthy families are not protected from everyone." Connecting story threads with motifsCertain elements in your story may not be directly linked, yet, if they both contribute to the same motif, they become connected in the audience's mind. This association can be very impactful. For example, let's say you're telling a story that takes place in various countries and time periods. "Courage in the face of danger" is a motif. You show a young boy in America, risking himself to protect his family during the Civil War. Later, you show a young girl in Europe risking herself to protect her family during World War II. These two characters are not directly connected in the physical world of the story - they are not even alive at the same time. However, since they both exhibit "courage in the face of danger," the audience will make the connection. This association has a "2 + 2 = 5" synergy effect. The little boy's story thread becomes strengthened because of the association to the little girl's and vice versa. A human bond is evoked even though they've never met. What writing genres use motifs?Motifs can be applied to any fiction or narrative non-fiction genre, such as:
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Foreshadowing - Write a Captivating Story [Definition, Examples, Tips]If you're writing a book, screenplay, or short story, you want to keep your audience glued to your story and deliver satisfying surprises. Foreshadowing is a tool that can help. In this post, I give you the definition of foreshadowing, examples of foreshadowing, and tips for applying this powerful literary device to your story. Want to write an awesome story? Download my FREE outlining guide. Foreshadowing definitionForeshadowing is a literary device that alludes to future story events. Two types exist: (1) Direct foreshadowing announces a story event to come (2) Indirect foreshadowing provides evidence of an event the audience does not see coming. Direct foreshadowingBelow are examples and tips for direct foreshadowing... 5 examples of direct foreshadowingIn these examples, major plot event to come are foreshadowed in a clear way to the audience:
Tips for direct foreshadowingCreate Suspense Direct foreshadowing is a great way to build anticipation. Once you announce an event is going to occur in your story, your audience will start thinking about the implications of that event, most notably, how it will affect the lives of characters. If you've done a good job creating a connection between your audience and characters, your readers will be emotionally invested in the impact these story events have on characters. A feeling of suspense is created while the audience waits to see how the events will shape the lives of the characters. Keep the Stakes High The higher the stakes of an event, the more emotionally invested the reader will become in the outcome, and the stronger the feeling of suspense. For instance, in the example with Hank, a hurricane is a high-stakes event. A hurricane can devastate homes, even end lives. If the reader has a connection with Hank - and others in the town - the reader will start worrying about the hurricane the moment it's mentioned. If, on the other hand, Hank heard about a mild rain that was nearing, the drama would be flat. In the example with Jenny, if the audience has a connection with her, and knows her dream, readers will eagerly await the outcome of a singing competition that has the potential to make her dream a reality. If, on the other hand, Jenny heard about a talent show at a local rec center, yes, the audience may root for her to win, however, the stakes - and drama - would not be nearly as high as her competing in a national contest on TV. Make Them Wait Once you've established a high-stakes story event is coming, the next tip is to wait a while before you take the reader to the event. The wait sustains the feeling of suspense. That's where the "edge of your seat" effect comes from. After Hank hears about the hurricane, before it strikes, you might show him analyzing an in-depth weather report online. You can even have him convinced the warning is a false alarm, and he avoids taking precautions like boarding up his windows. The audience's worry will grow as it waits to see how bad the storm will be. Though people don't like worrying about things in real life, they do in stories. Keep them in this worried state for as long as doable. After Jenny hears about the singing competition, you might show her practicing. Possibly she practices so much, her sleeping suffers. As the contest approaches, she gets sick and loses her voice. The audience's worry will be heightened. Keep the audience worrying until the end of the competition. Be Sure to Deliver Direct foreshadowing is a sort of promise you make to your reader. You're suggesting that a very interesting plot event will happen. If you make the suggestion, and then do not eventually put the event in your story, your audience will feel ripped off. This does not mean the event needs to play out exactly as it's initially suggested. This simply means the event needs to show up in the story in some form. For example, in a horror story, Leah receives a note from the villain saying "I'm going to kill you." This does not mean the villain has to eventually kill her. However, the audience will be expecting the villain to at least try. Even if Leah gets away unscathed, the killer should attack her at some point in a dramatic scene. Indirect foreshadowingBelow are examples and tips for indirect foreshadowing... 5 examples of indirect foreshadowingIn these examples, major plot event to come are foreshadowed, yet the audience would not be able to necessarily anticipate them:
Tips for indirect foreshadowingPlant and Payoff Planting and payoff is a writing technique that involves "planting" story elements in the minds of your audience that eventually go on to have a "payoff." In the example with Gary, the saxophone story element was planted in the minds of readers. The payoff from this element comes when he hits the criminal during a dramatic break-in scene. As a general rule, if a major plot event features a certain story element, you should show that story element to the audience considerably earlier, even if briefly. These story elements may be physical objects, like a saxophone, however, can be any variety of things (ex, maybe a song or a dream). Showing the audience the element establishes it as part of the story's world. When the element is later used in a dramatic plot event, that scene would feel more authentic than it would if the element first popped up during the dramatic moment. For instance, if Gary was being attacked by the villain, and grabbed a big metal instrument the audience never saw before, the scene would feel inauthentic. The saxophone would seem like a too convenient, unrealistic fix to Gary's problem, versus an organic extension of his world. Create Awesome Twists Audiences love twists. However, if you don't follow certain steps, your twists may be guessable or non-believable. An effective twist needs to strike a fine balance. For believability, you need to give the audience clues about the information eventually revealed in the twist. However, if these clues are too obvious, your audience will be able to guess the twist before it happens, wiping out the crucial shock factor. In the example with Sally, the twist in her story is that she is a murderer. To make that twist shocking, Sally should not come off like a murderer beforehand. For instance, maybe she's a friendly mother of three who volunteers at a hospital. Sally arriving home with dirty shoes is a clue that she was burying a body in the woods. However, it's not an obvious clue, whereas her showing up with blood on her shoes would be. Sally is able to dismiss any suspicion by saying she stepped in a puddle. However, before she gives the answer, she should hesitate. Only for a second, but long enough to hint at a potential lie. After the audience finds out she is the murderer, the conversation about the shoes will add credence to the revelation. On the other hand, if Sally is shown to be a pleasant woman through the story, then is revealed as a killer without any clues the audience can reference, the twist will feel inorganic. The audience may be surprised, yet not satisfied. Readers prefer when evidence of a twist is shown to them, yet in subtle ways they can't understand until after the reveal. What genres use foreshadowing?The foreshadowing storytelling technique - both the direct and indirect varieties - can be used in any genre of fiction or narrative non-fiction, such as:
Want more writing tips?Elevate Your Writing With Symbolism - Definition, Tips, and ExamplesSymbolism is a powerful tool. If you're writing a book or screenplay, you can use it to add emotional impact to your scenes. In this post, learn the definition of symbolism and tips for applying it to your story, with examples. Want to write an awesome story? Download my FREE outlining guide. What is symbolism in writing?Symbolism in writing is when an element of your story - such as a person, place, or object - represents an idea. The represented idea tends to play an important role in the story's character development, plot, or theme. For instance, in a war story, a pen might be a symbol for peace. Types of symbolism in writingTwo major types of symbolism exist in stories. I call the first outside symbolism and the second inside symbolism. With outside symbolism, an element of the story represents an idea that the characters in the story are unaware of - the meaning exists "outside" the world of the story. Let's say a writer was telling a story about a gang leader who causes a lot of violence in his city. The writer wants this gang leader to symbolize a certain god of destruction from an ancient myth. The writer goes on to give the gangster certain characteristics that represent the mythical god. For example, the mythical god has the skin of a serpent and the gang leader wears a snakeskin suit. The gang leader, however, is not aware of this representation, nor are any other characters. The symbolic effect exists outside the world of the story. With inside symbolism, a story element represents an idea that one or more characters are aware of. The symbolic effect exists "inside" the world of the story. Let's look at the example I gave earlier, about a pen symbolizing peace. In the story, a politician signs a peace treaty with the pen, preventing thousands of deaths. The politician cherishes the pen, carrying it in his pocket wherever he goes. Later on in the story, the politician's country is attacked. While fleeing from a bombing, he loses the pen. This moment signifies the "loss of peace." Below, find five tips for applying symbolism to your story. If you want even more writing advice, check out my online writing courses. #1 - Use symbolism to show character lossAs we just went over with the war-story example, the loss of the pen represents the loss of peace. You can create this effect in two steps:
If you're going to use this technique, be sure not to waste it on a minor idea. The loss of the element should signify a major setback for your protagonist or another significant character. In a war story, the loss of peace is a major turning point. If you were telling a crime story, the loss of presumed innocence could work. If you were telling a sports story, the loss of an athlete's health could fit. #2 - Use symbolism to show character gainThis technique is the flip side of tip #1. Follow these steps:
Like with #1, be sure not to waste this tactic on a minor idea. The gain of the element should signify a major win for a significant character. For example, let's say you're telling a story about a kid who's training to be a boxer. In his gym are two training sections, one for the experts, another for the amateurs. Early in the story, the kid accidentally steps onto the expert side and the boxers tell him to leave. The kid keeps working out on the novice side and getting better. The pro boxers notice his improvement. Later on in the story, they invite the kid to join them on the expert side. This would be a major turning point - the hard work has paid off, the kid now embraced as a serious fighter. #3 - Use symbolism to show behavioral growthFollow these steps:
For example, let's say a character, Rebecca, dates a guy named Collin. He lies to her, cheats on her, and asks her for money he never pays back. Because he has positives, she forgives him for his wrongs, despite the advice of her friends, and continues reaching out to him. One night, he drives drunk with her in his car and gets into an accident, nearly killing them both. Rebecca finally decides she's had enough. She deletes his contact in her phone. The deletion symbolizes her growth - no longer blinded by his positives, she can see Collin for the negative force he is. Her life will be better with him out of it. #4 - Use symbolism to show an overcoming of fearFollow these steps:
For instance, a middle-school-aged character named Jeremy is scared of public speaking. Early in the story, he has to make a speech to his entire school in the auditorium. Nervous, he stutters and runs off the stage. Through the story, Jeremy gains confidence. At the end, he performs in a talent show in the same auditorium. No longer scared, he doesn't stutter and entertains the whole school. The packed auditorium symbolizes fear. Jeremy facing the crowd and succeeding signifies his conquering of fear. #5 - Use symbolism to show a rise and fallFollow these steps:
Let's say a character, Harold, starts a business. The office building can symbolize the rise and fall of the business. As the business grows, the furniture and decor in the building become nicer. However, the audience soon learns the success stems from white-collar crimes Harold has been committing. As clients uncover the truth, they leave. Soon, federal investigators begin a probe. Harold is forced to sell the expensive furniture and paintings in his office to pay his legal bills. The once-beautiful office now is barren. You might also like my additional posts on literary devices, such as metaphors, personification, and foreshadowing.
Personification Examples [Improve Your Writing]Learn the definition of personification and the different types, see various personification examples, and pick up some tips for adding this literary device to your writing for strong effect. Personification definitionPersonification refers to the depiction of human qualities in non-human items, such as buildings or animals. However, it can also refer to the depiction of a concept, like fear or perseverance, in the form of a human. Personification examplesIn narrative writing, when human characteristics are given to non-human items, writers often explicitly state these instances of personification. However, when humans embody a certain concept, writers often do not explicitly state the connection, but suggest it figuratively. 10 examples of stated personification
10 examples of non-stated, conceptual personification
Tips for adding personification to your writing1. Personifying non-human characters Non-human personification is critical for stories with non-human characters. In a fantasy story, for example, most of the characters might be animals. For an audience to identify with them, they should be given human qualities like the ability to talk. In a science fiction story that takes place in a different galaxy, all the characters might be aliens. Though these aliens may not look like humans, the writer should give them certain human qualities so the audience can identify with them. For instance, although most of these aliens may be seventy feet tall and have IQs of 850, they live in homes with families (just like humans) and bicker with family members (just like humans). 2. Personifying settings Settings are a great place to apply personification to create a human connection. For instance, let's say a character in an adventure story enters a dangerous jungle. A writer can elevate this scene by personifying the jungle. "Human vs. human" conflict is emotionally engaging. And though a jungle isn't a human, if it can feel like one, the conflict can become more vibrant... Ken takes his first step into the Bagana wilderness. The jungle's hot sun stares down at him. He looks for shade, but wherever he goes, the unforgiving sun finds him. When describing settings, as a general guideline, the amount of page space you dedicate to the description should be proportional to how important that setting is in your story. For example, if a character stops at a diner for a quick cup of coffee during a road trip, and that diner never appears in the story again, you shouldn't spend three pages describing the place. However, let's say you're telling a story about a seemingly law-abiding waitress who secretly deals drugs out of the diner where she works. Many of the scenes take place there. Going deep into the description of this diner, applying personification and other writing techniques, would be a good idea. 3. Personifying objects Like a setting, objects in a story can feel more vibrant if personified. Let's look at an example in an action story... Charles knows he's in trouble. He can hear his enemy's footsteps racing toward him from behind. Though Charles lost his gun, an old friend is still hanging around. His set of brass knuckles. While describing objects, follow the same guideline as settings - the amount of page space used to describe an object should be proportional to its importance in the story. A set of brass knuckles that plays a pivotal role in a fight scene could surely have a couple sentences of description, maybe even a couple paragraphs, while a stick of gum a character casually chews on may deserve just a couple words. 4. Personifying concepts When characters in a story represent concepts, the theme of a story can feel more palpable. A theme is the takeaway about life in general an audience would have after finishing a story. Since themes are abstractions about life, they involve concepts. Examples of story themes:
When certain characters in a story embody concepts related to the theme, the conflicts those characters go though can show the depth of the theme, and thus, make it more believable. For an example, let's look at this theme: Unresolved issues from the past can ruin the future. In this story, our main character will be Bill. He used to be a criminal. He went to prison for ten years. When he gets out, he decides to leave his life of crime behind and create a peaceful future for himself in the suburbs. There, he meets Sophia, a kind woman who has never committed a misdemeanor in her life. Bill views her as a potential wife - she represents "the future." A couple months into dating Sophia, Bill gets an unexpected visitor at his doorstep, Allen. Allen was Bill's old criminal associate, who feels he's owed $90,000 from a job they did over a decade ago. Bill doesn't believe Allen's justification, and even if he did, doesn't have $90,000 on hand. Allen, who represents "unresolved issues from the past," keeps antagonizing Bill. Sophia can't help but notice Bill's conflict with this angry stranger. To get revenge on Bill, Allen eventually targets Sophia. In the climax, she escapes death. However, even though Allen is arrested, Sophia has lost interest in marrying Bill. She decides to leave him. This idea of concept representation can be furthered with the development of motifs, which are recurring elements in your story that stand for ideas related to your theme. In the example above, story elements associated with Sophia can help you make points about the future. For instance, she could be renovating her and Bill's house, wanting to put a fresh, modern take on some of the old styles. Allen's appearance in their life causes so much stress Sophia becomes too distracted to continue with the project and puts it on hold. This plot event conceptually conveys the point, "Because of Allen, Sophia and Bill's relationship has stopped moving forward, and is stuck in the past." Want even more writing tips?You might also like my examples of other literary devices, such as alliteration examples, metaphor examples, and symbolism examples. Examples of Metaphors [Improve Your Writing]Learn the definition of a metaphor and the different types, see various examples of metaphors, and pick up some tips for adding them to your writing for strong effect. What is a metaphor?A metaphor is a literary device that says one thing is another, even though it's not. Though the two things aren't literally equal, their comparison is true in a figurative sense. Metaphors are often used to make a point in a vivid, exaggerated way. Examples of metaphorsHere are 10 examples of metaphors:
What are the different types of metaphors?Direct metaphorsDirect metaphors directly state that thing A is thing B. For example, "His kitchen" (thing A) "is" "a sauna" (thing B). Thing A and B are linked by a variation of the "be" verb, such as "is," "are," or "was." Implied metaphorsImplied metaphors compare thing A to thing B without specifically stating thing A. Instead, some characteristic of thing A is mentioned. For example, with "Just before our meeting, Lawrence detonated a bomb," thing B would be "a bomb." The metaphor is implying that thing A is some piece of information Lawrence mentioned concerning the meeting. Though "piece of information" is not in the sentence, the metaphor makes sense in an implied way. Abstract metaphorsAbstract metaphors compare thing A to thing B without specifically comparing the two things at all, but rather, making an association between them. You tend to find them in long-form stories, like novels or films. Consider the phrase "X is a metaphor for Y," which is often used to describe some part of a story. For instance, Pete getting lost in the woods is a metaphor for his career struggles. The writer does not have to explicitly state this connection. Instead, the writer can simply create a parallel between the two things, letting the audience make the connection. For example, the way Stanley behaves in the office during a confusing day can be similar to how he behaves in the woods. Sustained metaphorsSustained metaphors compare thing A to thing B, then extend the comparison over multiple sentences, paragraphs, or even an entire story. For example, with "Marissa is the queen of her suburban town," an extended metaphor could further depict Marisa as a queen in the following sentences, "She reigns over PTA meetings and cocktail parties. Any local woman who wants to be socially connected, must bow to her." What is the difference between a metaphor and a simile?These two writing tools are often mixed up. They are quite alike, but with a key difference. With a metaphor, you say that one thing is another. For instance, "his kitchen is a sauna." With a simile, you also compare one thing to another, however not as directly. You don't plainly say one is another, rather that it's similar to another. A word like "is" can still be used, however, a word such as "like" or "as" goes with it. Some examples of similes:
Tips for writing metaphorsIf you happen to be interested in narrative writing, such as writing a short story, novel, or screenplay, metaphors can be a very powerful technique. Here are three tips for applying them to narrative writing: 1. Use direct and implied metaphors for descriptions and dialogueA great description creates a vivid image in a reader's mind. However, if a writer eats up multiple pages describing a single character, place, object, etc, the motion of the story can come to a standstill. Readers may get bored, even if the language is colorful. A metaphor is a great tool for creating a vibrant description without using hundreds of words. Let's say thing A is a character in your story your audience hasn't yet met. If you choose something for thing B that your audience already understands, you can immediately give thing A characteristics of thing B. For example, if a character named Stanley has an odor problem, here's how you can get across that trait with a metaphor: Stanley sits next to me at the kitchen table. When he reaches for the salad bowl, the stench of a dumpster hits me. Metaphorical writing for dialogue enables characters to get across strong points quickly. For example, let's say a character, Fred, is considered a bad dancer. Here's how that could come out in dialogue: Jack, in the passenger seat, asks, "How was that club you and Fred went to last night?" "The place was all right," Al says. "But I had to keep my distance from him once he got out on the dance floor. I didn't want people to know I was friends with the guy." "I thought you two were cool?" "He's not a bad dude. But those dance moves. His feet are made of concrete." With dialogue, not only can a metaphor help describe a person or thing a character is talking about, but it can help characterize the one doing the talking. In just a few words, Al not only expresses Fred's bad dancing, but expresses his own sarcasm. 2. Use abstract, sustained metaphors for emotional impactAbstract, sustained metaphors can be used to add emotional depth to certain parts of your story. For instance, let's say a character, Ethan, has been struggling to mend a relationship with his rebellious son. No matter how hard Ethan tries, he can't seem to gain his son's attention. Panic grips Ethan. He comes to believe the relationship is over. The audience, who identifies with Ethan, is rooting for the relationship to be fixed. Ethan, still upset about his son, decides to take a swim in the ocean to relax. Unfortunately, he's caught in a bad current. No matter how hard he tries, he can't seem to win the fight against the water. Panic grips him. He comes to believe he's going to drown. The sense of panic connects his relationship with his son to the potential drowning. This connection is abstract - the writer doesn't explicitly state it on the page. Then, a stranger tosses Ethan a life preserver. Someone saving Ethan from drowning foreshadows that someone may enter his life and save the relationship between him and his son. The emotional impact of Ethan getting saved will be twofold - the audience will be happy he's alive, and hopeful he repairs his relationship with his son. 3. Avoid mixed metaphors and dead metaphorsA mixed metaphor compares thing A with thing B, then starts incorrectly associating characteristics with B. For example, "Her singing voice was velvet. The way she said the lyrics, knocked the audience out of their seats." "Her singing voice" (thing A) is first compared to "velvet" (thing B). However, something that "knocked the audience out of their seats" doesn't seem like velvet, which is soft. Though knocking the audience out of their seats can surely be associated with good singing, it is incorrectly associated with an already-established element of the metaphor, velvet. A dead metaphor is a cliche metaphor. Audiences have been exposed to them plenty of times. Instead of exposing them again, try to come up with a new way to make the same point. For instance, "He's a tyrant" has been used many times to describe a strict person. To describe a character with this trait, think of another metaphor. For example, "If his son missed a single chore, for the next two weeks, the kid's bedroom would be a max-security prison cell." Want more writing tips?You might also like my articles on alliteration examples, definition of personification, and symbolism in writing. |