Simile
2:33:00 PM
Not too long ago I wrote a post that simply defined the
simile. It was a quick, last-minute effort to get a blog post completed.
Several days later, I found that the writing was not as useful as I had hoped. Since
the ultimate goal of this project is to write a book on Fantasy Fiction—it would
be more useful to have relevant and detailed writing developed now.
The Simile
Similes are a mixture of words that can be poetic,
descriptive, and meaningful, and at the same time, the simile can be bland and
painted with cliché. Editors suggest that a simile should be used once or twice
and then forgotten. Authors, on the other hand, say that breaking a few rules
can help you. Before I entertain that argument it would be useful to re-learn
the simile.
The simile compares two things using the words like or as. Some would suggest that a simile is stronger when you compare
unlike things. Others suggest that you should use action or movement to
strengthen your simile.
Types of Simile:
- Simile
- Simile of Opposites
- Simile in Motion
- Simile from Author
- Simile from Character
- X is like Y.
- Something is as X as Y.
Do it Right
The simile impacts emotion and feeling. It can also be
poetic in nature. When done correctly, the simile molds story, character, tone,
and mood.
To do this:
- Have a single theme
- Follow the Jalapeno Analogy: a little spice is good—too much spice makes the reader give up
Do it Wrong
Unless you are writing poetry—which has its own ‘rules’—you should
be less flowery in your writing. The reader wants to see something happen—not stumble
upon great phrases. The reader also wants to understand what is written—so don’t
use a simile that is out of time or context. Hesitate on these things and you will not create ‘simile
fatigue’ in your story.
Do it
I feel that this process will allow you to develop unique
similes that will help your reader and have a specific purpose in your writing.
- Start off with your primary subject
- List several things that you can compare your subject to
- Add some sensory details
Example:
Let’s start off with a simple fantasy simile...
- Warrior
Now, let’s list several things that I could compare my
warrior to...
- Drunkard, King, Merchant, Pirate, Farmboy, etc.
I should pick one of these things and list several sensory
details...
- Drunkard – coordination, aroma, decision making, noisy, attention-span
Now, create a phrase...
Moments after the warrior walked past, his presence lingered, like the aroma of a drunkard reeking of stale ale.Related Links
- 5 Tips for Creating Great Similes and Metaphors
- 20 Great Similes from Literature to Inspire You
- How to Make your Similes Sparkle
- Making Comparisons—Simile and Metaphor in Fiction
- Writing the Perfect Simile
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