Writing Exercises: Metaphor and Creativity
I recently realized that the posts I’ve written with metaphors always get a lot of positive feedback and everyone seems to embrace them. I thought why not make writing exercises out of this metaphor craze?
When I first wrote one recent post in particular, it didn’t tie in with food at all. But food became a running metaphor rather spontaneously while I was revising. The food metaphor was so delicious (or maybe I was so hungry) that I rewrote the entire post with food on the brain.
So, what makes a metaphor like this work?
I think the most effective metaphors trigger our senses by connecting an otherwise intangible subject to sight, sound, smell, touch, or taste. If you can engage any of these senses through metaphor, your writing will take on new life. Not only will it become more entertaining and more memorable, it will be easier for readers to relate to what you’re saying.
Using metaphors in writing exercises is a great challenge for engaging readers’ senses. It will also be a lot of fun because tickling the senses is… well… sensual. So let’s try it, shall we? You will need a topic and a metaphor to go with it.
Topic
Just about any topic will do, but keep in mind that some discussions don’t need the help of a metaphor. Subjects like sex, food, music, and anything else that intrinsically affects the senses might not benefit from a metaphor the way more abstract topics will.
Think about subjects you’ve explored recently in your writing. Were there any topics that felt flat or dry? You can revisit those subjects and see how a metaphor adds dimension and makes a piece more compelling.
Also, be on the lookout for two types of metaphoric topics: ones that work and ones that don’t. Some metaphors are just tired and have fallen into cliché status (stopping to smell the roses comes to mind). Look for unique and original metaphors and notice which ones don’t quite make the grade.
Metaphor
Choose one of the senses and come up with something that affects that particular sense. Here are some examples:
- Sight: the bold colors of a Picasso painting, anything with motion (traffic, trains, the sea), scenic landscapes
- Touch: the warmth of velvet, the hard cool of steel, or the scratchy texture of wool
- Taste: foods or flavors — sweet, spicy, rich, or tart
- Sound: city sounds, nature, music, a roaring engine, or absolute quiet
- Scent: spring showers, shampoo and soaps, swimming pools, a wet dog
There is one more metaphor that almost always grabs people’s attention, which has proven to be very effective in advertising, and which could arguably encompass every single one of the five senses. I’ll let you all guess what it is.
Writing Exercises
Now that you have a topic and a metaphor to go with it, it’s time to write. Think about how you can extend the metaphor and weave it throughout your piece. For example, if you’re going to use the bold colors of a Picasso painting, you can play off your metaphor by mixing in new metaphors about canvasses, paintbrushes, color, and light. You can even get into museums, history, and just about any other area where art is part of the context.
Metaphors work well in almost any type of writing so you can use this exercise to draft a blog post, a poem, or even a short story. Try going through your journal or files where you store pieces you’ve written and see if there’s anything that could be reworked and made more enticing through use of a metaphor.
If you don’t want to commit that kind of time to this exercise, then simply jot down some ideas noting topics and metaphors that would complement them. Come up with titles or captions that incorporate both the subject and the metaphor in a clever, creative, and compelling way.
And then, of course, come back here and tell us all about it!
If you have any writing exercises to share, feel free to post them in the comments or send them in as a guest post.
Melissa, what a great point! Visual metaphors are a common persuasion tactic. Applying the same tactic to other forms of writing has a similar impact. I never consciously thought about that until your post. We want to draw readers in whether we’re writing a poem, blog post, short story, or marketing messages. We want them to feel, and act. When working on jobs for clients I am innately aware of this fact but seem to forget it when writing for myself. Thanks for the excellent tip!
Karen Swims last blog post..Tips for Managing Your Energy When the Battle Grows Fierce
I have done some pieces in the past using metaphor but I think I tend to make it do too much. It’s like my imagination is on speed or something. So I have sort of forbidden myself to do for a while now. Maybe it works best if the piece is in one form and the metaphor slant is introduced in a rewrite? It’s worth contemplating because I think it could be a useful tool to navigate difficult topics. At least that the reason I used it in the past.
@Karen, The metaphor really jumps out at the reader. I think it’s useful for otherwise dry, boring pieces and helps to make them more palatable. I forget to use it too, so this was a good reminder for me.
@Deb (gscottage), I think any way that the metaphor finds its way into your writing is fine (rewrite or otherwise). I’ve incorporated metaphor during the rewrite and the first draft and haven’t found one way to be better than the other. There is something to be said about the spontaneity though. A forced metaphor can be obvious.
I automatically think in symbols and metaphors so this isn’t a problem for me. This is a great subject, though, Melissa, because I do think that our minds generate many associations through the use of metaphor. Metaphor and symbol tend to link everything together.
My problem is linearity. I write a lot of articles and it is more of a struggle to me than writing fiction. If I do a good job there is a certain high in completing a well crafted piece.
Ellen Wilsons last blog post..With the Full Force of Your Personality
Ellen gave me sh*t on Brett’s blog, implying I dont’ know what a metaphor is. She said I should come here and read your post. So here I am.
A metaphor has something to do with moons and balloons, right, Ellen?
Actually, I DO know what a metaphor is…I’m trying put a few in my writing (I hope!)
I like the gentle reminders you write, Melissa. You make sure we stay honest and don’t forget our English lessons.
Friars last blog post..…Not the Captain, too!
Sexy photo. Yowza.
This is a good one.
@Ellen, That’s a good point and one I hadn’t really considered — the idea that symbols resonate so strongly. In either case, it boils down to the strength of an image or sensation and the impact that has on a reader.
@Friar, Hello there! Glad you could stop by
You’re right, we mustn’t forget our English lessons. After all, that’s where we learn all the rules that we are destined to break.
@Jaden, Yeah, it’s an eye-catcher I think.
@Jaden – I didn’t even see that the flower is hanging out of a woman’s mouth until you mentioned it! I just saw the flower. Yeah, it is sexual. I like it. Way better than pornography!
@Friar – Moons and balloons? Wha?! Just trying to give you a little help. Jumping in a cold lake is to real. Now you can get all warm and fuzzy and metaphorical. Well, metaphores don’t have to be warm and fuzzy. They can be quite stark and naked. Maybe that flower is getting to me. Anyway, this is a good post!
@Melissa – I think we all connect to certain primal symbols, what Carl Jung called archetypes. We understand these symbols at a deep unconscious level. I thought of doing a post on that someday.
Ellen Wilsons last blog post..The Devouring Blog
Man, I’m making all kinds of stupid mistakes on posts today – like to instead of too, their when I should use they’re. Damn. Oh, well, I’m human and I’m tired! E
Ellen Wilsons last blog post..The Devouring Blog
@Ellen, I couldn’t agree more with you regarding the power of archetypes and primal symbols. I hope you do write a post about that topic, which has always fascinated me. I’ll be looking forward to it! And on those silly little mistakes… no worries! We’ve all been there. I recently made one in a blog post title for shame! Ugh.
Melissa
If I had an English teacher as interesting as you in High School (instead of the dill-weed who taught me), I would have ended up embracing literature and English, instead of hating it.
Mabye there’s still hope for me yet.
Friars last blog post..Friar Toons (May 23, 2008)
@Friar, Aw, you’re too kind! I thought about becoming an English teacher. Actually, I sort of wanted to teach at the college level (creative writing) but I’m just not big on public speaking. Thank you
@Melissa
I looked into teaching college a few years back. They would only hire part-time. It paid 25 bucks an hour ,but they would only pay you for the 4-6 hours a week you actually lectured! (You wouldn’t even get Prep Time).
Ouch. I didnt’ feel like living off $150 a week. So I ended up at the Widget Factory.
Friars last blog post..Friar Versus the Grayheads Part IV
@Friar, That’s a shame and surprising that they wouldn’t compensate for prep time, which is probably where teachers do most of their work!
I just wanted to say hi, Melissa. I missed you this week but now I see there’s been a lot going on in the comments! Hope that you are well, I’m really looking forward to your male poets post- no pressure though
.
Greers last blog post..Romantics
@Greer, Hi there! It’s been a crazy week and the post about male poets is definitely still on my to do list
so stay tuned!
I hope it’s been crazy in a good way- hang in there!!
Greers last blog post..Romantics
Melissa,
It’s never too late! If you want to teach creative writing at the college level it is possible, competitive, but possible. I have noticed there are a huge glut of MFAers out there. Often, they don’t stick with it though, and get jobs in realestate or something. It takes a lot of discipline to write and teach. As you know.
@Friar – They only give you prep time in high school. You get 1 hour.
Ellen Wilsons last blog post..The Wisdom of a Glass Half Full
@Greer, Good way, bad way. The universe is balanced and so is the craziness
@Ellen, It takes a lot of discipline to write and freelance too! I do like the idea of teaching but I’m not a big fan of public speaking. In fact, I have less than zero desire to stand up and speak in front of a crowd (even a small one that fits inside a classroom). I can dance in front of the world but my tongue is tied!
This is a great post, Melissa, and like the others, I’ve often thought you’d make a great English teacher. Well, really you are! You teach your readers so much here, at Writing Forward. Who knows, maybe in 20 years you’ll take college creative writing classes by storm, hardly taking a breath! I’d love to be in your creative writing class.
And, if that doesn’t happen… just write us a book!
*smiles*
@Michele, Well that is a huge compliment
I am not out to teach as much as I am trying to share my experiences, hoping they can help someone. A book does sound like a fun project. If only I had the time… Well, like you said, maybe in 20 years 
You’re welcome.
Well, I think sharing our experiences actually does teach, don’t you? I love to learn and glean from those around me. And, I hope I can offer something for someone else to glean from as well. 
The book… the time… Well, 20 years was off the top of my head–about getting up the nerve to teach. I hope it doesn’t have to actually be that long before we can read a book of yours!
*smiles