Metaphor useage

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Raphee

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In my current WIP, I have used more metaphors than I normally do. For some reason they are flying all around when I write.

So how many metaphors should you use? When do you start getting irritated by them?
 

seun

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If you as the writer get irritated by an aspect of your writing, I'd say you've overdone it.
Less could be more in this case.
 

Fillanzea

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When I was reading "The Dragonbone Chair" by Tad Williams, I thought the metaphors really went overboard. When I started getting irritated, I went back and counted-- about three or four to a page. Of course it's going to be subjective, but a metaphor draws a lot of attention to what you're describing, so if there are too many, it gets to be a case of "Look over here! No, look over here! No, look over here!"
 

NeuroFizz

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If they are noticeable to the point you see them flying around, you may have too many. They are wonderful tools that can enrich one's writing, but remember, writing is about the story, not about the writing. While a good writing style is crucial, it shouldn't rise above the story.
 
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Metaphors are the bane of my existence; each one shoots a poisoned dart of...er...poison through the throbbing black tumour that is my heart.
 

Layla Nahar

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but I would say - if you are still writing your first draft - keep going with the metaphors, since you can cut them later, and maybe you will get to a point where you can see why you are using so many, and it could be a growing point in your writing ...
 

CaroGirl

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An apt metaphor is seamless. Occasionally, one is so great it makes me nod in approval. Too many, however, might pull me right out of the story instead of drawing me into it. At this point in writing your story, however, I'd just go with it. You can take some of the metaphors out in revision if they seem heavy-handed in your first complete read-through.

All the best in your writing, Raphee!
 

jdparadise

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As all of writing is a metaphor (the icons on the page represent words, which in turn represent objects, people, feelings and facts) it's arguable that one can't possibly have too many.

That said . . .

The problem usually isn't too many metaphors--it's too many cliched metaphors. ONCE YOU'RE DONE (don't stop writing just for the sake of language; if metaphors keep the flow flowing, flow with it!) go back and figure out:

a) What are you trying to say with this metaphor?
b) Can you say what you're trying to say without it? Can you say it as powerfully without it? Or does the metaphor add something that literal language can't possibly carry?
c) Have you seen someone else use it? If so, can you come up with something better/more apt?

FWIW, an overabundance of similes is much more visible than an overabundance of non-simile metaphors, IMO.

But whatever you do, do -not- stop just to worry at the dry dusty bones of language. Rome may well be burning while you fiddle.

Oh, and don't mix your metaphors in a single thought. :p
 

swvaughn

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Metaphors are like peaches.

Fuzzy with pits.

Yeah, I think "like" makes it a simile. Should be "metaphors are peaches."

Metaphors are da bomb.

Metaphors are friends on a train who tell you about the bombs.

Metaphors are... never mind. :D
 

Raphee

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Thanks. No fiddling since this is the first write as Layla, Caro and JP said.

Metaphors, here I come.
 

Jamesaritchie

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Metaphors

A good metaphor at the right place can make for great writing, but it takes very, very few metaphors to turn any writing into a crappy mess. Go easy on them.
 

JanDarby

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Also, to stay consistent to pov, only use metaphors that the pov character would use.

In other words, to use a simple example, if you're in the pov of a third-grade drop-out, with an IQ of 60, and a passion for landscaping, he might use metaphors related to plants, but the expression of the idea would be fairly concrete and simply worded. OTOH, if the pov character is a college English professor, his metaphors might be more abstract, possibly contradictory images and multi-syllabic words.

JD
 

Jamesaritchie

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Metaphors

Also, to stay consistent to pov, only use metaphors that the pov character would use.

In other words, to use a simple example, if you're in the pov of a third-grade drop-out, with an IQ of 60, and a passion for landscaping, he might use metaphors related to plants, but the expression of the idea would be fairly concrete and simply worded. OTOH, if the pov character is a college English professor, his metaphors might be more abstract, possibly contradictory images and multi-syllabic words.

JD

Good point.
 
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