Category: literary devices
Writing Is About The Reader
| December 9, 2010 | Posted by JerriCook under Know Your Audience, literary devices |
Old book bindings at the Merton College, Oxford library.
One of the biggest mistakes a writer can make is believing that writing is about the author. It’s not. Writing is about the reader. No one cares about the writer. Sadly, people who have fine arts degrees and high-end educations seem to miss this critical point. Nothing makes me cringe more than an article submitted by someone who is a “trained” writer or has the letters MFA or PhD behind their name. It signals I’m in for a boring read that might be grammatically correct, but uninspiring and flat.
What’s worse, these folks are fond of using “literary devices.” This is a highfalutin excuse for deviating from grammatical norms. It’s supposed to show the reader how crafty, brilliant, and original the author is. Instead, it signals to the reader that they are being talked down to, which guarantees the reader will move on. (more…)
Understanding The Distinction Between Analogy And Metaphor
| December 9, 2010 | Posted by JerriCook under literary devices |
The wolf blows down the straw house in a 1904 adaptation of the story. Illustration by Leonard Leslie Brooke.
Metaphors and analogies are literary devices used by writers since the first scribblings were etched on cave walls. However, they aren’t always used effectively because both writers and readers often don’t understand the distinction between the two. It’s important that both you as a writer and the audience you’re engaging understand the literary devices being employed.
Metaphors are rhetorical substitutes for the subject at hand. They are used to teach a lesson or a profound truth of humanity. We learn to speak, write and listen metaphorically from a young age. Fables and fairy tales are metaphors, meant to teach young people the important lessons that will guide them through life’s difficulties. (more…)
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