I know I risk sounding like an English teacher when I use the words “figurative language.” The phrase may sound frightening but figurative language will make your writing more interesting evocative and memorable. And who doesn’t want that –even in non-fiction? Here are some examples of figurative language:
• allusion
• hyperbole
• metaphor
• oxymoron
• personification
• paradox
• simile
I read widely and follow many forms of media, keeping my eyes and ears attuned to figurative language so I can share a piece of it with you each week.
Reading time: About 1 minute I like to share interesting pieces of figurative language I encounter in my reading. I write today about a series of metaphors from Jean Echenoz… French writer Jean Echenoz published his first book, Le Méridien de Greenwich in 1979, and received the Fénéon Prize for it in […]
The figurative language of Jean Echenoz… Read More »
Reading time: About 1 minute I like to share interesting pieces of figurative language I encounter in my reading. I write today about a series of similes from Bonnie Garmus…. Bonnie Garmus is an American copywriter and creative director who currently lives in London. Now, she has a best-selling breakout
The figurative language of Bonnie Garmus… Read More »
Reading time: About 1 minute I like to share interesting pieces of figurative language I encounter in my reading. I write today about a series of similes from author Katie Williams… How is technology changing your life? Perhaps you’re walking more because of your Fitbit? Maybe you’re able to take
The figurative language of Katie Williams… Read More »
Reading time: Less than 1 minute I like to share interesting pieces of figurative language I encounter in my reading. I write today about similes and metaphors from American novelist Danzy Senna… I can’t remember who recommended the 2017 Danzy Senna novel, New People, to me. A ‘best book of
The figurative language of Danzy Senna Read More »
Reading time: Just over 1 minute I like to share interesting pieces of figurative language I encounter in my reading. I write today about a series of metaphors, similes and images of personification from Katherena Vermette…. Katherena Vermette has written a gripping and gritty novel displaying the adversity facing Indigenous
The figurative language of Katherena Vermette… Read More »
Reading time: Just over 1 minute I like to share interesting pieces of figurative language I encounter in my reading. I write today about similes from the American author Steven Rowley… I was walking by a remainder table in my favourite bookstore when the title of a book grabbed me
The figurative language of Steven Rowley Read More »
Reading time: Just over 1 minute I like to share interesting pieces of figurative language I encounter in my reading. I write today about metaphors from Lionel Shriver…. American writer Lionel Shriver (pictured above) had her break-out novel in 2003. Titled We Need to Talk about Kevin it tells the
The figurative language of Lionel Shriver… Read More »
Reading time: Less than 1 minute I like to share interesting pieces of figurative language I encounter in my reading. I write today about personification from English novelist Jonathan Coe… It’s always interesting to me to see how different writers use different types of figurative language. Some for example, have
The figurative language of Jonathan Coe… Read More »
Reading time: About 3 minutes I like to share interesting pieces of figurative language I encounter in my reading. I write today about a series of images from Patrick Radden Keefe… I view Patrick Radden Keefe (pictured above) as one of the best, most skillful non-fiction writers alive today. Not
The figurative language of Patrick Radden Keefe… Read More »
Reading time: About 1 minute I like to share interesting pieces of figurative language I encounter in my reading. I write today about a similes and metaphors from Dwight Garner… I’m a big fan of the American journalist and longtime book reviewer Dwight Garner. His work appears in the New
The figurative language of Dwight Garner… Read More »
