I first discovered the power of metaphor during my premarital counseling. We were using what (I think it was in a Gary Smalley book) was called, “Word Pictures.” The idea of taking an object or an event and using it as a symbol for something else.

Okay, we as writers aren’t dumb. We get the whole metaphor idea. But sometimes we forget its power in a scene. And, I’m not talking about a direct metaphor where the main character in the scene spells it out for the others. I’m talking about the subtle metaphors that betray emotions, or revelation in the scene in the background. It’s similiar to subtexting, only in description.

For example, in my newest book, I put the opening scene on a beach, the sky darkening as the sun sets. My heroine is at a crossroads in her life, she’s had a disappointment, and in the inciting incident, she’s given a choice to start over, or continue on her current path. Throughout the entire scene, the ocean in front of her gets darker and darker, signifying the unknown, as the sun sinks behind her, signifying the end of this season of her life. At one point, she stands barefoot in the sand, and the waves eat at the sand under her feet, the waves pulling her into the dark, another symbol of the pulse to leave the life she has and turn toward the unknown.

It’s all in the background, but it adds to the symbolism of the scene.

It also gives me what I call the METAPHORICAL Word pool. I remember in my early writing days, learning the term of mixed metaphors – ie, he climbed through the river of sorrow (okay that was bad, but it’s late and I’m tired). Here’s another try: he aimed for the bulls-eye and hit the hammer on the top of the point. (okay that was pretty bad too). The idea is, when you use a metaphor, you have a “pool” of available verbs and nouns that correspond with your metaphor. With the metaphor “ocean”, I can use waves, and tides, and swells, and currents…pretty much anything associated with water and the ocean. Of course, the key is to use these words in moderation – you don’t want to saturate your scene with an overkill of “water” words…but at the same time, you don’t want to use, say, “desert” or “mountaintop” words and mix up that metaphor.

Think of the setting and objects in your scene – ask, what can you use to illustrate the mood and emotions, even the theme of the scene? Without going overboard, can you subtly work a metaphor, drawing from your “metaphorical pool” to enhance the scene?

Try this – pick up a book from one of your favorite authors and see what metaphors they embed into their scenes. The best are subtle but leave the reader saying, “I’m not sure why, but that scene really impacted me…” (he he he – but we know why, don’t we?) And hopefully it’ll keep them coming back for more.

This weekend, stop by Voices and tell us what metaphors you’re able to use in your stories or your scenes! See you Monday!