by Angela Ruth Strong, @AngelaRStrong

A good analogy is powerful and can make your story as memorable as Forrest Gump and his box of chocolates. Using these literary morsels to compare the imaginary with what your reader already knows will sweeten your story and their experience.

So let’s look at four lessons we can learn from Forrest Gump and his Russel Stover box of unexpected brilliance. 

1. Choose assorted chocolates. Don’t repeat the same type of analogies but give your reader variety to offer something for everyone and keep them coming back for more. We’ll start with similes because they are simple to understand with their use of “like” or “as.” Example: “She would have as much luck as Bambi trying to walk across ice.” Metaphors can be more indirect, often stating one thing “is” something else, requiring a little deeper thought. Example (from author Chloe Flanagan): “In that moment, her heart was Mentos and Coke.” And you can superpower an analogy by explaining the relationship being compared. “She hated love the way a diabetic hated chocolate cake.”
2. Make it rich. I remember once as a kid, I was able to guess the lines of dialog in a movie. I don’t remember the name of the movie because it was forgettable, but I remember my mom saying, “If you can guess what they’re going to say, that’s bad writing.” Don’t let your readers guess what you’re going to say. Surprise them with originality. If you are going to quote a cliché, make it fresh. For example, if your character is losing their religion over a hypocrite in the church, you could say, “Don’t throw baby Jesus out with the bathwater.” Also be careful not to mix metaphors unless you’re doing it humorously like Biff in Back to the Future. “Why don’t you make like a tree… and get out of here.”

3. Savor. Recalling a metaphor you’ve already made and expanding upon it is called a sustained or extended metaphor. I like to think of it as an inside joke with my audience. I can refer back to an analogy I’ve already used in different ways to go deeper and make my readers feel smart for catching the reference. It comes across as effortless because it makes so much sense, but it’s an art form like pouring chocolate into multiple molds then melting them together. 
4. Don’t overindulge. I’ve gorged my writing with analogies before. It gets bloated and lines that could have been a treat no longer offer any satisfaction. Be intentional like you’re using the guide that came inside your chocolate box to make your selections. Does your analogy fit with the flavor of your story and characters? Is it consistent with your theme? Does it make the reader’s brain release serotonin? (See? You can take an analogy too far. But, hey, isn’t it cool that both books and chocolate can make us so happy? 😉)

 Don’t get frustrated if the perfect analogy doesn’t come to you immediately. Take your time when needed, then write, Forest, write!

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A Latte Difficulty

Can two baristas track down a gunman after the espresso shot heard ‘round the world? When Marissa witnesses an attempted murder during the 4th of July parade, it starts a battle for her independence. She is forced to hide out in a safehouse, leaving her co-owner, Tandy, to run their coffee shop, track down the criminal, and, worse, plan Marissa’s wedding. Thankfully Tandy has help, but can she really trust the P.I. in a bow tie, her new deaf barista who acts more like a bartender, or a wedding planner who’s keeping secrets? The threat on Marissa’s future goes from bad to worse when her bridal gown is covered in blood. Though her fiancé, Connor, agrees to give up his identity to join her in the Witness Protection Program, Marissa refuses to wave the white flag. Instead, she enlists Tandy to help her fight for truth, justice, and the Americano way.

Angela Ruth Strong sold her first Christian romance novel in 2009 then quit writing romance when her husband left her. Ten years later, God has shown her the true meaning of love, and there’s nothing else she’d rather write about. Her books have since earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, been optioned for film, won the Cascade Award, and been Amazon best-sellers. She also writes non-fiction for SpiritLed Woman. To help aspiring authors, she started IDAhope Writers where she lives in Idaho, and she teaches as an expert online at WRITE THAT BOOK.