Comparisons & Analogies, When They Become Cliche

As with everything in writing, moderation is key when using comparisons and analogies. I usually fall on the side of

“overuse”

or

“Jodi, you’re being way too literal all the time, cut back some of your analogies.”

And sometimes I land in the mud puddle of

“cliché”

Oh, yeah that’s the dreaded one.

I’d much rather overuse likenesses to paint a detailed picture than use a single cliché in an entire 80,000 word manuscript. And yet, I’ve been known to do it. Good thing editing exists.

Interrupting this post for an announcment:

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Now back to our post:

So how to avoid cliché comparisons:

If you’ve read it somewhere—don’t use it.

If it sounds like something you’ve heard—don’t use it.

If it’s obvious—don’t use it.

Look up a cliché list online (you can do this for adverbs and adjectives too—which should be avoided like the plague) <=cliché J, not cliché=> which should be avoided like rabbits with fleas.

Think the way your narrator would about the world they’re in.

If you’re trying to come up with a way to describe how you want to love someone, you could always call Shane Max.

He is a poetry slam participant and w-o-n-e-r-f-u-l. Like seriously, the guy mixes comparison and metaphor and pulls it off oh, so well.

He’s hilarious.

Please Watch.

What do ya think? Got any new ideas for comparisons, analogies, likenesses etc…that will help you avoid the dreaded cliché all around?

Happy Reading. Happier Writing.

J