The metaphor is one of the most powerful tools in the artist’s toolbox. This is the case whether you are writing fiction, non-fiction, poetry or blogs. The authors prefer metaphors because they add texture and beauty to otherwise dry descriptions.
Most writers know that metaphors are important. But what is lesser known is why metaphors are so powerful and what kind of imagery is important in building metaphors for good effect in your writing. Let’s have a look on this content to know briefly about it.
Why Metaphors Are Important?
Metaphors place abstract ideas in terms of concrete
Metaphor is a great tool to help your users understand abstract or unfamiliar content. By combining abstract information with a concrete concept, complexity becomes easier for people to understand. The existing mental scheme is applied to understand something unfamiliar. This scheme can refer to visual, functional or structural similarities.
Visual similarities indicate that both known and unknown concepts are similar and can be compared based on external characteristics. Functional matches are based on common functions or features, not related to their presence. Structural similarities are organizational structures related to both known and unknown concepts.
The metaphor triggers emotion
You can use metaphors perfectly to trigger emotions. Emotional engagement on the web has become increasingly important lately. Emotion not only makes your design attractive, but at the same time more effective, pleasing and memorable. Designing with passion means you don’t stop at a useful and usable website, but you take your design one step further and add a great user experience to it.
The metaphor draws attention
Metaphors can be used to draw the attention of a website to general or very specific elements. The things you recognize attract your attention, just as you can recognize familiar faces in a large crowd of strangers. Of course your whole website is important, but there may be only one thing that is more important than all the others.
Just be careful to use metaphors carefully. They can be the key to getting the attention you need, wherever you need it. At the same time, if used too much, you can overload your page and have the exact opposite effect. Set highlights, but don’t confuse your users.
Inspires metaphorical action
Another very interesting aspect of metaphors is that they can influence human actions and engage users. By translating the interactions we know on the web from the real world, we can transfer our knowledge to the screen. Thus, metaphors can be very interesting and effective because we know intuitively what to do.
Rules for Crafting the Best Metaphors
Simple
If it takes a long time to explain the connection between the two concepts, then you probably need to choose another comparison. The metaphors are designed to clear things up, not more muddy things than before. Along the same line, do not mix metaphors. Once you start a metaphor, stick with it.
Thematic
Metaphors work best when the selected comparisons are consistent with the voice, location, time or theme of your story.
Original
No one wants to read a metaphor that has come a hundred times before, so avoid excessive use or clichd comparisons.
Relevant
When using a metaphor, the author agrees to an underlying promise to the reader that the two ideas are somehow connected. The connection doesn’t have to be instantaneous – it’s not the best. But it should seem like a lamp is burning in the minds of the readers. Suddenly they see the connection where they were not before.
Important
Quick-fire metaphors, one on top of the other, are more confusing than illuminating. Readers need time to breathe. There is no need to compare everything in your writing. Want to emphasize an idea or evoke a feeling that is important and central to your story.
Concluding Remarks
Good metaphors spice up any part of art is it painting, poetry or novel. Some writers use the whole character metaphorically, others use symbolism. Learning to write a good metaphor can be the difference between a good piece and a great piece.
