Metaphors and Too Much Chocolate

Who doesn't love to read a great metaphor? And who doesn't love chocolate? Yes, as a matter of fact, the two are related—metaphorically speaking. A well-crafted metaphor makes an engaging and often instructive connection between two unrelated objects. You read one and your eyes are opened. You're enlightened. You get a pleasant—if fleeting—sensation. You might read the metaphor again a few times, and let it roll around in your head, enjoying that connection. This all happens in a matter of seconds. Or less.

You can say the same thing about chocolate. Excellent chocolate is an art form. And there's a spectrum—from sweet to bitter—to match anyone's taste. Think back on the best chocolate you enjoyed. Chances are, you didn't snarf it down. You invited it to stay. You let it settle in and relax, all the while savoring that creamy sweetness, or that brief and bitter shock. Perhaps you loved a blend of both. And if you're like many people, you invited more of your chocolate friends in. After a while, deep down, it got crowded.

The same thing can happen with metaphors. Even the best ones. We love writing them. We love reading them. But slip in too many on a page, and the writing turns, well, rich. Metaphors create images in your mind. But when they come at you, one nearly right after another, they start bumping and interrupting. Your mind just processed one analogy, then another pops up. The quick change in imagery gets to be a little much.

What can writers do to avoid decadently rich copy? Use your metaphors sparingly. Give your reader room to enjoy each metaphor individually. Perhaps you're writing and a metaphor comes to mind. You think, This would fit here perfectly! Now look back in your manuscript and find the last metaphor or simile you wrote. Is it in the previous paragraph, the previous page or two? Perhaps there were several. This is where you decide: Will your new creation add some understanding or will it compete with a previous analogy?

Allow me one more suggestion. Sometimes a good analogy will come when we're not writing. Stop whatever you're doing and scribble it down! If you can't use it immediately in your work, save it. Eventually, you'll have a collection of analogies just waiting for the right story.

What do you think? What has your experience been? Let's hear your suggestions when it comes to figurative writing.