Metaphorically speaking – those two words often draw groans and memories of high school English teachers lecturing about Shakespeare or yellow wallpaper.
E. Shelley Reid’s “Ten Ways to Think about Writing: Metaphoric Musings for College Students” invokes a different feeling. In her hands, metaphors go from a stuffy and somewhat boring concept to a wellspring of ideas. I went into the reading admittedly skeptical – how could an article about using metaphors possibly be interesting? Although I had reservations, it delighted me to be proven wrong. Rather than tell, she showed how they work, and it made the passage so much easier to get through. I read through it in no time, surprising myself.
I consider myself a flowery writer. Friends and teachers alike have said I write akin to poetry outside of my academic work. Yet I don’t use metaphors often – I rather tend toward lurid descriptions and frank sentiments. Even in academia, when they would be useful, I shy away from them. Shelley Reid makes it look easy. “imagine a ball”, she says, “think of this situation – do you understand my point now?” I do, and I wish I could write with the same ease. Moreover, it strikes me that even my attempts at metaphor fall closer to similes, using comparison rather than giving a scenario to illustrate my points.
Of course, as she says and all writers, myself included, agree, “Writing is hard.” I am, metaphorically speaking, a dusty window. A dusty window that does its job well enough, allows you to see outside – but better if it were clear, more understandable with the filter wiped away. Working with writing the way I do, I know my academic style is very dry and concise. Metaphors are apparently a skill I lack. Shelley Reid makes it clear, however, that this is a skill worth learning.
For a look back at other conversations about writing, start with my article on using first person pronouns.
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