The Art Of Naming A Book

Using Metaphors For Titles

Hello there beautiful Wattpaders!

Today we'll talk about metaphors!

Yeeeaaay!!!

I suppose some of you don't know what a metaphor is so I'll go ahead and explain.

The definition of a metaphor is a figure of speech containing an implied comparison, in which a word or phrase ordinarily and primarily used of one thing is applied to another. For example, "the curtain of night" or "all the world's a stage."

You may have often heard expressions such as:

He drowned in a sea of grief.

She is fishing in troubled waters.

In other words you use something else to describe something else.

Let's say we want to describe a girl's overconfident smile.

How would you apply a metaphor here?

You could say; she wore a smile like a loaded gun. I'm pretty sure it's clear at this point that this girl is grinning in a way that seems threatening to others.

Bear in mind that a metaphor is a basic attribute in a writer's narrative that will help describe better what you have in mind and make your readers understand as you give them a picture to describe something with exaggeration.

It's also a good way to avoid using the same words which could tire your readers a great deal.

Now, if you wish to add a metaphor as a title I suggest you make another list. This time take traits from your characters and find metaphors for them.

Whatever you can find; from their physical traits to their characteristic traits. Make a list of the most important ones and dig deep to find what sounds right for you.

What people commonly consider of when dealing with romance is the eyes.

So.....

Let's see a few examples for eyes;
Personally, I sometimes use the word 'swirls', 'pools', 'orbs' and 'voids' when describing eyes just so I can avoid the overuse of one simple but extremely important word.
What do you guys use instead of plain old 'eyes'? I'd seriously love to know! Add your alternatives in an inline comment if you want! Show me how much into the writer's spirit you are!

Let's see a few examples for blue eye colors that you could use;

Blue; ocean, crystal, sea, sky, sapphire...

I couldn't come up with any more but all one has to do is take their environment as an example; that could help a great deal for ideas.

How about brown eyes?

Well, there are countless alternatives for this particular eye colour but not all of them can be used in a mere title.

Brown; caramel, gold, amber, rust, wood, soil, dirt, bark,

Now, just because I added the words wood, soil, dirt or burk doesn't mean you should go and blindly use it and say his soil-like eyes or wood-like eyes. No, don't do that, it doesn't just sound wrong; it is wrong.

Those words can be used only when you focus in every detail of the iris and that can only happen during storytelling.

Just be creative, that's what I'm trying to point out from the very start of this book. Don't use clichés, just be original! I'm prompting you with all I have to do it!

Ok, I suppose I diversed from the main subject which is to help you use those alternative words for something more creative than mere words that happen to be overused.

The key is to find the right word that your subject could relate to. That's how you create metaphors.

Let's see some examples of semiles and metaphors used for titles;

Sharp crystals

Crystal shards

Wooden heart

Face of stone

Cold caramel

Warm caramel

Painting the crystals red (vampire)

Gold and rust combined

Gold and rust aligning

Now, of course, I wasn't limited to the eyes here but that was but a few examples on how to use Metaphors to upgrade your titles.

I'll be stopping here now.

I know it's been a while since my previous update but I can't promise much. What can I say... life is time consuming.

Don't forget to vote and tell me what you think.

Till next time!