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 MASTER OF METAPHOR

Later in the Categories of Metaphors module, we will learn how to get creative
with metaphors in order to come up with metaphors that are more out of the
ordinary.

However, it is crucially important to first learn the skill of taking an ordinary

metaphor and turning it into a captivating, memorable metaphor. In fact, this skill is
probably the most important skill of them all.

That s because when you don t have time to think of memorable metaphors, you
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need to have a strong foundation to lean on, which is the process you will learn in
this module.

So, I have a feeling you will be falling back on the techniques in this particular
chapter most of the time as I do as well . And, the reason for this is because
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getting a mundane metaphor into better shape is a much easier process than
coming up with a metaphor that is completely unique and brilliant.

Think of this way: While getting a six pack is not easy, it s still a hell of a lot easier to
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do that than to win the Mr. Olympia bodybuilding title.

So, here are the steps for turning any ordinary metaphor into a memorable
metaphor:

Step 1: Go through the brainstorming process laid out in the previous module. You
don t have to do the go one step further process though, because you are just
' " "

trying to come up with something mundane and reshape it into something

memorable. Come up with a base metaphor .
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Step 2: Take whatever metaphor you can think of based on what you
brainstormed it doesn t have to be great at this point and make it more vivid and
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detailed.

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Step 3: Take what you just came up with and then add even more detail and or /

exaggeration.

At this point, your metaphor is now much better than the original metaphor you
came up with, but you don t want to stop here.
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At this point, you can take one of three paths or a combination of these paths :
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Step 4a: Make the metaphor active , which means changing it from a static
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metaphor which it probably is at the moment to one that has ACTION in it.
( )

Step 4b: Or, you can play with the phrasing of the metaphor to give it more punch.

Step 4c: Add absurdity, elaboration, even more exaggeration, or contrast.

Step 5: Reassess, and if possible ask Can I make the metaphor indirect see later
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chapter ? )

Let me show you an example of this process:

Let s say you are trying to say that someone is cheap. What is the first mundane
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metaphor you can think of? Let s go back to the previous chapter on
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brainstorming.

So, let s go with He s a regular old Scrooge , which is a reference to one of the
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most famous cheapasses in literature.

Step 2: Make More Vivid/Detailed

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He s a regular old Scrooge becomes He s such a cranky, penny pinching, miserly

' " " ' -

Scrooge . "

Step 3: Make It Even More Vivid/Exaggerated

He s such cranky, a penny pinching, miserly Scrooge becomes He s so cranky,

" ' - " " '

penny pinching, and miserly even Scrooge can t stand him it .

- ' / "

This is what I did in the juice advertisement in the Introduction in order to make a
good metaphor great.

Step 4a: Make It Active

He s so cranky and penny pinching even Scrooge can t stand him it becomes
" ' ' / "

Even Scrooge detests him so much, Scrooge is going to arrange for the Ghost of
"

Christmas Past to pay him a visit. "

Or, you can take the other path:

Step 4b: Play With Phrasing

He s so cranky and penny pinching even Scrooge can t stand him becomes
" ' ' "

Even Scrooge has a serious grudge with this guy s crankiness and penny
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pinching. "

This is just what I call a straight flip , which is essentially flipping the order of the
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wording with a minor tweak to the wording, but you will learn other ways to play
with phrasing later on. Playing with phrasing is a key part of tweaking metaphors to
perfection.

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Keep in mind that a straight flip may be all that s needed most of the time to make a
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metaphor more snappy.

Step 4c: Add Absurdity, Elaboration, Exaggeration, Contrast

"He s so cranky and penny pinching even Scrooge can t stand him becomes He s
' ' " " '

so cranky and penny pinching that if there were a two person contest between
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him and Scrooge for Man of the Year, Scrooge would win in an unprecedented
landslide."

Absurdity is just taking what you have to the extreme, so that is what I did here.

Now, here is an example of elaboration. You will see why it is such an important
technique.

A sports radio personality said recently: Johnny Manziel the disgraced Heisman
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Trophy winner who got kicked out of the NFL at age 24 is like the Lindsay Lohan
)

of the NFL. "

Now, if he stopped here, that is a pretty good metaphor because people know
Lindsay Lohan and her well earned reputation for self destruction, but instead he
- -

added additional elaboration to make the metaphor much more memorable:

"Johnny Manziel is like the Lindsay Lohan of the NFL. She's only 30 but it seems like
she's in her late 40s. Manziel is the same way. Do you know what he's doing on
Super Bowl weekend? He's signing autographs all weekend at the Lego Store in
the Woodlands Mall next to the stadium. THAT"s how far he's fallen."

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Now, do you see why elaboration is important? It s absolutely crucial because it

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gives more power to the metaphor by giving additional context to reinforce and
strengthen the metaphor.

Going back to the Scrooge example, let s use some elaboration exaggeration:
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"He s so cranky and penny pinching even Scrooge can t stand him becomes He s
' ' " " '

so cranky and penny pinching even Scrooge can t stand him. Scrooge asked him
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for a donation check for the food back and when he went to cash it, it bounced. "

Do you see how the additional elaboration reinforces the metaphor?

And finally, here is adding contrast:

He s so cranky and penny pinching even Scrooge can t stand him becomes He s
" ' ' " " '

so cranky and penny pinching even Scrooge can t stand him. He so cheap he
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makes Scrooge look like a veritable philanthropist in comparison. "

If at any time you find yourself getting stuck with any of these steps, I want you to
go back to the brainstorming exercises and go through that process again, but this
time you will also go through the go one step further process with the material
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you already have at the point you get stuck.

Doing that will allow you to trigger ideas for a different path to take with the
metaphor in case your original metaphor doesn t go anywhere good.
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