Literary Devices To Engage Your Readership
There are hundreds of literary devices in the writing world. From commonplace techniques like analogies to the elusive ekphrasis, literary devices are the medium by which great stories are built.
These techniques are natural in our writing. We’re not likely to map out an opening line by saying, “Okay, let’s start with a metaphor. Then let’s have it play on hyperbole and contrast it with an oxymoron to create a paradox.” Instead, as Charles Dickens did, we would just write:
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us…”
Literary devices are rarely something we think about. Instead, they’re something we simply do.
When Do You Use Literary Devices?
Always. Writing without literary devices is like playing music without knowing what music is (By the way, that’s a simile, a device we all use as often as a duck takes a bath (which is a colloquialism!)).
Trying to force a literary device can make your writing feel awkward and inauthentic. But when you’re up against a wall of writer’s block, sometimes a strip of literary device C4 (metaphor) in just the right place can create a hole big enough for your creativity to flow (imagery).
How To Use Literary devices
Let’s consider the following scenario:
An author wants to write about how she started her company because she wants others to feel encouraged to do the same. She began with nothing more than an idea and, from that, built an impressive business. But it wasn’t easy.
She wants the reader to understand this while also not becoming disheartened. However, every time she writes about the process, it becomes more and more discouraging. How can she convey hope while, at the same time, representing reality?
Here’s where playing with literary devices can help break down that wall.
1. Allegory
She could begin her book by sharing an allegory. Just as the book Watership Down explored very human struggles in a rabbit warren, she could begin her book with a story representing success at the end of a long struggle.
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“When I was a child,” she could write, “my mother would tell me the story of a little girl who became a knight. At first, no one would teach her, so she taught herself. She read books on war and practiced her sword skills at night. For years, she studied and rehearsed, watching knights as they trained and sneaking books from her father’s library. Until one day, she had her chance. Marauders attacked a dignitary’s entourage as they passed her home, and she leapt to the rescue. The dignitary was so impressed, he made her the head of his personal guard. But that wasn’t enough for her. Over the years, she used her skills and intelligence to lead larger and larger armies until finally, she reached her goal – the leader of her country’s royal military. She never gave up on her dreams, never pretended to be someone else, and always believed in herself.”
2. Foreshadowing
If an allegory is too simplistic, she could instead introduce her story by alluding to both the hardships and her eventual success.
“Lasting success is not an overnight win,” she could write. “Even those who rise quickly often fall even faster or spend years working hard to hold their status. I did not rise quickly. And I fell several times. But through it all, I never lost sight of that goal. I knew, deep down, that this would become a reality. And nothing in my life could stop me.”
3. Suspense
This literary device rarely fails to capture attention. If you’re stuck with starting a story or how to get to the next point, try adding an element of suspense.
“When I began on this journey,” she could write, “I had one dream – to build a company that exemplified everything positive about the perfect working environment. I could see the structure, the numerous moving pieces, and even the challenges that seemed so insignificant when I began. And yet I never could have imagined how hard I would hit that first roadblock or the sacrifices I would have to make to get past it.”
Practicing with Literary Devices
Like our author, sometimes we need to play with some literary devices before we land on the right one. Sometimes, we just need to try our hand at different techniques before we know how or what we’re going to write. If you’re struggling with writer’s block, consider trying one of the following literary device exercises to weaken that wall:
Whatever you’re working on, a wide understanding of literary devices can support a more engaging, creative, and compelling work.
Written by Kristin Hackler, Director of Book Planning