Figurative Language

A well-written piece of literature makes you feel like you are really within the pages of the book. There are many ways for an author to achieve this and develop a “good” story.
For me, a story has to grab my attention right from the beginning sentence. That can happen with a question, a statement, or a catchy phrase. The first page should make me want to know or try to figure out what will happen next. For example, the first line in a story might start with “Mother?” “There was no reply.” This would be more attention grabbing than just writing, “I called my mother, and she didn’t answer.” This makes me want to know why Mother didn’t answer. Using figurative language, such as similes and metaphors, keeps a story interesting and
helps convey description and meaning. The use of these phrases can create a crisper image of what the author is trying to portray. If you want to describe that Joey has red hair. You could write, “Joey has red hair” or make it more interesting and descriptive by writing “Joey’s hair was as shiny and red as a ruby.” Or, if you want to say “The doors opened,” a better alternative might be something like “The doors of the impending building slid open at my nervous command.”
The author’s excellent use of words can really grab your attention. They can use words that make you think about what you are reading, such as using “amusing” instead of “fun” or “elation” instead of “happiness.”
Attention grabbing, figurative language and excellent word choice are all key components for the making of a “good” story. Next time you read a story take notice of these essential ideas.