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IWW
Practice-W Exercise Archives
Exercise: Similes at work
These exercises were written
by IWW members
and administrators to provide structured practice opportunities for its
members.
You are welcome to use them for practice as well. Please mention that
you found
them at the Internet Writers Workshop
(http://www.internetwritingwor
kshop.org/).
Prepared
by: Ruth Douillette
Posted on: Sunday, January 13, 2008
Reposted on: Sunday, August 9, 2009
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Exercise: In 300 words or less, write the beginning of a scene in which
you describe a
person, place, or thing using one or two similes.
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Similes, when sprinkled sparingly, add interest to a story. Used
effectively they can
show the reader an element of your story faster and more effectively
than straight
description. Too many, and they begin to jar the reader; too far off
the mark, and
they look silly.
Be alert in everyday life for the things that remind you of something
else and you'll
have similes at your fingertips when you need them to add a visual
image to your
writing:
Grandma's skin draped her face like the folds of the bedspread she'd
slept under
since she was thirteen.
Grandma's skin was as smooth as river rocks, and just as firm.
Both similes give an instant picture of grandma, and are more visual
than a basic
description: Grandma was wrinkled.
These similes were visual, but you may use any of the five senses.
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Exercise: In 300 words or less write the beginning of a scene in which
you
describe a
person, place, or thing using one or two similes.
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Critique by commenting on the effectiveness of the similes to enhance
the description. Were the similes fresh and original?
Web site created by
Rhéal Nadeau and
the administrators of the Internet Writing Workshop.
Modified by Greg Gunther.
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