A simile compares the qualities of one thing to another. It does this by using the words like or as.
- To write a simile you simply compare the attributes or qualities of two nouns.
- It helps if the two nouns have something in common, like a color or texture.
- Sometimes similes alliterate, but not always.
A cliche uses phrases or sentences that have been overused and have lost their impact on your readers or listeners.
- Ralph Murphy, at a Boston Songwriter’s Workshop songwriting camp, said you should avoid going with the first thing you write as it will often be filled with overused images.
- Don’t give in to lazy writing. Instead, you need to dig deep to find fresh images.
- Especially now in this age of generative AI, because the AIs tend to spit out cliches.
How do you create original similes? You can use a thesaurus to find alternate word choices that convey the same or similar thing. For example:
- As smooth as silk
- As soft as satin
Notice that I decided to keep the alliteration. However, that’s not essential. The next example uses the word like:
- He ate like a pig.
- He gobbled his food like a monkey.
Here I used Google to find another animal with messy eating habits.