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Similes Are Like Smiles; Metaphors Are Laughter
My favorite lines in all of literature are not from a Shakespearean play, not from a romantic love sonnet, and not from a modern short story. Instead, my favorite lines are from an old poem written by Solomon, a former king of Israel. The poem appears in The Bible in the book of Proverbs, and the writer uses four similes to describe four human experiences:
Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a ruling rightly given.
Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.
Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him; he refreshes the spirit of his master.
Like clouds and wind without rain is one who boasts of gifts never given. (NIV Study Bible: Proverbs 25:11–14)
As a writer, you, too, can create vivid descriptions with similes — and metaphors.
Basically, a simile is a comparison using the words “like” or “as.” (The words “seem” or “appear” are sometimes used for similes, as well.) If you think writing is difficult, for example, you could simply write, “Writing is difficult.” However, if you want to be more imaginative, you could use a simile to describe different degrees of difficulty. “Writing is like driving a taxi in New York City,”…
