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Using Literary Devices to Create Words of Art

March 9, 2018 by Grace Leave a Comment

using literary devices: a hot-air balloon comprised of pencil lines and splashes of colorful paint, just like  a piece of writing with splashes of literary devices

Part of what makes language incredible is that we can play around with words and phrases and make them pretty while still getting our point across. And we can do that by using literary devices. (Click here for a complete list of them!)

Words create sentences; sentences create paragraphs; sometimes paragraphs quicken and begin to breathe.” ~ Stephen King

Here are three:

1. Apply Alliteration

Alliteration happens to be one of my favorite literary devices. It is where you begin several words (two or more) with the same letter. This creates a euphonic sound and is a way to be creative with your words, not just on a page but also when they’re spoken aloud or in your mind’s reading voice (in fact, the one you’re using to read this article). Here are a few examples:

Dave dodged the ball, but didn’t watch his step.

When the wind blows, it whistles around my window.

Brown pebbles bounced into the brook from above, splashing the boy’s shoe.

You can put alliteration in prose to produce a poetic effect. (Catch what I did there?) It not only adds elements of beauty and rhythm, but it also sounds pleasant to the ear. When you take it further (which you should try sometime for kicks), it begins to sound funny; it all depends what kind of mood and sound you’re going for:

Mabel made Marcie’s marbles match Melvin’s.

Characteristically, crayons can create colorful crafts.

Lacy lavender lapels lend ladies lush looks.

2. Operate with Onomatopoeias

This is not only a fun word to say, but also a fun literary device to apply! An onomatopoeia is just a word that sounds like what it describes.

Drip, drop, plip, plop, splish, splash, pitter, patter, hiccup, scamper, whisper, and hack are examples. Click here for a huge list of them!

The irony is that the word onomatopoeia doesn’t sound like anything. Really, they could have at least picked something like fdsjalkfdjals so it would sound like a tongue struggle instead of a word no one knows how to pronounce…just saying.

Toss some onomatopoeias into your work to add a little spark. Instead of writing, “Rain fell heavily, drops rolling down the window panes and collecting as mud below,” try “Rain fell heavily, drops splashing against the window panes, dripping down the siding, and puddling as mud below.”

3. Have Some Hyperbole

Pronounced hy-PER-bull-ee (pronunciation included because the author may or may not have pronounced it as HY-per-bowl and didn’t want anyone else to suffer such shame…), this literary device is something we do all the time without realizing it. In fact, I just did it. (Hint: the part about “all the time…”)

To put it simply, hyperbole is exaggeration, often with the intent of humor. You don’t actually exaggerate all the time (at least I hope not!), but maybe you do it a lot.

When she saw the truck, her eyes grew as large as moons.

If I could carry a tune, I’d sing every minute of my life.

He runs so slow, he’s going backwards.

Click here for more on hyperbole and the difference between it and a simile or metaphor!

These are three ways to make your writing an artistic endeavor—adding color, creativity, and charm—instead of just grinding out ordinary words in an ordinary order in an ordinary way. Think outside the crumpled, crunchy cardboard box and write the best stuff out there!

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Filed Under: Blog, Tips, Writing Tagged With: literary devicecs, writing, writing inspiration, writing is an art, writing tips

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Freelance Writer & Editor | Script Supervisor

Grace Schutz
These two months with you, my dearest, have been t These two months with you, my dearest, have been the best of my life. I’m so thankful and excited and grateful and happy and blessed to get to adventure with you for the rest of our lives. ❤️ Looking behind with gratitude and ahead with excitement. I love you! 💞 Happy two months, one day late. 😉
My brother @ethan_rankin_40 and his friend @tim.po My brother @ethan_rankin_40 and his friend @tim.pownell wrote a song. My cousin @moosekik did the mastering. I am not exaggerating when I say I’ve listened to it more times than I can count and that it gives me chills *every* time—and not just because I’m proud of my brother, although I certainly am! If you’ve got three minutes, give this a listen…you won’t regret it!!

https://artists.landr.com/692531377081

(It’s available on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Prime, and more!)
Counter Column releases in theaters across America Counter Column releases in theaters across America today!!

The friendships God created through the making of this film are some of the most meaningful I have, and I am so very grateful for them.

The spiritual growth He brought about in us as we depended on Him for strength and wisdom is still mind-boggling to me.

This crew is incredible. CC fam, I love you all and sincerely hope we work together again soon. Thank you for your friendship. 

And @thematthewjordan and Gilbert, thank you for letting me help you make your movie.

Support this gospel-centered film by finding a theater near you and seeing it on its opening weekend! Message me if you need the deets.
Thoroughly enjoyed the evening with Spider-Gwen an Thoroughly enjoyed the evening with Spider-Gwen and Yzma, and of course our Baby Yoda pumpkin. (Props if you can guess who I am😜) Shoutout to @kmyrnae for hosting a fantastic party! 🎉
Seeing the film I worked on with my favorite peopl Seeing the film I worked on with my favorite people is too much to put into words. Counter Column’s premiere and opening weekend were incredible. What a blessing.

Family ~ Thank you for coming to see the film that means so much to me. 💙

{Also, regarding the last two pics—I think Lily & I clean up pretty good. 💞☺️}

#countercolumn
So we did a thing...

Lindsay and I took a girls’ trip to Charleston last weekend! It was so much fun. 

In the end, we decided that the fire ants, sunburn, haunted public parking lot, and crazy mosquitos didn’t compare to the coffee stops, epic playlists, late night movie giggles, historic jail, French cuisine, sand, sun, and ocean waves, and that super grown-up feeling of staying in an Airbnb all by ourselves.

I’m grateful for you, Lindsay, and I am so happy for the memories we made this weekend! 💞

P.S. Pretty sure Baby Yoda had a great time too.
The happiest pictures are always a little bit fuzz The happiest pictures are always a little bit fuzzy. So thankful I got to spend July 4th with my silly, crazy, amazing family. Love you! 
❤️🤍💙
📸: @kyralrankin
Dear Dad ~ Thank you for all you do for me, whethe Dear Dad ~ Thank you for all you do for me, whether it’s fixing my computer or talking to me when I’m crying on the phone. Your love for Elf, cats, and your old man slippers makes me laugh constantly. Thank you for showing me Jesus, for loving me no matter what, and for helping me hold onto my dreams when I was ready to give up. Your impact on my life and the lives of those around you is too much to put into words. I love you. 💙🐩
soft pastels and watercolors | fluffy clouds and p soft pastels and watercolors | fluffy clouds and puddles | a lovely Indiana evening💗
Completed this year’s #IndyMini half-marathon ye Completed this year’s #IndyMini half-marathon yesterday—all alone!

Although my time wasn’t quite was I was aiming for, I learned some of what *not* to do as well as what is great to do, and realized just how much event atmosphere adds to a race experience!

Praising God for safety and a gorgeous day☀️🌺 📸: @kyralrankin *side note: I did *not* run in Chacos. Thank you, @rebekah_pruett for mailing my running shoes a couple weeks before the race!! 😄
Happiest of Mother’s Days to you, Mom. Thank you Happiest of Mother’s Days to you, Mom. Thank you for all you do for us. Thank you for being my friend as well as my mom. Thank you for all the adventures, including our masked return to church. I love you. 💞
It’s a beautiful day for a sunrise, A morning to It’s a beautiful day for a sunrise,
A morning to trumpet the day,
When sin and death were defeated,
When grief was taken away.

It’s a beautiful day for a sunrise,
To celebrate Jesus our Lord,
Who stayed to face God’s wrath and darkness,
When He could have escaped with a word.

It’s a beautiful day for a sunrise,
To honor our Savior and Friend,
Who walks through this life by our side,
Who stays with us till the end.

It’s a beautiful day for a sunrise,
We’re redeemed, we are loved, we belong.
It’s a glorious day for a Sonrise,
A glorious day for a song. {artwork by @artwithkrys}
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