Metaphor in the Making
The Metaphor in the Making content is part of the Writers’ Inlet Salon, the Inlet’s craft and accountability community.
All creators want to make work that matters—inventive work that says something new, unique work that says “I made this,” relatable work that speaks to our audience deeply and meaningfully. Work we feel good about.
But often our vision gets blurred, our ideas scatter, and we struggle to figure out what we want to say. Our best ideas frequently come into focus amidst this disarray—when we bring together disparate thoughts or images.
In this state, we question. We test. We ponder: “On the one hand…on the other…” “As___ is to___, so to…” It’s like this. It reminds me of.
Metaphor is one of the most natural ways to integrate and make connections—seeing one thing in terms of another, even (often especially!) things seemingly disconnected. That’s where the sweet spot of originality lies.
Join the Writers’ Inlet Salon to…
Find the heart of your poem, story, essay, memory, or novel.
Dig deep into underlying meanings that speak to what matters most to you.
Discover how to make your writing more imaginative and clear simultaneously.
Turn surprise into the norm—and let the sense of the unexpected keep growing.
Get light accountably and community support to help you finish what you start, and maintain momentum in between.
When we happen upon the perfect metaphor for our ideas, it’s not uncommon to burst out cheering—but the quest to get there can cause headaches. How and when do metaphors clarify, expand, or just mystify?
IN THE FALL/WINTER SEASON OF THE WRITERS’ INLET SALON, WE’LL EXPLORE METAPHOR IN THE MAKING (IDEA, IMAGE AND IMAGINATION), and ponder the pleasure and pitfalls of mixing, matching, extending, and structuring metaphorical images in sentences & stanzas, paragraphs & scenes. “All our ways of picturing the invisible are metaphors, likenesses that we snatch from the larger world of eye and ear and touch.” (J. Bronowski) When we draw from the world of sensory images to make metaphor come to life, we get to choose whether the images will be elaborate and expansive, swift and telescoping, or somewhere in between. Well chosen imagery can provide both clarity and mystery. Analysis, discussion and exercises will help us find the balance.
AND IN THE WINTER/SPRING SEASON, THE THEME IS TRANSFORMATIONAL ARCS IN POETRY & PROSE. We’ll further explore how metaphor can transfer and transform meaning. “Metaphor creates a meaning greater than the sum of its parts, because the parts interact.” (Richard Sennett) We’ll look at various parts that create a comprehensive whole, from setting’s symbolic thematic connections, character development’s “rhyming action” building arc, to the underpinnings of metaphor build into structure and plot—yes, even in poetry. Throughout our time together we’ll discuss, examine and reveal in metaphorical “ah ha” moments in established writers’ work and identify what we can “steal” to create some of our own.
INLET SALON FEATURES
- Monthly Large Salon discussions on the “Metaphor in the Making” curriculum.
- Metaphor in the Making Curriculum: Instructional video series, Metaphor in the Making Workbook with practical tip sheets, DIY prompts, probing discussion questions, illustrative excerpts and links to select resources.
- 3+ Immersive “Metaphor in the Making” Writing Challenges every month.
- Salon Tracks: Community, Metaphor Coaching, Hybrid Coaching.