Hyperbole is an exaggeration that’s not meant to be taken literally.

For example, an Author might say, “We’re going to talk more about this example later,” or “I’ll discuss this at length in Chapter Three.” 4. Authors often use it to tell readers what they can expect to learn. For example, something that happens in the first chapter of a murder mystery can come into play at the end of the book.īut in nonfiction, foreshadowing tends to be more obvious. Foreshadowingįoreshadowing is an advance warning about something that’s going to happen in the future. For example, if you’re telling an anecdote about a meeting you had with a client, it’s more vivid to say, “He plopped a sugar cube into his coffee and slurped,” than to say, “He drank his coffee with sugar.” 3. In storytelling, onomatopoeia is an effective way to draw your reader into the environment. Common onomatopoeias include “gurgle,” “hiss,” “boom,” “whir,” and “whizz.” OnomatopoeiaĪn onomatopoeia is a word that imitates, suggests, or resembles the sound it’s describing. Think, “Clear communication is key.”īe careful not to overuse alliteration, or your book will start to sound like a nursery rhyme. For example, if the takeaway of your chapter is a pithy, one-line sentence, alliteration can really make it stand out. For example, “4 Best Bets for Better Business.”Īlliteration is also particularly effective for highlighting concepts you want your readers to remember. Nonfiction Authors can use alliteration to create catchy chapter or subsection titles. For example, “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.” AlliterationĪlliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds within a group of words. But don’t force it.ģ0 Common Literary Devices 1. If you can incorporate literary devices in a way that makes sense and adds something to the readers’ experience, great. If your entire book is written in metaphors, it’s not only going to be an overkill of flowery language, but it’s probably going to be confusing too. Literary devices are especially effective when they’re used sparingly. The image of boats fighting against the current is a powerful way to express the simple idea that “life is hard.” Still, literary devices can add a lot to a text when they’re used correctly.įor example, in The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald uses the following metaphor to describe human struggle: “So we beat on, boats against the current…” “Engaging” doesn’t necessarily mean “literary.” A nonfiction Author’s job is to deliver information in an engaging way. More complicated literary devices are a common feature in fiction, but most nonfiction books don’t need them.

Your method may be impactful, but it probably isn’t really going to upend the way every single country does things. For example, if you exaggerate and say, “This method has the potential to revolutionize the world,” that’s hyperbole. Many Authors use literary devices without even realizing it. Literary devices, also known as literary elements, are techniques that writers use to convey their message more powerfully or to enhance their writing.

English story writing techniques