When we send a post into the blogosphere, we want to make sure our best feet are forward. That means…
When we send a post into the blogosphere, we want to make sure our best feet are forward. That means making sure errors like typos or poor grammar don’t detract from what we have to say; it’s one of the reasons The Daily Post highlights common grammar struggles. Grammar challenges follow up on grammar posts, calling on you to put your new-found understanding to the test.
To participate, tag your posts with “DPchallenge” or leave a link to your post in the comments. (It would also be great if you could link to this post to encourage people to take part – the more the merrier!) Please be sure your post has been specifically written in response to this challenge; obvious attempts to link-bait will be deleted. We’ll keep an eye on the tag and highlight the week’s best posts on Freshly Pressed each Friday.
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Last week, erudite resident grammarian Daryl posted an introduction to metaphor and simile, two tools that can add detail and texture to your communication–we often use them in writing and speech to drive home an impression we’re trying to create.
Of course, whether we’re using these tools as thoughtfully as we might is another issue: consider the gulf between your declaration that “it’s hot as hell out here” and Shakespeare’s evocative description of Romeo’s feelings for Juliet.
Your challenge this week is fairly straightforward as far as rules go: write about whatever you’d like, incorporating metaphor and/or simile to illustrate and highlight important parts of your story. If you’d like something more advanced, take the bull by the horns and attempt an epic simile, an extended simile that runs for several lines. Homer really liked a good epic simile, so much so that we now call them Homeric Similes; here are a few examples.
One thing to keep in mind: a good metaphor or simile doesn’t have to be flowery or formal–you should use your own frame of reference while crafting them. Similes and metaphors are mirrors of your natural tone, they can be as flowery as your great-aunt’s sofa or as dirty as the sole of a trucker’s boot. (See what I did there? Ba-da-bing!) There’s no need to be someone you’re not; the “write what you know” adage applies here as well.
As always, feel free to ask questions in the comments; if anyone would like Daryl to expand on any piece of his post, we’ll rope him in. We’re excited to see what you come up with for such a wide-open challenge!
Just added the DP tag to my post today since ironically it applies. Thank you for these challenges. I enjoy participating and reading what others create as well.
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I did the same as well comparing life to puzzle pieces!
http://theinfamousl.wordpress.com/2012/10/01/life-in-pieces/
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Oh my goodness! I have a post sitting in my drafts comparing life to a jigsaw puzzle. You beat me to it :-).
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That’s great! I hope you can help me – I have followed the instructions to no avail for how to get the 2012 Postaday Badge. ?? Thanks
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I don’t actually have the badge on my site because I don’t post every day. Good luck! 🙂
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I also had a post today with a metaphor today!!! Thanks for looking!
http://motherhoodisanart.com/2012/10/01/you-have-a-broken-heart/
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Oh my god, I just posted something yesterday that would be GREAT for this challenge. Can I repost today, or reblog it with new tags? Please let me know, I would love to have a shot!
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http://righttobitch.com/2012/09/30/the-fruitless-pursuit-of-an-anonymous-hacker/ Here it is!
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Hi I thought I would repost this as my first attempt on the weekly challenge. Its already been posted in my poetic endeavors section on my blog.
http://poeticcreole.wordpress.com/2012/09/23/30/
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http://icescreammama.com/2012/09/16/pick-me-up/
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O, Scribe, take the key . . . unlock the door . . . http://delanasworld.wordpress.com/2012/10/01/weekly-writing-challenge-easy-as-pie/
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This poem, filled with metaphors and simile’s was written long back, but no one ever saw it because I was not at all active in WordPress the even though I published it then. I neither did have any followers then, nor did have any writing challenge! So, I guess this time, the poem should see the outer world!
Here is it — http://wp.me/p1z4hZ-B
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My post / response to the challenge is about a meathead college guy using metaphor while still sounding semi-tough (medium rare). 😉
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btw: http://ungratefulbliss.com/2012/10/01/apricots/
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Grandpapa Llewellyn had a great simile. I recall him saying after a bath, “Why you look as clean as a spanked baby’s behind.”
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I believe that my post today qualifies and would love a leg-up! Thanks so much!!
http://thrufresheyes.wordpress.com/2012/10/01/if-for-only-a-moment/
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done! thanks 🙂
http://bodhisattvaintraining.wordpress.com/2012/10/02/weekly-writing-challenge-easy-as-pie/
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Here’s the latest from featherglass: the magazine:
http://featherglass.com/2012/10/02/la-dolce-vita/
I hope you enjoy reading it!
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Well, I doubt Shakespeare would be impressed, but I took a whack at it. Any feedback is welcome. And cheers to everyone who tried this.
http://mouseintokyo.wordpress.com/2012/10/02/the-big-mikan/
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Do you have a Spanish version of these challenges?
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Not right now – would you like to help us start one?
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Yes, why not? I know perfect Ingles and Spanish I wouldn’t mind helping…
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Hi this is the first time I have entered anything of this sort! It is a small section of a novel I am writing
http://booksdefineme.wordpress.com/2012/10/02/weekly-writing…ge-easy-as-pie/
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http://bluerosegirl08.wordpress.com/2012/10/02/day-173-george-c-scott-charles-dickens-and-me-or-how-ebenezer-scrooge-taught-me-a-lesson-in-grammar/ as always comments are welcome
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Here’s mine…”On writing”
http://medlenalia.wordpress.com/2012/10/02/on-writing/
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Always make sure the similes you use apply to the character’s perspective you’re writing from. An older woman probably isn’t going to see something as being ‘like that elusive last Pokemon card.’ It wouldn’t fit. Keep in tone with the rest of the post.
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here is my entry – http://maryrosemaharlikapalmares.wordpress.com/2012/10/01/
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it is making me happy how much doing these weekly challenges is helping me to write some fun stuff – for me for sure and hopefully for others – my attempt this week is titled “What’s a meta for?” and has to do with leading horses to water [but not making them throw stones in glass houses because of all the admin involved] – hope you enjoy and would love to make it on the list – http://brettfish.wordpress.com/2012/10/02/whats-the-meta-for/
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http://icescreammama.com/2012/09/25/thar-she-blows-2/
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oh this was fun 🙂 here tis mine 🙂
http://the-serenity-space.com/2012/10/02/weekly-writing-challenge-easy-as-pie/
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http://overwhelmedbyjoy.wordpress.com/2012/10/02/it-can-always-always-always-get-worse/
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i’m not sure I used metaphors, and I rarely write something, but here
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http://ruthrutherford.wordpress.com/2012/10/01/the-perpetual-babysitter/
“For those who don’t know, babysitting is a big deal for young girls. It’s a rite of passage. We are Santiago, babysitting is our very own giant marlin. And in that Gulf Stream of suburban New Jersey, I reeled that marlin in with skill and ease.”
Thanks for reading!
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http://blgit.wordpress.com/
* wwwc- daily post
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I wrote this post after reading the article on metaphor and simile, but before the challenge was announced.
http://suesconsideredtrifles.wordpress.com/2012/09/29/understanding-speaking-terms-part-7-2/
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Willing to post as a racehorse at the gate:
http://irvent.wordpress.com/2012/10/02/dpchallenge-mine-is-easy-as-pie/
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I combined the DPchallenge & weekly photo challenge for a story about selfish knitting and valuing one’s self : http://joyfulwise.com/2012/10/02/mine/
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I just added the DPChallenge tag to my post, “Finding Hope in a Boxing Ring.” I came across this challenge just after writing this post, and found that it applies. Here, I showcase a boxing gym that represents a whole lot more than jabbing and sparring.
http://mangomornings.wordpress.com/2012/10/02/finding-hope-in-a-boxing-ring/
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