A Bowl of Hunger
by Nan Fischer

This was the prompt for our first writing contest!  It is a chapter from my journaling workshop, Stretch Yourself!  

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metaphor - n. - the application of a name or descriptive term or phrase to an object or action to which it is imaginatively but not literally applicable (Oxford Modern English Dictionary)

This is an exercise from an old issue of Writer's Digest, or what I remember of it.  The article discussed metaphors in depth, but this is the meat of it.  Metaphors have helped me define feelings I try to convey in my journals, but they are also an effective way to create strong images in all types of writing.

Make two columns of words. 

Column A on the left side of the page is a list of tangible nouns, such as:

teacup
ocean
spool
hiccup
fraction
hex

Column B on the right side is a list of intangible nouns, emotions and actions, such as:

creativity
desire
fear
love
panic
need
nausea
contentment

Here is the fun part!  Take a word from A and a word from B, and put the word 'of' between them. Instant metaphor!

teacup of desire
hiccup of fear
ocean of nausea
fraction of need

Try each set of words from your two columns. Some will work better than others, but you will find combinations that are exactly what you are looking for without realizing it. It becomes an 'Ah-ha!' experience.

Not only can you better describe something with these metaphors, you can touch yourself deeper by pinpointing what you feel. Emotions and reactions are elusive. We all have them, but they can be hard to articulate. Use the images of metaphors as an aid.

"As we fall in love, there is a hiccup of fear and an ocean of desire."

When you have done this a few times, you will see what kinds of words to search out, what works best. Don't let that stop you from writing down less than perfect words, though!
 

    A                                 B

         bucket                       uncertainty
 cinder block                doubt
    cage                          hunger

                                 
 
From this list, I came up with 'bucket of hunger'.  As I fiddled with it, I discovered the title to this chapter - "A Bowl of Hunger."  The image of a bowl empty of food, yet full of hunger was very powerful.

Incorporate your metaphors into your journaling.  Perhaps you'll come up with one that especially strikes you, has a particular meaning for you, hidden or obvious.  Notice it, and write about it.

Mostly, have fun with this!  It is an endless exercise that you'll get addicted to once you begin to play with it. When I am in the mood to play with words and images, this is where I go first.

drop of forgiveness
stain of hate
flash of remorse
crackle of love
boom of doubt
drop of saturation

This is fun!  I've got to stop....

The contest prompt was to write about a personal experience based on one of the following metaphors.  

teaspoon of desire

hiccup of fear

ocean of discontent

fraction of need

crackle of love

Entrants then had to come up with five of their own juicy, descriptive metaphors using this method. The winning entry is here!

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