Metaphors, similes and idioms are literary devices that add so much colour to our writing. When used carefully they are like diamonds sparkling in the sun. Your poetry can become little gemstones and your prose a goldmine of beauty.

Come on Trevor. That’s laying it on a bit thick.

But it remains true that metaphors, similes and idioms, used wisely, can enhance one’s writing and your writing begins to paint a glorious canvas for the reader. It needs to be said, however, that they need to be used carefully. Mixing your metaphors can lead to mixed up readers. Using metaphors carelesslessly quickly becomes a literary minefield. Careless writing is like trying to climb a greasy pole; it gets you nowhere fast.
The following writing hint says it beautifully:

“Even if a mixed metaphor sings, it should be derailed.”

Related articles:

• Your life is a metaphor

• Wikipedia entry on metaphors

From time to time – well, far too frequently actually, I hesitate over something I have written. I read it, reread, rewrite, change the words and even change the order of words just to make sure everything is correct.

Despite this, I still make mistakes.

Oh the wretched trials of being a writer! One area that I have particular problems with happens to be in the use of verbs. Straight forward you might say. Indeed, and so it should be, but sometimes I get terribly confused.

I wonder if this are the result of 35 years of reading the scribblings of emerging writers in my classroom? Now I don’t seems to be able to distinguish right writing from wrong righting.

So when I comes across this writing hint, I were quite perplexed:

Verbs has to agree with their subjects.