Literary Devices: Adding Style

Literary devices are writing tools and techniques that can help writers intrigue their readers more into their short stories, books, or novels. These story elements are like the different flavors and spices in a recipe that brings out the taste of a full course meal. Some literary devices add style, some add color, and others add voice to the narrative of authors' stories. Below are a few literary devices that add style to authors' writing in their stories.

Literary devices that add style to writing:

• Allusion

• Foreshadowing

• Symbolism

• Flashbacks

• Flashforwards

• Juxtaposition

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WATCH THE EPISODE

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See episode 2 of season 2 of my Journey of a Christian Writer series below to find out more about how writers can enhance their writing and add more style using the listed literary devices in the bullet list above.

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EXAMPLE OF ALLUSION:

Sarah Grayson pulled into the fast food restaurant with golden arches. She cruised through the drive-thru and stopped at the intercom by the curb. Sarah scanned her eyes across the lunch menu of burgers, chicken nuggets, and fries, debating in her mind whether to deviate from her strict diet. Her mouth watered for a juicy, quarter pounder.

Here, without mentioning "McDonalds" I have depicted the popular franchise which most people are familiar with by writing descriptions, such as the "golden arches" the food selection items on the menu, and Sarah's desire for a quarter pounder. By using these it creates an allusion of the restaurant from real life as people are used to seeing it.

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EXAMPLE OF FORESHADOWING:

In the 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz, the farmhands: Huck, Hickory, and Zeke, make mention of references of the Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion and the Tin Man, the same characters they would later portray in the Land of Oz. Check out the video below.

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EXAMPLE OF FLASHBACKS:

The flashbacks of the 1994 film, Forrest Gump, such as the beginning scene when Forrest got this leg braces shown below:

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EXAMPLE OF FLASHFORWARDS:

Hannah Collins waited for her name to be called during her college graduation, anticipating getting her sweaty hands on her hard-earned Bachelor of Business degree. She could hardly wait to continue her mother's legacy of recipes and start her bakery business. She closed her eyes and inhaled the sweet fragrance from bread, cookies, cakes, and pies filled in the little shop. Hannah leaned over a tray of freshly, warm-baked chocolate chip cookies she took out of the oven. They were perfect--just like her mom made them. Bells jingled on the door, and she looked behind her. A long line of hungry and happy customers entered and crowed around the front counter, choosing from her selection of baked goods on glass, display shelves.

"Hannah Collins," the president of the university said, snatching her out of her daydream.

This is it, Mom. Hannah drew a deep breath, stood from her chair in her cap and gown, and marched up the stairs to the stage.

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EXAMPLE OF SYMBOLISM:

= LOVE/ROMANCE

= APPROACHING DISASTER/ BAD INTENTIONS

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EXAMPLE OF JUXTAPOSITION:

I'm sick of eating healthy.

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CLOSING REMARKS

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By using allusions, foreshadowing, flashbacks, flashforwards, symbolism, and juxtaposition, writers can make their stories standout from the rest like a sophisticated, fashion model on a well-lit runway. If you haven't used any of these, consider testing them out and experimenting and adding these in your own writing. For more writing videos or tutorials, subscribe to my writing channel Journey of a Christian Writer series. Okay, that's all for this post. If you liked it and found it helpful, please, give it a (heart❤️), take part in the poll 🤔, and share your thoughts or comments 💬 below.)

🤔Hey, writers, which of the three literary devices have you never used before in your writing?

• ⏰Flashbacks
• 🕰️Flashforwards
• ☢️Symbolism

Happy Writing! 😊✍🏽💻