Ever tried to explain something and felt like your audience was slipping away? You’re halfway through, pouring your heart into a beautifully poetic description, but instead of nodding along, people are staring at you like you’ve just started speaking in Morse code. What gives?
If your story requires a lot of explanation because your audience isn’t familiar with the subject, you might start losing them in the weeds. The more you explain, the more you drift from the point, and before you know it, you’re talking to yourself while everyone else checks their phones.
So, how do you avoid this pitfall? Simple: analogies. They’re like shortcuts for understanding—quick, effective, and much less likely to bore people to tears.
For example, in one of my stories, I talk about my insecurity when speaking English. Now, if my audience is full of immigrants, they get it instantly. But if I’m talking to native English speakers, they may need a bit more help connecting the dots. If I dive into a long-winded explanation of how people react when your English isn’t fluent, I’m basically handing out free nap time.
Instead, I keep it short and snappy: “Speaking English fluently is like having a good credit score.” Boom! Now, most people are right there with me. To seal the deal, I add, “If you don’t, your options are limited, and people look down on you.” And just like that, everyone’s on the same page.
But here’s the catch: know your audience. Credit scores? That’s an American thing. If you’re talking to a global crowd, you might need to swap in a different analogy. Maybe something like, “Speaking English fluently is like dressing well for a fancy party. If you show up in jeans, people might not take you seriously.” It’s an okay analogy, but you get the idea.
So how do you find the perfect analogy? It’s all about breaking down your point and finding common ground.
Let’s say you want to describe how bright somebody’s smile is, but your audience doesn’t know what “bright” means. You could go all poetic:
Her smile fills the space with a vibrant energy, transforming the atmosphere. It’s like watching the first rays of dawn after a long, dark night. Even if you’ve had the worst day, when she smiles, it’s as if the weight of the world lifts just a little bit.
Beautiful, sure. But what if you could say it with eight words instead of forty-eight?
Her smile is as bright as the sun.
Boom. Job done. The same message, without the extra fluff.
Now, back to my English example. When I didn’t speak English well, some people ignored me. I missed out on opportunities, felt disrespected, and yeah, it stung. My point isn’t about what people did or said—it’s about how it affected me. Think of situations where people lose their opportunities and feel disrespected: lacking public speaking or social skills, poor time management, or not having a college degree. That last one’s a solid analogy because, like speaking fluent English, not having a degree can lead to snap judgments and missed opportunities.
So, next time you’re crafting a story, try using a concise analogy. Remember, over-explaining is like taking the scenic route when you’re already late—nobody’s going to enjoy the ride.