SHAPE THESAURUS

HEART



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CHOOSE MY PLAN

HELPFUL TIP:

Shape is one of the most essential ingredients of description, and using a comparison with a common object (either man-made or within nature) can be a strong way to 'show' and utilize word economy. Sometimes the shape of something can have symbolic meaning, but even if it does not, describing important objects in the setting helps readers see the landscape and feel more part of the scene.
COMPARISONS:

NATURAL:
A heart
Blossoms from a bleeding heart plant
Clover leaves
Strawberries
Galešnjak, a heart-shaped island in Croatia
A barn owl's face
Chestnuts
The anthurium flower
The lime tree leaf
Cherries
Chicken breasts
Lips

MAN-MADE:
Valentine's Day chocolates
Paper valentines
A heart locket
Heart-shaped cookie cutters and cake pans
Hearts carved into trees
Hearts doodles on a piece of paper
Friendship necklaces
Sweethearts candies
The suit of hearts in a deck of cards

PRACTICAL EXAMPLES:
When making comparisons, it is often beneficial to use objects that readers will recognize. It's also important to choose objects that fit both the type of story you're writing and the narrating character's individual experience. Description is a balancing act between anchoring readers in the unique story world while only describing what is necessary. Use as few words as possible to convey a shape; save room for other details to really make the description stand out.

A WEAK EXAMPLE: Lola's bright green eyes and flawless complexion suited her chicken breast-shaped face and drew attention wherever we went.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS EXAMPLE? Nothing says pretty like a jiggly raw chicken breast, right? Here we have a clear case of bad comparisons.

A STRONGER OPTION: Lola's bright green eyes and flawless complexion suited her heart-shaped face and drew attention wherever we went.

WHY DOES THIS WORK? Sometimes you will run into a circumstance where the best description choice is to simply use the actual shape. Had I been describing her lips, a pair of earrings, or the way Lola held her hands together I could have used something else as a comparison. But with her face, there's really nothing else that would work. However, while this serves as a good example of a shape being used instead of a comparison, when it comes to describing a face, 'heart-shaped' is a well-used phrase. Choosing another shape to describe it or focusing on specific features might be best.