Metaforming: Reconstructing Metaphors
And if a mental picture’s all I’ve got, to go on
For a while or more
Girl you know I’ll always think of you, think of you
Yes if a mental picture’s all I’ve got, to go on, I know
You’re a picture to remember.
—Jon Secada, Words and Music, 1994
Putting a metaphor together is what I call metaforming. It is a creative process, which involves reconstructing the elements of the metaphor in such a way that it makes sense and creates a mental image that is easily understood. This is what I call “Picturesquing”—the “act” of creating a mental image that evokes some emotional response. The response could be shock, joy, fear, or any number of appropriate responses. Picturesquing is an activity that requires ...
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