Every writer wants to be read. That’s a given. But even better than being read is having people remember what you wrote, especially if you write nonfiction. Here are four techniques to make your writing stick in your readers’ minds.

Use similes, metaphors, and analogies

I’m grouping these under one point because they’re similar concepts. Here are their definitions:

Similes compare one concept with another using like or as. Common examples are sly as a fox and busy as a beaver.

Metaphors compare two dissimilar concepts. They differ from similes because they don’t use like or as. Examples are my Dad is my rock and that computer is a dinosaur.

Like metaphors and similes, analogies compare one concept to another. They are often used to explain, support, or argue a point.

An example is getting Democrats and Republicans to agree is like persuading mongooses and cobras to sign a truce.

Here are some examples of how these techniques serve as memory aids. The first sentence simply states facts; the second sentence is a simile, metaphor, or analogy. Which would you find more memorable?

Simile:

     He ran fast.

or

     He ran like a rabbit getting chased by a coyote.

Metaphor:

     The rabbit ran at high speed while the coyote chased it.

or

     The rabbit’s legs became rocket engines while the coyote chased it.

Analogy:

     A rabbit can’t run as fast as a coyote.

or

     A rabbit trying to outrun a coyote is like me trying to outrun the Olympic 100-meter dash champion.

Be careful when using simile, metaphor, or analogy because many have become clichés. Develop your own instead of using trite ones.

Utilize rhyming

It’s no accident that children’s stories employ rhyming. They rhyme so children will remember them. Chances are you haven’t thought of the nursery rhyme that begins “one, two” for years, but you can still recall at least some the rest of it:

     One, two . . .

     Three, four . . .

     Five six . . .

Similarly, people over a certain age will remember the name of the company associated with this advertising jingle, even though the commercial hasn’t been on the air in years: “You can trust your car to the man who wears the star.”

Employ alliteration

This concept is similar to using rhyming. Think about how many businesses use alliteration in their names and advertising campaigns. Most everyone knows “Bed, Bath, & Beyond.” Would “Bed, Shower, & More” be as catchy and memorable? What about “Bugs Rabbit”?

Don’t overdo alliteration and rhyming, but used judiciously they’re powerful memory aids.

Engage your readers’ senses

Many writers are good at describing their character’s physical appearance. But characters and scenes become more memorable if we go beyond our readers’ sense of vision and connect to their other senses, too. Here’s an example:

     The rain gently tapped her skin, matting her long blond hair and tasting like honey as it ran into her mouth. She reveled in its sound hitting the tin roof and breathed in the sweet scent as the rain mixed with the newly mown
     grass.

In reality, the above two sentences are probably overkill; I wrote them merely as examples of employing all five senses. But chances are you’ll remember the scene.

You can even combine the techniques of simile, metaphor, or analogy with one of our senses.

     Simile: His motorcycle sped off, roaring like an angry lion.

     Metaphor: A hot iron burned my arm as she gently touched me.

     Analogy: The smell was like fresh dog poop mixed with skunk spray.

These literary techniques not only help readers remember; they add variety and interest to writing. Use them wisely and your readers will remember what you wrote like an elephant remembers where the peanut supply is.