Do you know what an oxymoron is? It’s a figure of speech that is contradictory. For example, “found missing.” Really? How can something or someone be both found and missing? So, now you know what an oxymoron is, how can you use it effectively in your writing? And, better yet, how can you use it with the intent to make others chuckle?

I was introduced to oxymorons when my youngsters were in elementary school. One day, they came home with an interesting assignment: to make a list of oxymorons that would make you laugh. Initially, I had a hard time wrapping my brain around the notion, especially because I had never heard of the term oxymoron before. But, it was their assignment, so I allowed them to “kill with kindness” the English language in contractions. The house became a vibrant hub of controlled chaos as one oxymoron after another was created, discovered, and literally used with great humor.

As the children did their homework, so did I. I learned that great writers of the past, like our beloved bard, Shakespeare, were masters of the use of oxymorons. For example, there’s Romeo and Juliet’s famous line, “Parting is such sweet sorrow.” Then, in Act 5 of the same play, Romeo uses oxymorons to describe his feelings: “feather of lead,” “cold fire,” and “heavy lightness,” to name a few. Songwriters and authors of many genres use oxymorons to their advantage in key lines, and titles, and just to make the reader laugh at the irony of the words.

So, how to use oxymorons effectively? Well, like anything else, it’s usually a good idea to make a list. Whenever you think of an oxymoron, jot it down. Then, when writing your stories, consider the oxymorons on your list and choose the ones that fit. And, why use oxymorons? They’re a great way to spark emotion, unleash a potential paradox in the story, confuse the reader (in a good way, not to turn them off your writing), and, of course, they can add some humor to the story. It’s a great way to add another dimension to your work, making it more memorable and enjoyable than some of the competition. How?

By adding drama – “deliberate error” suggests dread or foreboding.

Make the story playful – “act naturally” suggests a contradiction of presentation.

Deeper meanings – “misshapen chaos” (again from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet) suggests Romeo’s inner conflicts.

Irony – “social distancing” – is there really such a thing? The Covid mandates insisted on social distancing to slow down the widespread epidemic. But how can one be social while distancing themselves from one another?

Character traits – names that suggest the opposite of what the character represents, like Little Joe for someone who is really quite big, or alternately, Big Mel, for a small person.

My suggestion? Make that list and have some fun with the oxymoron adventure. It will definitely be a useful tool to pick up your writing process. After all, contradiction is the name of the game, the game of the “living dead” which will no longer be “fully empty,” and so much more.