Smiley-Face Tricks

What are Smiley-Face Tricks?

Smiley-face tricks are writing “tricks” or “moves” that a writer has (and uses) in order to add pizzazz or spice to his or her writing .

MAGIC 3

Three examplesThree examples in a series in a series can create a poetic rhythm, or can create a poetic rhythm, or at least add support for a at least add support for a point. Make sure all verbs are point. Make sure all verbs are the same tense!the same tense!

For example…

““Free at lastFree at last,, free at lastfree at last, thank God-, thank God-Almighty, I was Almighty, I was free at lastfree at last.”.” Martin Luther Martin Luther King Jr.King Jr.

““Dried fruitDried fruit, , stale stale Chex MixChex Mix, and , and cheese cheese flavoredflavored rice cakes rice cakes stared back at me.” stared back at me.”

““In those woods, I would spend hours In those woods, I would spend hours listeninglistening to the wind rustle the leaves, to the wind rustle the leaves, climbingclimbing trees, and trees, and spyingspying on nesting on nesting birds.”birds.”

Figurative Language

Non-literal comparisons--such as Non-literal comparisons--such as similes, metaphors, and similes, metaphors, and personification—add “spice” to personification—add “spice” to writing and can help paint a writing and can help paint a more vivid picture for the reader.more vivid picture for the reader.

For example…““A rush of pure adrenaline came over me A rush of pure adrenaline came over me like I had just bungee-jumped off of a cliff.” like I had just bungee-jumped off of a cliff.” (Simile)(Simile)

““Then I gently warmed the thermometer on Then I gently warmed the thermometer on a heating pad, and a heating pad, and like Goldie Locks finding like Goldie Locks finding the third bed in the three bears’ cabin, it the third bed in the three bears’ cabin, it was “just right.” was “just right.” (Simile)(Simile)

““My world froze, and My world froze, and my words were my words were molasses pouring out of my mouth.” molasses pouring out of my mouth.” (Metaphor)(Metaphor)

““Dried fruit, stale Chex Mix, and cheese Dried fruit, stale Chex Mix, and cheese flavored rice cakes flavored rice cakes stared back at mestared back at me.” .” (Personification)(Personification)

Specific Details for Effect

Instead of general, vague Instead of general, vague descriptions-- specific descriptions-- specific sensory sensory detailsdetails help the reader help the reader visualizevisualize the person, place, thing, or idea.the person, place, thing, or idea.

For example…

““I tore off my I tore off my purple down comforterpurple down comforter and ran to the kitchen from my bedroom, and ran to the kitchen from my bedroom, which was adorned with which was adorned with MC Hammer and MC Hammer and Paula AbdulPaula Abdul postersposters.” .”

““Back then, all of my allowance went Back then, all of my allowance went towards towards bubble-gum flavored Lip bubble-gum flavored Lip SmackersSmackers, , Silver-CitySilver-City Purple eye Purple eye shadowshadow, , CDsCDs, and , and Janet Jackson Janet Jackson Rhythm Nation postersRhythm Nation posters.” .”

Another example ofSpecific Details

““Wham! Bam! The pit bull raced up and Wham! Bam! The pit bull raced up and slammed into the fence, and the fence slammed into the fence, and the fence bowed out and hit Boy’s arm and he bowed out and hit Boy’s arm and he could smell the stink of the dog and feel could smell the stink of the dog and feel its hot breath in his ear and hear the its hot breath in his ear and hear the snarling and snapping so near his face, snarling and snapping so near his face, about to break through and rip his heart about to break through and rip his heart right out of his chest. “ (right out of his chest. “ (Jungle Dogs)Jungle Dogs)

Repetition for EffectRepetition for Effect Repetition for Effect

Writers often repeat specially Writers often repeat specially chosen words or phrases to chosen words or phrases to make a point and to stress make a point and to stress ideas for the reader.ideas for the reader.

For example…

Gary Paulsen is a master at Repetition for Gary Paulsen is a master at Repetition for Effect! Look at this example from Effect! Look at this example from HatchetHatchet..

“ “Brian hated Brian hated judgesjudges as he hated lawyers. as he hated lawyers. JudgesJudges that leaned over the bench and that leaned over the bench and asked Brian if he understood…asked Brian if he understood…JudgesJudges who who did not know what really happened…did not know what really happened…JudgesJudges with the caring look that meant with the caring look that meant nothing…” (pg.6 nothing…” (pg.6 HatchetHatchet))

Expand a Moment

Instead of “speeding” past a Instead of “speeding” past a moment, especially one that is moment, especially one that is important to the story, writers important to the story, writers often emphasize it by often emphasize it by ““expanding” the actionsexpanding” the actions..

For example…

““My world froze, and my words were molasses My world froze, and my words were molasses pouring out of my mouth. I was racking my pouring out of my mouth. I was racking my brain for a believable explanation of this brain for a believable explanation of this event- aliens had taken over my body, I had event- aliens had taken over my body, I had planned dinner for the night, but nothing good planned dinner for the night, but nothing good came to mind.”came to mind.” As I fumbled in my mind for As I fumbled in my mind for the best excuse, I could feel my heart racing the best excuse, I could feel my heart racing and my hands shaking. My mother just stood and my hands shaking. My mother just stood there in front of me, waiting for my feeble alibi. there in front of me, waiting for my feeble alibi. Her silence seemed to last forever. I could tell Her silence seemed to last forever. I could tell she was going to be difficult to convinceshe was going to be difficult to convince..

Humor

Professional writers know the Professional writers know the value of laughter; even subtle value of laughter; even subtle humor can help turn a “boring” humor can help turn a “boring” into one that can raise into one that can raise someone’s spirits.someone’s spirits.

For example…““Finally, I thought, it had been over an Finally, I thought, it had been over an hour! I carefully examined myself in the hour! I carefully examined myself in the hall mirror to make sure everything was hall mirror to make sure everything was in place: my Lipsmackers had been in place: my Lipsmackers had been freshly applied, and my hair was pulled freshly applied, and my hair was pulled up in a hot-pink scrunchy that up in a hot-pink scrunchy that coordinated with my double-layered coordinated with my double-layered socks. Yes, I was looking good, and I was socks. Yes, I was looking good, and I was ready for “Mr. Handsome.” ready for “Mr. Handsome.”

Hyphenated Modifiers

Sometimes a new way of Sometimes a new way of saying something can make all saying something can make all the difference; hyphenated the difference; hyphenated adjectives often cause the adjectives often cause the reader to “sit up and take reader to “sit up and take notice.”notice.”

For example…

““It was his destiny, he realized. It was It was his destiny, he realized. It was his his no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-great-great-grandfathergrandfather!” (!” (HolesHoles))

“ “ My mom gave me one of her My mom gave me one of her don’t –don’t –talk-I-have-heard-enough talk-I-have-heard-enough lookslooks..

Full-Circle Ending

Sometimes students need a Sometimes students need a special ending, one that special ending, one that effectively “wraps up” the effectively “wraps up” the piece. One “trick” is to repeat piece. One “trick” is to repeat a phrase or a key idea from a phrase or a key idea from the beginning of the piece.the beginning of the piece.

For example…Beginning: Beginning: “Free at last, free at last, thank God“Free at last, free at last, thank God--Almighty, I was free at last.”Almighty, I was free at last.” When most people When most people hear this famous statement they think of Martin hear this famous statement they think of Martin Luther King, Jr. and his fight for civil rights. Yet, on a Luther King, Jr. and his fight for civil rights. Yet, on a cold October day in 1990, I was in the sixth grade, cold October day in 1990, I was in the sixth grade, and all and all I was thinking about was that a day of pure, I was thinking about was that a day of pure, unadulterated freedom laid before me. unadulterated freedom laid before me.

Ending: Ending: Ironically my day of freedom,Ironically my day of freedom, which actually which actually turned out to be only several hours, resulted in turned out to be only several hours, resulted in weeks of incarceration by my parents, of course. weeks of incarceration by my parents, of course.