Steve I think might have been unfair to you. If so I apologize. I should, in the lack of other evidence, certainly take you at your word. Let me explain a few things and show you how you can apply them to your own writing. Let’s start with the basics.

Analogy: 1. comparison: a comparison between two things that are similar in some way, often used to help explain something or make it easier to understand

Metaphor: 1. implicit comparison: the use to describe somebody or something of a word or phrase that is not meant literally but by means of a vivid comparison expresses something about him, her, or it, e.g. saying that somebody is a snake

Simile: figurative language drawing comparison: a figure of speech that draws a comparison between two different things, especially a phrase containing the word "like" or "as," e.g. "as white as a sheet"

Now as a writer you can use these things in a couple of different ways. You can use them as one offs (“the bomb went off like a volcano”).

In addition you can also use a series of related analogies/metaphors/similes to create a ‘mood’ or ‘atmosphere’ . For instance; if you wanted to create a mood of tension in a scene you might use a series of analogies/metaphors/similes invoking death: cropse, graveyard, dirge, skull, etc. If you wanted to create that ‘mood’ of tension you would *not* use analogies/metaphors/similes that invoke, say, a children’s party: cake, silly clowns, the happy birthday song, etc.

Now I am surprised that you didn’t know this already ‘cause I’ve always enjoyed your writing--but in the end I’m just glad we could shift away from all this heavy thought stuff and BS a little about our mutual love of prose.