The Figurative Language Workshop
Crafting Fierce and Flawless Figurative Language with Kelly Grace Thomas
Figurative language isn’t just a tool; it’s the heartbeat of writing—the quickest way to bridge the gap between writer and reader, idea and impact. Figurative language creates crackling tension and emotional resonance, allowing the reader to experience the richness of each world through evocation and imagination. This workshop will break down the fundamentals and show you how to craft fierce and flawless figurative language that does the heavy lifting for you.
Workshop Takeaways
Discover the essential elements of metaphor, imagery, personification, hyperbole, symbolism, alliteration, and onomatopoeia, including common mistakes to avoid and how to craft impactful and unforgettable language.
Understand the balance between the literal and figurative and how one informs, deepens, and complicates the other.
Learn what makes figurative language impactful and memorable using examples from contemporary and classic literature.
Take your figurative language from bland to brilliant with easy and actionable revision exercises that infuse sharpness and surprise.
About Your Instructor
Hi! I’m Kelly Grace Thomas, poet, writer, coach, and an ocean-obsessed Aries from Jersey. I teach poetry courses year-round through my Substack, The Poetry Coach, and I have the coolest job: helping poets, fiction writers, and essayists bring their words (and books) into the world as a writing coach. I’m the author of Future Tense (forthcoming from Alice James Books, 2026) and Boat Burned (YesYes Books, 2020). My poems have appeared or are forthcoming in The Sun, The Adroit Journal, 32 Poems, Los Angeles Review, Sixth Finch, and elsewhere. I’ve also written three poetry craft books, which are currently taught in high schools across California, including those in the Los Angeles Unified School District. My screenplay, Magic Little Pills, won Best Feature at the Atlanta Comedy Film Festival. I received my MFA from Randolph College, where I was a Blackburn Fellow. I live in California, where I’m currently working on my third novel. More than anything, I love demystifying the craft without killing the magic. Together, we will focus on the “how” without canceling out the “wow.” I’m so excited to chat with you about how to craft fierce and flawless figurative language. You can view more of my writing at kellygracethomas.com or on Instagram @kellygracethomas.