I'm not clear on why "I let the reader interpret on his or her own" is an option on the metaphor question. No matter how many metaphors you use, the reader always interprets them (or not) on his/her own. Even if you don't use metaphors, readers may interpret things in the text as metaphors whether you want them to or not. If you attempt to take this agency from the reader by explaining your metaphors, which are inherently subtextual, they stop being subtext and just become--text.
What I was trying to say was that some people don't go out of their way use them, but feel free to let other readers decide they're there. Does that make more sense? Obviously readers will always interpret as they wish. Some writers, however, not only refuse to use metaphors but don't want things to be read into. I've met such writers.
You already had my whole mind boggled at "refuse to use metaphors", let alone "don't want things to be read into". WTF? Like you have any control over that once you release your writing into the wild!
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2013-03-12 02:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-12 12:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-12 11:39 pm (UTC)