Don’t be afraid to use emotional punch to make your writing more persuasive.
Persuasive writing uses words that evoke a gut-level response from the reader, that paint a time and place with specificity.
The next time you open your laptop to start writing, think about the emotional state you want your reader to reach.
- If you’re writing website copy, make them curious enough to click some links.
- If you’re writing a novel, inspire love (or hatred) for your main character.
- If you’re writing a business blog post, get your readers into a state of inspired energy so they’ll be acting on your advice.
You learned a lot of cool words when you were in school. Remember Barron’s vocabulary tests? (No? Just me?)
However, don’t be the guy who lobs big words into his writing just to get an ego boost (look how erudite I am!). Be the guy who chooses precise words with intent.
Examples of emotion words include: cheerful, intrigued, confident, tenacious, and liberated. Scientists have even come up with new words to describe very specific emotional states. Could you find a way to weave a little “pronoia” into your story? Remember that it’s not about necessarily using those emotion words…it’s more about eliciting that feeling from your reader.
If you typically go straight from blog draft to “publish” button, consider taking an editorial pause.
Re-read your article, and look for ways you can grab the reader by the lapels, starting with your headline.
Consider the words you’re deploying.
Consider the structure of your story.
Consider surprise.
Your writing will stand out from the crowd if you find the courage to write with emotion.
Featured image via: Alice Achterhof
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