How Does Your Writing Make People Feel?
Because that's what they'll remember
“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou
With every piece of writing you produce it’s worth asking yourself this.
How do I want people to feel?
Your writing can make your readers feel:
Happy
Inspired
Motivated
Angry
Uncomfortable
Comforted
Seen
Acknowledged
Supported
Blown away
Or anything else in the almost infinite range of human emotion.
I’ve written this week about how you should give your writing a purpose. And that purpose can be grandiose or pragmatic, or both.
You could be aiming to attract more subscribers, or inspire readers to take action against an injustice. But it all starts with how they feel.
Look at your latest piece of writing. Then look at any comments it’s attracted.
How did it make people feel? Is that what you intended? Can you tweak your current writing project to ensure you’re inspiring the feelings you want to create in your readers? That’s your job for today.
Some thoughts from others I’ve been enjoying this week
Social Change through Writing: A Must-Know Guide for Authors by
This is the ONE reason your writing isn't making the impact you want by Alex Mathers
More Reasons Why a Mini (Atomic) Newsletter Is Awesome by
5 Habits of Highly Productive Online Writers & Content Creators by
Solopreneurship 2.0: Don't Drown In The Hustle (Like Most) by
What else I’ve been up to this week
Reading: Notes on a Nervous Planet by Matt Haig
Listening to: The Comfort Book, also by Matt Haig (on Audible)
Enjoying: Celebrating my daughter’s birthday
Looking forward to: Book Fest (free learning experience, coming this week)
This week’s Medium posts
(Friend links, as always, so you can read for free)
What Do You Want Your Content To Do? Give it a job, before you even create it
Why Successes Come in Threes (and Fours and Fives): But so do failures
That’s all for this week. If you’re reading this online, feel free to subscribe to get future posts straight to your inbox.
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I agree about leaving readers with a feeling! 💛
Such an easy way to take your writing to the next level. Ask yourself how do I want to feel during my intro. Then as you deliver your main points. Ask the same question.
Feeling this energy will shift your language as you write.