What kind of writing do you love? Why do you love it? When you answer those questions for yourself, you’re going to be closer to understanding the key to winning your readers’ love through your own writing. Knowing yourself deeply always means knowing your ideal reader.
I love it when writing makes me laugh out loud. And I also love it when I come up with a way to tell a story that makes people laugh. This is so powerful—this transfer of energy from writer to reader. I’m also a dialogue geek. When I get to be a fly on the wall of a secret conversation, I fall into a magical world as a reader, and you can’t get me out.
When do you catch yourself in a book and saying, “OMG, I love the way she described that,” and pause with an overwhelming wave of feeling or emotion? Maybe the scene brings about a memory or inspires an idea. It’s stopping to pay attention to your own responses and reactions that begins to give you a clue about winning your readers’ love with your writing.
I think what’s missing in many Tips for Writing a Bestselling Book articles, as well as tips from your book-writing coach, is starting with a mission statement of feeling for your work. I ask myself, “How do you want them to feel today? What is the goal of this writing in terms of energy and feeling?” I also write love letters to my ideal readers about how I want them to feel and what I want them to know. This sets the stage for the rest of the writing via the energy and intention.
Maya Angelou said it so well: “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.”
So, writers, how do you want them to feel? Can you help your readers feel something and, in doing so, make your writing come alive and create super fans? The answer is yes. Here are a few things to think about when you craft your next set of brave words to share.
- Reading can help you become a better writer. I love finding my favorite books and asking myself what I loved the most about what they shared. I also ask myself how it made me feel because that is also how I can help someone else feel. Modeling after your favorite writers is an excellent way to amp up the power of your own writing.
- Feel it first before you write. How many times have you written on a deadline and done it in the state of “a little too tired” or out-right stressed? What do you think the reader feels when you infuse your stressed-out energy into your writing? Right—stressed! So, give yourself the challenge of knowing how you want them to feel and then conjuring the feeling up in you as you begin to type. You may need to include a little meditation in your writing warm-up exercises!
- Show your reader the scene instead of telling them. I’ll shout out Sandra Gerth, the author of Show Don’t Tell, for her great book on the subject. Learn this skill, and your writing will improve and power up immediately. Show your reader a scene by getting them into their senses.
- Gift us with inner dialogue. Sharing the thoughts in your (or your character’s) head always feels like the biggest gift. It’s so vulnerable. And because it’s vulnerable, I feel connected to the writer as a human. I don’t feel so alone. Inner thoughts help me feel something about the character.
- Get personal. Like sharing inner thoughts, when a writer is personal about something, I receive the gift of knowing I’m not alone in the world. #metoo isn’t just about the one kind of trauma it has a reputation for; it’s about any moment when you feel connected to other humans. The more personal, the more universal. Allowing me to get to know, love, and trust you as a writer is a way to create a powerful connection.
Along with these tips, we have more free resources for writers in the Brave Healer Resources Vault. We know that writing and storytelling change lives. And if you’re like us, you’re on a journey of building your skills and sharing more of your brave words with the world. We’re here to support that journey in any way we can. Don’t forget to check out our Writer’s Circle community and the many ways you can become a published author in our over 1000-author community! What if that thing you’re still a little afraid to share is exactly what someone needs to read to change, or even save, their life? It’s time to be brave!
