Home
>
Article Writing
>
Using Anecdotes - Remember, People Like to Read About People

Using Anecdotes - Remember, People Like to Read About People

Okay, I admit it: I'm a keen people-watcher. (Most writers are: we know people love to read about people - not things; not statistics; but people!)

We collect anecdotes and snippets of other lives. If you do the same, you'll find your readers avidly waiting for your next article.

I love to sit in a sidewalk cafe or at a table in a shopping-mall restaurant, and watch the crowd go by. I'm fascinated by snatches of conversation at the next table or between people who meander past. (I do draw the line at edging my chair closer so I can hear better!) I like watching mini-dramas being played out between warring couples... or friends who are meeting after a long period apart.

When I watch the evening news, what grabs me is how things affect the people in the stories. Who will ever forget the expressions on the faces of the people in the streets of New York on September 11, 2001? We shared their emotions as they watched fireballs engulf buildings, saw desperate people leap from the eightieth floor, or waited for news of loved ones working in the Twin Towers.

But stories don't have to be dramatic. They just have to strike a chord.

I've found my eyes filling at a story of how an old couple have been cheated out of their life savings and are forced to sell the family home.

I've laughed at tongue-in-cheek stories about incompetent bank robbers who write 'Fill this bag with money!' on the back of an envelope that they shove across the counter with a sack... overlooking the fact that the envelope has their name and home address on the other side.

I've rejoiced when a lost child is found and have been saddened by the sight of refugees trudging into the distance in search of safety.

No matter what your message is, show how it affects people and you'll have a much better chance of the reader staying with you. It's no accident that weight watching magazines feature two or more weight-loss success stories in every issue. It's no accident that the most successful car sales ads feature people having fun (or being envied, or being adventurous). We are all interested in other people.

1. Use Anecdotes

I've ghost-written a lot of books for business professionals. The topics range from negotiating techniques to presentation skills to real estate sales. In every book I've written, I've encouraged the person commissioning the book to tell me lots of stories.

Do they know someone who has lost a sale because they left out one vital part of the sales process?
Can they tell me about someone who has alienated customers - and why?
How has a sales person helped someone to find the perfect house for his family?
How was a real estate sale lost because of what a sales rep did or didn't do?
Who got a great deal by using one simple but powerful technique while negotiating a price?

Whenever you write an article or a book, search for powerful anecdotes. People are willing to be convinced by the experiences of others. Subconsciously you'll have them thinking: Look at the terrific benefits from using this technique!

2. Bring People To Life

To write "powerful" anecdotes you have to be able to make readers believe in the people in your stories. That means you develop those people just as carefully as if you were writing fiction.

Help us to 'see' these people. That doesn't mean you should stop and describe the colour of their hair and eyes and what they're wearing! The key is the emotions associated with the story you're telling. If it's about an irate customer, make sure we can see that customer's body language; hear the frustration and anger in his voice. If you put us in the mind of the salesperson, let us know what he's thinking as he faces this customer, and how he either (a) handles the situation well or (b) loses a sale and a customer for life.

This applies no matter what you're writing about. By showing the emotions and worries of the people in your anecdotes, you're appealing to the emotions of the reader. Show the reader how to avoid pain or achieve pleasure - and you've got a sale!

3. Bring The Setting To Life

Don't have 'talking heads' in your anecdotes. People don't exist in a vacuum. They have meetings in offices, they run through the rain, they sip coffee in restaurants. They jump in and out of cars, talk while they're driving, and chat over a few drinks. They play golf or tennis; they go abseiling and scuba diving.

Help us to see the setting when you tell us an anecdote. Don't just tell us what it looks like - use the five senses. Help us to smell the coffee; feel the pelting rain; hear the audience roar with laughter at a speaker's wit. All of these things make your story 'real' - and help your readers to believe in your story people and in your message.

You'll sell more books, you'll attract more people to your website, and you'll win a growing band of followers...

...just by letting people read about people!

Marg McAlister has published magazine articles, short stories, books for children, ezines, promotional material, sales letters and web content. She has written 5 distance education courses on writing, and her online help for writers is popular all over the world. Sign up for her regular writers' tipsheet at http://www.writing4success.com/

car service from Midway Anna ..

In The News:

If you're looking for a fun and free way to create art, here are some new AI tools that can help you make anything from custom music tracks to quick video clips.

The assassination attempt on former President Trump could have been prevented had officials used drone detection technology for security.

Scientists at MIT have developed a neuroprosthetic that allows people with prosthetic legs to control them using their own nervous systems.

Artificial Intelligence protections for interactive entertainment companies like Activision have led video game performers with SAG-AFTRA to strike.

Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson offers a tech guru's recommendations for how to launch a successful website for your business one step at at time.

SmartyPlants monitors your houseplants' light, humidity, temperature, soil moisture and nutrients and sends the information straight to a cellphone app.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson goes in depth with what actually happens after a data breach, when an unauthorized person gains access to private information.

The U.S. Air Force's newest aircraft is turning heads and raising eyebrows around the world. The XQ-67A is an unmanned aircraft with cutting-edge technology.

Your bank already has a host of sensitive info on you — combine that with your voice on record, which can easily be cloned with AI, and you have a cybercriminal's dream.

From smartphones to "dumbphones": A shift from distraction. Here's what tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson has to say about why some people are making the switch.

Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson: We're witnessing the potential dawn of a new, cleaner era in mining as Hitachi tests the world’s first ultra-large, fully electric mining dump truck.

Elder scams are a prime threat. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals the top cons.

Survue, an AI-powered bicycle safety device, aims to revolutionize cyclist protection. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson takes a closer look at the game-changing device.

Kurt the CyberGuy unpacks the best applications to share family photos with loved ones with privacy, security and ease of use for photo sharing.

The future of transportation is suddenly now in San Francisco with self-driving cars. Sleek, autonomous vehicles are traveling through city streets.

What to know and how to protect yourself from a new TikTok hack that has affected high-profile brands and celebrities from CNN to Paris Hilton.

CARMEN, a tabletop robot designed by researchers at the University of California San Diego, can help those with mild cognitive impairment improve their mental skills from their homes.

Here's how to protect yourself from cybercriminals following a massive global IT outage that affected grocery stores, banks, airlines, medical centers and more.

Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson talks about how digital price tags transform retail, offering pros and cons for stores and shoppers.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson shows you how to categorize open tabs into custom groups for streamlined browsing.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals how you can secure your iPhone/iPad: Strong passcode, biometric security and software updates.

Here's how you can take better family pictures by using your iPhone or Android's photo timer, a tripod, editing tools and a good prompt to get everyone to smile naturally.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

An internal investigation by Advance Auto Parts determined over 2 million people were affected by a data breach that exposed names, Social Security numbers and driver's licenses.

Using Anecdotes - Remember, People Like to Read About People

Article Writing