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!

(c) copyright Marg McAlister

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/

spotless home service Lake Forest ..
In The News:

A Columbia University breach exposed names, Social Security numbers and academic records of nearly 869,000 people, with notifications beginning in August.
Rental car drivers use AI-powered apps like Proofr to protect themselves from unfair damage fees as major companies deploy automated inspection tools.
Fox News' AI newsletter brings you the latest on technology advancements around artificial intelligence.
OnTrac data breach between April 13-15, 2025, exposed personal information of over 40,000 people including Social Security numbers and medical records.
A woman named Wika announces her engagement to an AI chatbot sparking worldwide debate about virtual relationships and technology.
The notorious people search site National Public Data relaunches despite a previous breach affecting 3 billion individuals, raising fresh privacy concerns.
Revolutionary TRAUMAGEL gel controls life-threatening bleeding from gunshot wounds and traumatic injuries, helping first responders prevent prehospital deaths.
Protect your home network by enabling proper encryption, creating strong passwords, checking connected devices and using VPN and antivirus software.
The Navy's solar-powered Skydweller drone flew nonstop for 73 hours in Mississippi, proving renewable energy can power long-endurance military missions.
Moving and downsizing expose seniors to identity theft and scams as data brokers collect real estate records and personal information to sell to criminals.
ShengShu's Vidar technology revolutionizes humanoid robot training by using AI-generated synthetic video, reducing required training data from hours to just 20 minutes.
Apple's older Mac computers face security risks without regular updates, but 10 essential tips including FileVault encryption and strong passwords can keep aging Macs protected.
Self-driving trucks from PlusAI could reshape freight transportation by 2027, addressing driver shortages and reducing logistics costs for businesses.
Solar farms are turning to sheep instead of mowers to cut grass under solar panels, lowering costs, reducing emissions and creating new income for farmers.
Fraudsters posing as local officials are making fake calls about missed jury duty, demanding payments in a rising scheme that exploits fear of arrest.
Honeywell Aerospace engineers developed a "surface alert system" that gives pilots two aural warnings when they are 15 and 30 seconds away from a collision on the runway.
Anonymous researcher has scraped public Spotify accounts of politicians and celebrities, highlighting major privacy risks in default platform settings.
AI chatbot toys marketed as screen-free playmates could undermine children's empathy and critical thinking skills, according to pediatric specialists.
TransUnion confirms a major data breach affecting 4.4 million U.S. consumers after hackers exploited third-party Salesforce apps to steal personal info.
Scammers use fake DocuSign emails claiming Apple Pay charges to steal personal information using fraudulent phone numbers and fake receipts.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Farmers Insurance confirms data breach affecting over 1.1 million customers nationwide, exposing customer info including addresses.
The iconic Mary Kay pink Cadillac goes electric with the Cadillac Optiq, available only to the company's top 1% of sales force performers.
Cybercriminals abuse trusted Intel driver to gain kernel access and shut down Windows Defender, enabling undetected malware deployment since July 2025.
Using email aliases for online shopping and subscriptions can protect your privacy by preventing companies from linking your activity across websites.

Marketing Your Home Business in Just 30 Minutes a Week

It's all the rage. It's what everyone is talking about.... Read More

Writing for Dollars - How To Get Started

"When you provide good information from which readers can learn... Read More

What is a Ghostwriter and How Can I Find One to Hire?

A ghostwriter, as one may think is not a writer... Read More

Write Articles That Get Results

It's no secret that writing and publishing helpful articles is... Read More

Do Free Articles Work?

Take a look around the Web and you'll find thousands... Read More

How To Write Persuasive Articles

You may be wondering what persuasive writing has to do... Read More

Are You Submitting Your Articles?

Last month, I began promoting Jason Potash's "Article Announcer." I... Read More

Articles That Sizzle - Top Ten Topics

There's one key rule that every writer should understand before... Read More

Dont Just Sit There, Write A Newsletter Article

Need traffic? Write an article.Need sales? Write an article.Need Your... Read More

What to Look for in an Article Submission Site

Ease of Submission With so many article distribution sites out... Read More

Writers Block - Find an Article Topic in Minutes Anytime Anywhere with These 7 Tips Guaranteed!

One question I get asked all the time is how... Read More

The Real Reason You Should Be Marketing With Articles

Article marketing has become very popular of late, especially with... Read More

Do You Have the Characteristics of an Article Writer?

In order to answer the question I've just asked in... Read More

Theres More Than One Way To Carve This Turkey

Although this may sound like a funny metaphor, if you... Read More

Promoting Your Affiliate Programs with Articles

If you are not creating articles for your website and... Read More

The Secret To Promoting Sites With Articles

Publishing articles on the Internet is a tremendous way to... Read More

Personal Promotion Through Publishing

One of the best ways to build credibility and promote... Read More

Eight Tips for Ezine Writers

Have you ever wondered why Ezine Articles have become one... Read More

Content and Articles to Improve Revenue

It is important for all webmasters to realize that if... Read More

How To Write an Ezine Article

Writing can be fraught at the best of times but... Read More

Article Marketing 101: The Perfect Author Resource Box

If you want to really make your article "SELL" then... Read More

20 Ways Posting Unique Articles Online will Bring You Fame and Fortune

You're Invited... Visualize your article going out like a party... Read More

Stop Struggling and Write Your Article

Don't let overwhelm hold you back- follow this expert advice... Read More

Reprint Articles Hijacked by Text Link Ads - Great for Authors!

We all know that online publishers earn revenue from our... Read More

Your Resourcebox Giving You Profits?

Rule number one - You must write ezine articles and... Read More

weekly home cleaning Mundelein ..