Inspirational writing is not just for motivational speakers, novelists, and screenwriters—it can also be an important part of educational writing, marketing, and much more.
In fact, inspiring someone is often the most effective way to influence that person, or persuade him or her to take action.
Here are some writing tips you can use to be more inspirational:
Tell a Story
Pause for a minute and ask yourself: What does most inspirational writing have in common?
There are many possible answers. For example, most inspirational writing provides the reader with hope and encouragement.
Another answer would be that most inspirational writing involves telling a story. Storytelling is powerful, especially when we’re able to see ourselves and the people we know within the story. Stories are also incredibly versatile—they’re great for educating, entertaining, motivating, persuading, and much more.
What types of stories are good for inspiring others? They can be real or fictional, serious or lighthearted—but they typically involve someone overcoming obstacles, experiencing an adventure, or learning lessons from a journey.
Where can you find the material for an inspirational story? One great place to start is your own life, as well as the lives of your friends and family members. You can also find material by reading novels, biographies, and the news.
Also, it’s typically best to follow the advice of “show, don’t tell” when writing an inspirational story. You don’t want to spend too much time trying to explain why something is exciting because it might feel a little flat. Instead, focus on the core message that’s inspiring about a story, and then aim to tell the story in a way that illustrates it naturally.
Uncover What’s Interesting
The more interested you are about a topic or story, the easier it is to write about it inspirationally. We’ve all had the experience of hearing someone explain something she’s passionate about, and that excitement can be contagious.
Does this mean you have to be excited about the story or topic for the rest of your life? No, but while you’re working on the project you should be. Pretend you’re a novelist or journalist—search for what’s interesting about the topic or story, the people involved, and even the details.
Curiosity goes a long way here. As Einstein said, “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.”
If you’re struggling with being curious, start by asking yourself questions about the topic or story. Use the Five Ws: Who, What, Where, When, and Why. If you need more questions, you can also throw in How.
Write Naturally
Remember, you’re trying to connect with the reader on an emotional level—so write in a natural style.
When you’re telling an inspirational story, it’s usually best to have a conversational tone. One way to accomplish this is to pretend you’re writing a letter to a friend for the first draft. Then you can clean it up during the revision and editing process.
Writing simply and clearly will make your story easy to understand and relate to. Don’t use unnecessary jargon or technical terms that your readers might not know. This sort of language can both confuse the reader and kill the emotional impact of the story.
Inspirational writing can work wonders in marketing and business communications. If you’re looking for a copy editor who understands inspirational writing, then contact Super Copy Editors.
