Dusty Chunks of Plaster Lit by a Bare Light Bulb
Get physical descriptions, and probe for specific details. A thin girl with hollow eyes who cries at night because there’s no formula in the empty refrigerator invokes more emotion than faceless kids who don’t have enough to eat.
3. Look for the revealing detail
A squeaking hinge means ghosts. A torn screen door denotes rural poverty. A creaking floorboard sounds like suspense. Some images are archetypes and can set a scene for the reader in just a few words. When you collect details for your story, look and listen for the ones that create the most emotion in the fewest words.
Willis Turner believes great writing has the power to change minds, save lives, and make people want to dance and sing. Willis is the creative director at Huntsinger & Jeffer. He worked as a lead writer and creative director in the traditional advertising world for more than 15 years before making the switch to fundraising 20 years ago. In his work with nonprofit organizations and associations, he has written thousands of appeals, renewals and acquisition communications for every medium. He creates direct-response campaigns, and collateral communications materials that get attention, tell powerful stories and persuade people to take action or make a donation.
