A writer will use a number of different techniques when using their words to grab a reader's attention. They know that some people respond to some ways of writing better than others. There are also styles of writing that are more fitting when used in specific circumstances. When writing some form of communication it's useful to be able to identify what these different techniques are, and to be able to use the most appropriate for the writing you are going to undertake. However it should be noted that in many forms of communication it is appropriate to use more than one technique in the same piece of writing.
Description -- this is something you will do in such communications as letters -- where you write about a series of events, or you tell of something that you have done. You may be writing about something you have bought, such as an item of clothing, or a place you have visited. In a piece of descriptive writing you will give details about your subject, usually using your senses as a guide to show the reader what you experienced. For example you can tell them what color the sweater is, how hot the weather was, whether the disco was too noisy, or the restaurant had an overpowering smell of garlic. Using your senses in this way the person who reads your writing will be able to get some kind of mental picture of the situation your writing about.
Good description will cover as many of the senses as possible, as well as just tell of the event. 'We went to a disco' isn't going to give the reader much of a visual image other than a place to dance. "We went to a disco that was so crowded we hardly had room to dance. The air was smoky, and the music loud. It was great!" This gives a different image all together. It brings the experience to life for them.
Narration -- this is where you tell a story. You don't have to give as much description but you do write out the things that happened. For example, "We went to the disco. The place was so crowded that we couldn't dance very well, so we ended up propping up a wall for most of the evening. I found it a bit stuffy because of the smoke machine that kept blowing smoke around the dance floor, plus smoking cigarettes was allowed at the bar and the smell drifted across the room and mingled with the different perfumes and aftershaves worn by the dancers." This is more of a story than the pure description and your reader will be able to follow your experience to the full.
Persuasion -- now this is a writing technique that many writers use to help businesses sell their products. They understand the target buyer and they write in such a way as to entice them to buy something. They use words to create a sense of need or want in the reader's mind.
For example, "Do you want to look years younger? Do you know that within 7 days you can take 10 years off your face simply by applying a specially formulated cream?" Of course most women over the age of 25 are going to be interested in this product, and will want to read more about it and probably try it out. You can even use this kind of writing if you are trying to convince someone to go somewhere with you by writing about what's in it for them, as in "You love dancing, and this is where all the top celebrities are hanging out. Even Britney's been seen there!"
When starting to write something, think about this article and the different kinds of writing techniques you can use, and choose the one that best suits the kind of writing you're about to do.
Related Articles
Developing Good Distance Learning Study Habits
By: Jane Saeman | 26/10/2007 | Education
If you are interested in furthering your education, but the prospect of attending regular classes in a traditional school or college leaves you cold, then you could consider becoming one of the increasing numbers of distance learning students.
How to Effectively Manage Your Study Time
By: Jane Saeman | 08/01/2008 | Education
Get rid of that felling that study time is taking over your life!
The Use of Reference Material in Education
By: Jane Saeman | 09/01/2008 | Education
Since you will have to use reference materials in your schooling career, you should have a clear idea of how to use each one.
Preparing a Research Paper
By: Jane Saeman | 09/01/2008 | Education
A research paper isn't something you can write overnight, nor is it something that can even be left until the last minute.
Encourage Good Study Habits in Your Teenager
By: Jane Saeman | 10/01/2008 | Education
Teenagers fall mainly into two categories when it comes to school. Those who are focused and have a plan that includes good grades and college, and those who think it's all a waste of time and are counting off the days until they're free of classes for good.
Education and the Pursuit of Happiness
By: Kevin Del Principe | 09/12/2006 | Education
Education, especially public education, cannot live up to the unrealistic expectation that it is the great equalizer between the lower and middle classes and the country's elite. Only learning that is driven from individual need and desire can truly be considered education.
Quick Strategies For Writing Your Essay Under Pressure
By: Linda Correli | 21/09/2005 | Writing
Though, writing under increasing time
pressure requires the ability to zero in one activity, turning
all the strengths to successful fulfillment of this task in
tight.
Are You Setting Yourself Up to Procrastinate?
By: Gina Hiatt Ph.d. | 02/02/2006 | Education
"How can I stop procrastinating?"
This is by far the most frequent question that I get from graduate students and professors. As a dissertation and tenure coach, I’ve come to realize that everyone in academia, whether writing a dissertation, completing
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Running for a city council position
By: ioumy2cents2 | 23-07-2008
i need to write a resume to run for city council and need some hints
What is the correct format for writing a letter of ...
By: thelmawelton | 22-07-2008
What is the correct format for writing a letter of financial hardship to a creditor.
How to write
By: brandin | 22-07-2008
how to write "rise above the influence" in japanese
Lookin to rent out my home to nurses or medical ...
By: Mooki41 | 21-07-2008
lookin to rent out my home to nurses or medical students in need in miami fl.. who can i speak to?
Need an Online Writing Class
By: Itsallaboutme1 | 21-07-2008
I am interested in locating an online writing class for my son in the 4th grade. He needs to learn how to write proficiently so he can pass the writing test at the end of 4th grade.
Creative essays on Parkinson's Disease
By: hitkohere | 21-07-2008
Need a good reference on writing creatively with humor about issues related to Parkinson's Disease.
Q&A Powered by:
Latest Writing Articles
Story Endings are Important, But How Do You Get There?
By: Mervyn Love | 23/07/2008
Should you know exactly how your story ends before you start or leave it to chance? Different writers go about it in different ways. Find out what suits you best.
Writing a Wedding Speech Made Easy
By: Duncan Gelby | 21/07/2008
Before we go into the nitty-gritty of how to prepare a wedding speech, you must keep the following basics in mind:
1. Your speech has to be short, say 5-7 minutes at the most.
2. Make your speech humorous - everyone will love it.
3. Focus the speech on the couple, not on...
How to Become a High-paid Marketing Consultant or Copywriter - Fast!
By: Dan Lok | 19/07/2008
Are you a marketing consultant or copywriter still looking for clients, and often wonder how most people really get clients to hire them? If you are, this article will prove VALUABLE to you in a moment. Here's why:
How To Choose A Topic For Your Book
By: Victor Epand | 18/07/2008
So, you have decided to be a writer. Great! Of course, the first step is to decide what to write about. And this is where most aspiring writers face their first hurdle. There is a plethora of topics to write about - what should one choose? This article will help you get over this first hurdle so that you can speedily get along on the way to writing your first book.
Learning to Write Through a RPG Game
By: Jacob Cohen-Donnelly | 17/07/2008
For a long time people have been afraid of what are known as "Role Playing Games" as there are some negative biases around those who play them. However, that is because most people are thinking of the old D&D type, or the newer World of Warcraft and similar games....
How To Write A College Term Paper
By: Daniel Millions | 17/07/2008
There are different ways to write but most professors what a specific format.
Article Marketing - is Your Article Headline Killing Your Article?
By: Barry McDonald | 17/07/2008
As you may know I wrote about this topic before in one of my other articles, but I feel it's important that I'm going to bring it up again.
Headlines like "Money" are what make's the world go around. We've become so busy and limited with our time nowadays that we...
Article Marketing Tips: 6 Ways to Get the Best Results From Your Articles
By: Barry McDonald | 17/07/2008
Here are 6 ways to help you get the most results from your article writing...
1. Is Your Article Relevant?
Before beginning your article for your chosen niche, have you done any research on what you're going to write about you? Could be writing an article that nobody wants?
So how do you...
Writing 
