How To Write So Readers Say: “You Changed Something for Me”

I discovered a simple way to make my words resonate

What if the problem isn’t your writing but your growth strategy? This live cohort shows you how I grew two Substacks — including one from scratch to 1,000+ followers in 10 weeks. No ads. No stunts. Just what works.

Join the waiting list. Let’s turn your ‘meh’ into momentum.

---

I love the squirt of dopamine from a viral article.

But there’s a better drug. It’s called: You changed something for me. This struck me when Zoli left a comment on my recent post:

• Said it made him feel less alone.

• Said my words hit him hard—in a good way.

• Said he finally felt brave enough to write his truth.

That cracked something open in me. Because that’s the real win, isn’t it? Not just being seen. But seen making a difference.

And if you’ve ever felt invisible online—like no one’s listening, no one’s moved—you should know this: You don’t need a million followers to shape a life. You just need the right words. Said the right way. To the right person.

If you want to be a writer who shapes minds and touches hearts. Let me show you how to have a deep impact.

The brain hack most writers ignore

Writers can learn a lot from restaurants.

Especially the sneaky ones that make you crave things you’d normally pass on. Take Professor Brian Wansink. He ran a wild little experiment with food labels. Same cookies. Same ingredients. Only change? The name.

“Zucchini Cookies” became “Grandma’s Zucchini Cookies.”

Sales shot up 27%. But here’s the kicker: people said they tasted better. Let that sink in. The words made the cookies taste better. That’s not just marketing. That’s magic.

Hugh Knickerbocker (yes, that’s a real name and not a Pixar sidekick) found that emotional words bypass our logic. They hit the brain before we’ve even processed what they mean.

As writers, this is huge.

Because most struggling writers don’t have a words problem. They have a feeling problem. Their writing doesn’t move people—because it doesn’t make them feel. Want readers to react, remember, and come back for more?

Use words that hit the heart before the head.

The words that grab and won’t let go

Emotional words hijack your attention.

Michael Gazzaniga, a professor at UC Santa Barbara, ran tests on how our brains respond to language. Turns out, we blink over some words. Literally. Our brain skips them.

But not emotional ones. Say “fire” or “blood,” and the brain snaps to attention.
Say “pencil” or “park,” and… yawn. Nothing. Why does this matter for you? Because online, you’re in a bar fight for attention. Every scroll is a chance to be ignored.

Emotion-based words? They grab the reader by the shirt and say, “Stay with me.”

The emotion–logic power couple

Emotion is the glue. Logic is the scaffolding.

You need both. Too many writers lean on logic like it’s enough. Facts, steps, reason. But when there’s no feeling? It doesn’t land. It doesn’t stick. It’s like watching a movie with the sound off. You see what’s happening… but you don’t feel it.

Emotion holds attention long enough for logic to do its job. It’s the hook that keeps readers around while the smart stuff settles in.

The problem? Most writers block emotion without realising it. They overthink. Edit out the raw parts. Hide behind sounding “professional.”

But if your words don’t carry any feeling, your readers won’t carry them either.

What’s blocking your emotion?

There are two main culprits. Your content. And your mindset.

Let’s start with the content.

Stale ideas

Here’s the brutal truth: if you don’t feel anything, your reader won’t either.

That brilliant insight from three years ago? It might’ve changed your life back then.
But now it’s like cold pizza from the back of the fridge. Technically fine. But… meh.

Emotion doesn’t come from recycling. It comes from discovery.

That’s why I write about writing. I could talk about leadership, property, public speaking—all things I’ve done. All things I could teach. But they don’t make me feel much anymore. Writing does. It’s current. Messy. Alive.

When I write about it, I’m not “sharing content.” I’m showing you what’s lighting me up right now.

And readers feel that.

The reserved writer

Even when the content’s fresh, some writers hold back.

They write like they’re scared of getting it wrong. Like they’re being marked by an invisible teacher. That’s not writing. That’s performing. If you’re worried about what your cousin or co-worker might think... If you’re filtering every word through “Will this go viral?” or “Do I sound smart enough?”

You’re not writing. You’re editing your soul.

Here’s the fix: Write what you actually feel. Even if it’s weird. Even if it’s not what you’re “supposed” to say.

Real always wins. Polished is forgettable.

Now you know why emotion matters. And what gets in the way. Let’s make it real.

Let me show you 5 ways to use emotion to make your writing resonate.

1. Feel it first

If you don’t feel anything, neither will your reader. Simple as that.

So write what actually matters to you. Don’t bury your feelings under logic or polite phrasing. Let them leak. Let them rant. Let them shout if they need to.

And don’t wait.

“Write while the heat is in you…
The writer who postpones…uses an iron that has cooled.”
—Henry David Thoreau

Get in the habit of shrinking the gap between idea and action. Hot feelings = sticky writing.

(If the content’s old? Reignite the spark. Ask: What did I feel the moment I learned this?)

2. Start with the feeling

Most people start with facts.

Bill Bryson starts his science book with awe:

“Congratulations. I’m glad you could make it. Getting here wasn’t easy.”

He’s talking about existing. And somehow, it hits. Instead of launching into logic, ask:
What do I want my reader to feel first?

That’s your entry point. Emotion is the gateway drug to understanding.

3. Go visual

Stats are fine. But metaphors light up the brain.

Professor Steve Calandrillo could’ve quoted data about crime. Instead, he said:

“Darkness is a friend of crime.”

And just like that, we’re in a Batman movie. We feel it.

If your writing feels flat, try this: Swap one stat for one visual.

Watch what happens.

4. Tell a good story

Want instant emotion? Tell a story.

Sir Michael Marmot opened his book on public health with this:

“The woman looked like a picture of misery...huddling into the chair.”

He didn’t start with data. He started with her. Because readers don’t connect to issues. They connect to people.

So who does your content affect? Tell their story. Or better yet, tell yours.

5. Remember why you’re writing

Not “what’s the topic?” But: Why does this matter?

To you? To them? That reason—that purpose—is your emotional compass.
It turns your post from “here’s some info” into “this matters.” Don’t just dump knowledge. Deliver it with intention.

Your turn

You’re moving someone from A to B—make them feel the journey.

If you want to write words that stick, don’t just speak to the brain. Speak to the gut. The heart. The nerves. Because emotional writing doesn’t just hold attention. It creates connection.

And honestly? That’s the best part of being a writer.

Join 8,500+ subscribers getting weekly insights. Where quietly brilliant writers finally get seen:

Derek

P.S. Substack doesn’t come with a manual—so I made one. Join the Growth Map waitlist.