What‘s in the Word?! Is a Lemon a Lemon?
Case in point…
If I say to you, “Think of a lemon for a moment.” You get a picture of a small yellow fruit, right?…Now, “Think of the lemon for a moment“… (Stop reading for a moment and think of the lemon.)
Okay, please continue reading…
…Did you get any other pictures as you thought of the lemon? Did you begin to see that beautiful yellow color of the lemon as you picked it up and began to raise it to your nose? Could you smell that lemony fresh aroma begin to fill your senses as we cut it into two pieces…especially your sense of smell.
Did the word lemon begin to make your mouth salivate and your face begin to pucker up from the sourness of the lemon, a lemon that you don’t even hold in your hand or touch with your tongue?
Nothing tangible. A lemon only realized because I made the simple suggestion for you to…Think of a lemon for a moment.
Did you see yourself placing the lemon on your tongue? (Most of us can’t resist checking the sourness). We usually get a good laugh at ourselves or others when we see and feel what happens if we taste the lemon. Or should I say?…
…We usually have a great laugh at ourselves and our friends as we place that fresh-cut lemon half to our tongues. It is so sour that my mouth waters and my lips pucker whenever I think of it. You should see us! We laugh till we cry!!!…
When you write an article, post to a blog, or just write a friendly note to someone (doesn’t necessarily have to be a friendly note) you should apply some of this “suggestive” imagery with your words.
For example, the question I asked you above, “Did you begin to see that beautiful yellow color…?” input a picture of a yellow lemon into most people’s minds as they read it.
Most of us would probably not see ourselves picking the lemon up, had I not suggested, “…and began to raise it to your nose?”
Another small trick I have learned over the years is to “decorate your statements” with words that place the reader in a good mood and paint a picture that the reader will “accept” as pleasant. Take the two bold statements above…
…We usually get a good laugh at ourselves or others when we see and feel what happens if we taste the lemon. (There’s nothing wrong with this statement, but now compare it to the following one…)
…We usually have a great laugh at ourselves and our friends as we place that fresh-cut lemon half to our tongues. It’s so sour that my mouth waters and my lips pucker whenever I think of it. You should see us! We laugh till we cry!!!…
Both statements have basically the same meaning, however…
The first gives us only a “good” laugh while the second gives us a “great” laugh.
The first places us with “others” while the second places us with “our friends.”
The first only gives us a “taste” while the second allows us to “place that fresh-cut lemon half to our tongues” and have our taste buds flooded with sour.
The first ends with only one statement but the second continues to paint a really fun time with our friends, it brings more decoration to the lemon and begins to call the reader to action…”You should see us! We laugh till we cry!!!…
I would suggest that, regardless of your niche, you begin a process of painting “suggestive” pictures with your articles. Make them friendly and set them in a pleasant atmosphere. Give your readers a desire to have what you have. Make it irresistibly tantalizing and solve their problems for them.
They will love you for it.
Recent Comments
15
WOW! Awesome! Thanks. My mouth watered -- you should see the drool all over my shirt! ROFLOL
Dave this is really awesome, indeed this is very innovative and it will go a long way in helping some of us. Thanks for sharing
Thanks Donwamba. It is truly my intent to help. My way of giving back and learning as I progress. The more I write, the more I learn. And, in my humble opinion, this business is about the learning process. Thanks again.
David
Hi David
I enjoyed your article. Your descriptions of the lemon were very evocative.
I laughed. No I didn't think of the fruit at all -
First - sherbet lemon (sweet)
Second - a lemon (as in stupid person)
Third - colour clothing I don't like
So pictures we use in our blogs or articles do need to be relevant to the topic. Our interpretations of those pictures will still be swayed by our personal preferences, our imagination and how many of the five senses that we bring into play.
Thanks for stirring the imagination
Beverley
Thanks Beverly. Yes, the pictures I used of the lemon were just a few that I would envision myself. Goes to show you that we are all individuals who are affected in many different ways. The thoughts of sherbet, clothing, and stupid people never entered my mind. I'm sure that if a thousand people read the article, there would possible be a thousand different pictures that came from the word "lemon."
Makes me feel good that you got a laugh from the article. A little cheer is good!
Thanks again,
David ,
This is a great post! Appealing to the senses of our audience is certainly I good way to write. I really like this! Thanks!
If we don't appeal to our reader/customers, we really decrease our chance for success. I hope you find something helpful here. Thanks for the compliment and all the best to you.
I prefer to write in that style, but felt it might not be as acceptable in this business. I will try to write with more 'pictures and atmosphere' and I will most likely sound more like myself. I have felt so 'brittle' in some of my writings. Thanks for the advice.....always welcome and usually needed!
Kinda like talking WVLady. I like being myself and making a good first impression when I meet someone new. I look at my readers as being new people that will allow me to talk to them. A pleasant smile and a friendly word will do wonders...especially if conveyed in our writing. Thanks for the comment.
Very effective post. loved reading it. I confess, the way the post started (with lemon n all), was a little bit confused, as of where the post is heading to. But, as the post continued, I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it.
Thanks for sharing your idea!! :)
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Great advice, thanks!