When I write a 10,000 word story,
I spend 1 day on the first 500 words
and 4 days on the other 9,500 words.
Why?
Because in those first 500 words,
that first critical emotional connection
is made
between the reader
and my character.
If those first 500 words don’t work,
the other 9,500 words are useless
because the reader
will have already stopped reading.
Stephen Shapiro
talks about the importance
of emotional connection.
“When starting a speech,
you want to connect
with the audience emotionally.
Why should the audience care
about what I am going to say?
What’s in it for them?
What benefit will come from listening?
Buy-in is rarely done
on an intellectual level.
People are more likely to listen
if they can relate to you
and your message
on an emotion level.
Does what you offer
—your product, service or idea—
solve a problem?
Can you speak to a pain they have?”
Spend the majority of your time
on building that critical
emotional connection.