Do many blogs seem a tad boring?
As if writers are just producing content without putting their heart into it?
Of course, we’ve all been there.
Content marketing is demanding, especially if you’re flying solo in your business.
Sometimes, a tip is all we can produce.
But when all we do is sharing tips, our writing remains flat. We miss an opportunity to connect with and inspire our readers.
Want to know how to fire up your readers’ enthusiasm for any topic?
Below follow 3 tips to inspire readers and make them eager to learn more from you …
1. Allow readers to look through your expert eyes
I recently read Robin Wall Kimmerer’s book Gathering Mosses and was impressed by her teaching.
I had never really thought much about mosses.
But Kimmerer made me eager to learn more about these tiny, primitive plants that thrive in the unlikeliest places. You’ve seen mosses, right? Perhaps in the crack of a tile or brick, on the worn-out asphalt, or in the woods, on tree barks, on rocks.
Did you know there are over 22,000 different species of mosses? And that they exist in almost every ecosystem on earth?
Here’s how Kimmerer describes fissedens, a type of moss:
Fissidens is a small moss. Each shoot is only 8 millimeters high, but it is tough and wiry. Fissidens’ form is very distinctive. The whole plant is flat, like an upright feather. Each leaf has a smooth thin blade, atop which sits a second flap of leaf, like a flat pocket on a shirtfront.
Can you picture this small moss?
A good description shares just enough detail to allow readers to see what the author is seeing. The details are vivid but not overwhelming nor boring.
Kimmerer goes a step further …
She also teaches how to observe, how to pay attention:
You can look at mosses the way you can listen deeply to water running over rocks. The soothing sound of a stream has many voices, the soothing green of mosses likewise.
Of course, years of studying mosses have sharpened Kimmerer’s observation skills. When she looks at mosses she notices more than you and me.
By letting us look through her expert eyes, she gives us a glimpse of her enthusiasm. A spark flies from teacher to student.
2. Share facts and tell stories
The book Gathering Mosses is a collection of essays, full of fascinating facts on mosses, like this:
A true moss or bryophyte is the most primitive of land plants. Mosses are often described by what they lack, in comparison to the more familiar higher plants. They lack flowers, fruits, and seeds and have no roots. They have no vascular system, no xylem and phloem to conduct water internally.
The facts become more interesting when Kimmerer harnesses the power of storytelling to let us imagine how life as a moss varies from life as a higher plant. While higher plants conserve water to survive, mosses have learned to deal with desiccation:
When moisture is plentiful, the moss soaks up the water and grows prolifically. But when the air dries, the moss dries with it, eventually becoming completely desiccated. Such dramatic drying would be fatal to higher plants, which must maintain a fairly constant water content. Their roots, vascular systems, and sophisticated water-conservation mechanisms allow them to resist drying and stay active. Higher plants devote much of their effort to resisting water loss. But when water depletion becomes severe, even these mechanisms are overcome, and the plants wilt and die, like the herbs on my windowsill when I left for vacation. But most mosses are immune to death by drying. For them, desiccation is simply a temporary interruption in life. Mosses may lose up to 98 percent of their moisture, and still survive to restore themselves when water is replenished.
Note how Kimmerer makes the idea of desiccation concrete: The herbs left on her sill wilted and died. It’s something we’ve all seen. But the mosses? They survive, even after losing up to 98 percent of water. (Wow!)
Experts often get stuck in abstract language. But amateurs need concrete language—vivid pictures and stories—to understand what the facts mean.
Kimmerer’s writing is not just dry science writing. She enchants her readers by combining facts with storytelling.
3. Show up and get more intimate
My favorite passages in Gathering Mosses are when Kimmerer explains how she relates to mosses:
Often, when I encounter a new moss species and have yet to associate it with its official name, I give it a name which makes sense to me: green velvet, curly top, or red stem. The word is immaterial. What seems to me to be important is recognizing them, acknowledging their individuality. In indigenous ways of knowing, all beings are recognized as non-human persons, and all have their own names. It is a sign of respect to call a being by its name, and a sign of disrespect to ignore it. Words and names are the ways we humans build relationship, not only with each other, but also with plants.
By showing up wholeheartedly in her writing, Kimmerer creates a sense of connection, an intimacy with the mosses. She shares her knowledge and her wisdom. She teaches from the head and heart:
In indigenous ways of knowing, we say that a thing cannot be understood until it is known by all four aspects of our being: mind, body, emotion, and spirit.
Kimmerer teaches with mind, body, emotion, and spirit, too.
How to teach with head and heart
In today’s grim world, I found Kimmerer’s teaching soothing.
She helps me stay grounded and reconnect with nature.
She encourages me to look more closely, to pay attention to the world around me, right now, right here.
She also makes me think about teaching again, and what it means to be a good teacher.
To let students see through our eyes and teach them how to observe and pay attention. To share facts and tell stories.
To share knowledge and wisdom, and enthusiasm.
To spark interest.
To make readers eager to learn more.
Book mentioned in this post:
- Gathering Mosses by Robin Wall Kimmerer (highly recommended)
Recommended reading on writing with enthusiasm and authority:
How to infuse your writing with enthusiasm
How to write like a human
How to write about yourself (without undermining your professional image)
Henneke,
Thank you for writing in an engaging way that I learn about mosses, even though I didn’t think I was interested in mosses. Enthusiasm is the attractant.
Enthusiasm is contagious, eh? I’m glad you enjoyed this, Shannan.
“You look into this imagery and see beyond the skill it took to make it, understanding that volumes ate being spoken. Myself, I’ll say hello, but mostly I’m quiet, as if I’m not sure what to say. I can be awkward, the way I sometimes am among strangers, hands in pocket, then back out, then back in. I make eye contact and look away. What right do I have to be here? is a question that often goes through my head. Is it mine to see? I feel like a sympathy card sent out after a genocide.”-Craig Childs, from “Tracing Time; Seasons of Rock Art on the Colorado Plateau”
Craig’s one of my favorite authors, “The Secret Knowledge of Water,” is classic read/reread for sure.
His writing, great examples of how this post’s tips work wonders.
Allow reader’s to look through your expert eyes.
Share facts and tell stories.
Show up and get more intimate.
Thanks, I hope this message finds you well.
Your message made feel more than well,
Fired up and inspired.
That sounds like another fabulous book recommendation, Phil. Thank you so much.
I am currently reading the wonderful Revelations in Air: A Guide to Smell by Jude Stewart, which you also recommended. I so appreciate your recommendations!
I agree that language is important and necessary for human connection. We’re reading a new book in our Bible study class called Atlas of the Heart by Brene Brown. She says that “language has the power to define our experiences” and that “we need language and the grounded confidence to both tell our stories and be stewards of the stories that we hear.”
We are really enjoying all the lessons and the way she laid the book out. I hope you check it out.
Other than becoming more involved it’s my church since Dad passed away, I’ve been going to grief therapy classes, and trying to get back in the swing of things, albeit, slowly.
I really enjoy your newsletters. ☺️
I am so sorry for your loss, Kim. Sending love and strength to you. ❤
I have read a couple of books by Brené Brown and love her work. The Atlas of the Heart has been on my reading list for a while. Thank you for the nudge to dive into it.
Hi Henneke,
It was a great read! I am a writer too, and I have been trying to write my book for a long time. Some days I am able to make real progress, and other days I have no motivation to write. I have been reading your blog for a while, and your articles have helped me a lot in my process. Thanks a lot for sharing this amazing one, it was really helpful, and I will definitely be following your advice to create enthusiasm for my readers.
Thank you, John. I have never kept a daily writing habit. Daily-ish works for me.
Purely awesome. Really admire Ms Kimmerer’s personable styles. Thanks Henneke to always inspire us so much. 🙂
I felt so inspired by Kimmerer’s writing. Without her book, I couldn’t have written this post. Thank you so much for stopping by, Padmaa. 🙂
Excellent commentary and descriptive summary, Henneke.
As usual. Regards and take care
Thanks so much, Paul. I felt inspired by Kimmerer’s writing.
Hey Henneke
Thanks for bringing this up.
Now you’ll be surprised to learn that right after I read this whole piece, I clicked on the affiliate link and went ahead to listen to the sample audio.
Within the first few moments itself, I was amazed to feel my brain awakening with new sparks received from the words used by Kimmerer.
Absolutely amazing. The association used to describe the mosses was fabulous.
Loved this one.
Thanks again.
Keep Sharing.
Keep Inspiring.
Hey Akshay,
I am glad you’re enjoying Kimmerer’s writing, too. I loved reading her book and loved learning from her about mosses.
Thank you for stopping by!
This is a great follow-up to your last post. I actually started writing on my personal blog because of that post, now I’ll know how to keep them engaged. Thanks for sharing!
Yay! Glad to hear you started writing your personal blog. I much appreciate you let me know. Thank you, Adam. Happy writing!
I started writing as a freelancer for a Gannett daily. I loved the pace and variety, which ruined me for niching down. Now, I write magazine articles about what piques MY interest and keeps me digging into research for quotes and stories, especially anything humorous. I just taped a Post-it to the lamp on my desk to include more stories to make my articles more relevant and spark my readers’ interest and enthusiasm in something that may be entirely new to them. Thanks, Henneke–you always point me in an excellent direction.
When writers are bored, their writing will feel flat and readers will notice.
When you write about what piques your interest, chances are much higher that your writing will be interesting to your readers, too.
So, good for you to go where your curiosity leads you. Happy writing, Diane!
Lovely and just the kick I needed to help me fix a recent piece sitting in the rejection basket. I almost never get a rejection and I really was puzzled. The given reason was that the editor could not understand the point.
I thought it was clear. Haha.
But now I think I see: As an expert, I was talking over her head. She is not unfamiliar with my topic, but perhaps will “get it” someday later.
Meanwhile, her conclusion that others probably also would not understand it, was valid. So I was staring at it, trying to figure out a way to fix it.
But now I see what the story needs is a complete rewrite! Haha!
Thanks a BUNCH!
I think it’s one of the biggest challenges we face as writers. The more we know, the easier it’s to forget what it was like when we didn’t know so much.
I’m glad this inspired a rewrite, Katharine. Good to see you again!
You know what Henneke I was waiting for your email to drop into my inbox and as I checked my inbox it’s here with me .This plant love copy made me knowledgeable about plant mosses as well as writing copy. Thank you, Henneke
Aww, so lovely that you were waiting for my email. Thank you, Shruti.
Seeing Henneke in my inbox is happiness. A gift to savor. Each dispatch is a delight and an appetizer size masterclass in writing and hospitality. 👏👏
Awww, Donald. What a lovely compliment. Thank you.
Love these observations, Henneke! Thanks for sharing. Last week I started reading Robin Wall Kimmerer’s celebrated book Braiding Sweetgrass. Such coincidence! Indeed her writing is beautiful and poetic. She’s managed to evoke a sense of hope, sweetness and generosity in the few pages I’ve read. Now reading your blog post, I’m inspired to read Gathering Moss, too 🙂
I loved Braiding Sweetgrass, too, and felt really inspired by it. I don’t know why it took me so long to start reading Gathering Mosses. Maybe, sometimes, I am just afraid to be disappointed–that another book from the same author isn’t as good as a book I love. I don’t know.
Happy reading, Sampada. Good to see you again. 🙂
Hi Henneke,
I’m fairly new to reading your blog posts, but boy are they a mine of gold!
The best part is that you don’t just provide long-winded, theoretical information, you give excellent (and surprising) examples that stick in my mind instantly.
Now I really want to read Gathering Mosses to see in what other ways this fantastic author has implemented the ideas you shared in this post.
Thank you!
You’ve discovered my secret 🙂
I often write my posts around the examples I find. The examples come first. The blog post comes next.
I write the other way around sometimes, too—looking for examples to illustrate the points I want to make. But my favorite way to write is to be inspired by my reading first.
Thank you for stopping by, Shahrukh. I appreciate it. Happy writing!
Whoa, is she a biologist turned copywriter? Or does she have a ghostwriter? Or has she secretly been writing bestsellers under a pseudonyn for years?
Lovely stuff.
I think the magic just happens when you combine a love of your topic (mosses) with a love for words and storytelling.
In a way, there’s a similarity between observing mosses and observing good writing. A matter of practicing the art of noticing, learning to pay attention to the big picture and the detail. I don’t know. That’s just how it feels to me.