How Do You Write a Persuasive Personal Essay?
Hit 'em in the amygdala.
Hey Story Lovers,
One of the writers in our First Draft writing group requested we use the Tips Clinic (coming this Saturday) to talk about how to write a persuasive personal essay. I LOVE this idea.
The funny thing though, is there’s no such thing as “the persuasive personal essay.” There’s only the personal essay. A good personal essay is always going to be persuasive if the story hits you in the amygdala.
What?
I was playing tennis this morning with a scientist, so of course I told her about our work with the Center for Ecosystem Science and Society helping scientists personalize their science stories. She said, “YES! Hit people in the amygdala.” Then she explained that the amygdala is the part of the brain that processes emotions.
“We are human animals,” she said. “We’re persuaded when we witness vulnerability because our amygdala is activated.”
So how do you activate someone’s amygdala? Come to the Tips Clinic this Saturday to learn how. (Details below.)
In the meantime here’s our latest episode with a story by Dr. Jane Marks. Episode 206: Does Anyone Care About Saving Fossil Creek? Learn How Your Writing Can Build Trust. Dr. Marks tells the story of restoring a polluted river while she weaves in her personal struggle wanting to be an activist with the constraints she put on herself as a woman and a scientist. Because she’s vulnerable, I care about her and her river. I guess she hit me in the amygdala.
TIPS CLINIC
SATURDAY, June 14, 2025
12 to 1 p.m. ET
Zoom
We’ll write and (if you want) you can share what you wrote for feedback.
Tips Clinic is $15.
All Patreon members and if money is an object, please use this FREE Tips Clinic Zoom link.
As always, we have two First Draft weekly writing groups where you write to a prompt and share if you want.
Click here to join Allison Langer Tuesdays 12-1 ET.
WE HAVE A NEW FIRST DRAFT WRITING GROUP facilitated by Margery Berger. Click here to join Mondays 12-1 ET. The first session is always FREE.
Last month, we teamed up with the Women’s Emergency Network (WEN), Florida’s largest abortion funder. In an intimate setting—my living room—five storytellers told their abortion stories. The storytellers didn’t rant or go off politically. No one told anyone how to vote. They simply told the truth about what happened in a self-reflective and vulnerable way and I think every single person felt persuaded. We raised $61,134 for women who otherwise couldn’t afford abortion care. Click here to support WEN.
If you’re part of an organization and you think stories would help in fundraising and advocacy, reply to this email or email me andrea@writingclassradio.com. I want to produce more shows like this one.
Thanks for reading. And thanks for listening to Writing Class Radio.
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Love,