How to Write Like Your Words Are on Fire (Even If You’re Just Writing Emails)

Let me guess: You’ve stared at a blank screen, fingertips hovering, wondering why your words feel as exciting as a microwave manual. You’re not alone. I’ve been there too—heart racing, cursor blinking, the crushing fear that no one will care.

But here’s the good news: Great writing isn’t magic. It’s mechanics. And copywriting? It’s the art of making strangers lean in, click, and crave what you’re selling—even if it’s just an idea. Let’s steal tactics from the legends and turn your writing from “meh” to “more, please.”

1. Your First Sentence is a Handshake. Make It Grip.

Mark Twain once said, “The difference between the almost right word and the right word is… the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.”

Your opener isn’t a hello—it’s a provocation. Compare:

Weak: “This blog post will teach you to write better.”
Gripping: “Your last email died in someone’s inbox. Here’s how to resurrect it.”

Action: Write 5 opening lines for your next piece. Delete the first four. The fifth will sizzle.

2. Cut Like a Chef, Not a Barber

David Ogilvy, the godfather of advertising, preached simplicity: “Tell the truth, but make truth fascinating.”

Most drafts drown in “very,” “really,” and “in order to.” Kill the fluff.

Before: “We’re really excited to offer a very special solution that can truly help you achieve success.”
After: “This works. Here’s how.”

Action: Slash 20% of your next draft. If it hurts, you’re doing it right.

3. **Write to One Person. (Yes, That Person.)**

Maya Angelou nailed it: “People will forget what you said, but they’ll never forget how you made them feel.”

Imagine your reader: Exhausted mom. Overworked CEO. Anxious freelancer. Write to them, not at them.

Bad: “Our product increases productivity!”
Better: “You’ve got 87 unread emails. Let’s tackle them before lunch.”

Action: Start your next piece with “Hey you,” and picture their face.

4. Stories Are Currency. Spend Them Wisely.

Hemingway didn’t write novels—he wrote vivid snapshots. “The baby’s shoes were never worn.” Six words, a universe of sorrow.

In copywriting, stories sell feelings.

Lame: “Our app saves time.”
Story: “Sarah used to miss bedtime stories. Now she tucks her kids in with 5 minutes to spare.”

Action: Start a sales email with “Remember when…?” or “Imagine…”

5. The Rule of One: One Idea, One Enemy, One Promise

William Strunk Jr. (of The Elements of Style) warned: “Omit needless words.” But I’ll add: Omit needless ideas.

Confused writing = confused readers. Every piece needs:

One Big Idea (e.g., “Write tighter”)
One Enemy (e.g., “Wordiness”)
One Promise (e.g., “You’ll keep readers hooked”)

Action: Ask: “What’s the ONE thing I want them to remember?” Burn it into your draft.

6. Steal Like a Artist (But Make It Legal)

As Picasso said: “Good artists copy. Great artists steal.”

Save a “swipe file” of lines that punch you in the gut:

A billboard that made you brake.
A tweet you bookmarked “for later.”
A novel opener you wish you’d written (looking at you, Dickens: “It was the best of times…”).

Action: Collect 10 lines this week. Dissect why they work.

7. Write Drunk, Edit Sober (But Maybe Skip the Wine)

Hemingway’s infamous advice isn’t about alcohol—it’s about writing with passion, then editing with logic.

First draft: Let your heart bleed on the page.
Second draft: Ask, “Would my busy reader care?”

Action: Write your next draft in 15 minutes. Walk away. Edit tomorrow.

The Truth No One Admits: Writing is Rewriting

Ray Bradbury said “Quantity produces quality.” You can’t edit a blank page.

So here’s your final tip: Write badly first. Then rewrite, polish, and set it on fire.

Your Turn
The next time you write, ask: “Is this clear? Is this kind? Does it move?” (Thanks, Ann Handley).

Words aren’t just tools—they’re bridges. Build them strong enough to hold your reader’s attention, and they’ll walk across to meet you.

Now go. Write like your words owe you money.

P.S. Still stuck? Reread this post. I cut 30% of it to keep you reading. 😉

Catchphrases to steal:

“Write tight, fight right.”
“Your reader is busy. Be the signal, not the noise.”
“Clarity is confidence on a page.”

Inspired by the greats: Orwell, Angelou, Ogilvy, Twain, and your patience for reading this far.