{"id":13354,"date":"2018-06-12T01:00:15","date_gmt":"2018-06-12T05:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/?p=13354"},"modified":"2020-12-08T09:36:36","modified_gmt":"2020-12-08T13:36:36","slug":"why-description","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2018\/06\/why-description\/","title":{"rendered":"Why description?"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Read it; feel it<\/h2>\n<p>Read the words <em>coffee, camphor <\/em>or <em>eucalyptus<\/em>, and the part of your brain most closely related to the sense of smell responds. Read the words <em>bingo, button<\/em> or <em>bayonette<\/em>, and they don&#8217;t.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_13355\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-13355\" style=\"width: 470px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"13355\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2018\/06\/why-description\/get-in-touch-with-your-readers\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/get-in-touch-with-your-readers.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"470,299\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Get in touch with your readers\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Get in touch with your readers&lt;\/strong&gt; Good writing makes your brain think your body is touching, smelling, moving. &lt;em&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/wtlphotos\/3027430438\/&quot; title=&quot;Image&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Image&lt;\/a&gt; by &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/wtlphotos\/&quot; title=&quot;Dr. Wendy Longo&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Dr. Wendy Longo&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/em&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/get-in-touch-with-your-readers-300x191.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/get-in-touch-with-your-readers.jpg\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/get-in-touch-with-your-readers.jpg\" alt=\"Get in touch with your readers\" title=\"Get in touch with your readers\" width=\"470\" height=\"299\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13355 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/get-in-touch-with-your-readers.jpg 470w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/get-in-touch-with-your-readers-300x191.jpg 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 470px) 100vw, 470px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 470px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 470\/299;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"13355\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2018\/06\/why-description\/get-in-touch-with-your-readers\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/get-in-touch-with-your-readers.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"470,299\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Get in touch with your readers\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Get in touch with your readers&lt;\/strong&gt; Good writing makes your brain think your body is touching, smelling, moving. &lt;em&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/wtlphotos\/3027430438\/&quot; title=&quot;Image&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Image&lt;\/a&gt; by &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/wtlphotos\/&quot; title=&quot;Dr. Wendy Longo&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Dr. Wendy Longo&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/em&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/get-in-touch-with-your-readers-300x191.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/get-in-touch-with-your-readers.jpg\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/get-in-touch-with-your-readers.jpg\" alt=\"Get in touch with your readers\" title=\"Get in touch with your readers\" width=\"470\" height=\"299\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13355\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/get-in-touch-with-your-readers.jpg 470w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/get-in-touch-with-your-readers-300x191.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 470px) 100vw, 470px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-13355\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Your brain on description<\/strong> Good writing makes your brain think your body is touching, smelling, moving. <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/wtlphotos\/3027430438\/\" title=\"Image\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Image<\/a> by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/wtlphotos\/\" title=\"Dr. Wendy Longo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Dr. Wendy Longo<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The words you choose not only have the power to change your readers&#8217; minds. They can also change their brains, according to new neurological research.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Brain scans are revealing what happens in our heads when we read a detailed description, an evocative metaphor or an emotional exchange between characters,&#8221; reports Annie Murphy Paul in &#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2012\/03\/18\/opinion\/sunday\/the-neuroscience-of-your-brain-on-fiction.html?pagewanted=all\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Your Brain on Fiction<\/a>&#8221; for <em>The New York Times<\/em>. &#8220;Stories, this research is showing, stimulate the brain and even change how we act in life.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Paul reports on new studies that show how words make us <a href=\"#smell\">smell scents<\/a>, <a href=\"#feel\">feel textures<\/a>, <a href=\"#action\">experience action<\/a> \u2014 even <a href=\"#character\">understand others better<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"smell\">1. The nose knows.<\/h3>\n<p>In 2006, researchers in Spain used a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) machine to scan participants&#8217; brains. Then they asked participants to read words describing odors \u2014 <em>rancid, resin<\/em> and <em>oregano<\/em>, for instance \u2014 as well as scent-neutral words, like <em>circle, short<\/em> and <em>sketch<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>When participants read the words describing odors, their primary olfactory cortex \u2014 the part of the brain most closely associated with the sense of smell \u2014 lit up. When they read the neutral words, this region remained dark.<\/p>\n<p>Bottom line: Readers have a physical response to sensual description. Want to make your readers&#8217; brains light up? Use descriptive language.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">Smell what I say<\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_18224\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-18224\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"18224\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2018\/06\/why-description\/smell-1\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/smell-1.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"600,258\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"smell-1\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;These words fired up the olfactory regions of the brain \u2026&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/smell-1-300x129.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/smell-1.jpg\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/smell-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"258\" class=\"size-full wp-image-18224 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/smell-1.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/smell-1-300x129.jpg 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 600\/258;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"18224\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2018\/06\/why-description\/smell-1\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/smell-1.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"600,258\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"smell-1\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;These words fired up the olfactory regions of the brain \u2026&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/smell-1-300x129.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/smell-1.jpg\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/smell-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"258\" class=\"size-full wp-image-18224\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/smell-1.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/smell-1-300x129.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-18224\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">These words fired up the olfactory regions of the brain \u2026<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_18225\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-18225\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"18225\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2018\/06\/why-description\/smell-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/smell-2.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"600,260\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"smell-2\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;\u2026 while these did not.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/smell-2-300x130.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/smell-2.jpg\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/smell-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"260\" class=\"size-full wp-image-18225 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/smell-2.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/smell-2-300x130.jpg 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 600\/260;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"18225\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/2018\/06\/why-description\/smell-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/smell-2.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"600,260\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"smell-2\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;\u2026 while these did not.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/smell-2-300x130.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/smell-2.jpg\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/smell-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"260\" class=\"size-full wp-image-18225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/smell-2.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/smell-2-300x130.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-18225\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">\u2026 while these did not.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"feel\">2. Feel the burn.<\/h3>\n<p>Three researchers at Emory University used fMRI scans on subjects who read phrases involving texture.<\/p>\n<p>When the subjects read textural metaphors \u2014 <em>Life is a bumpy road,<\/em> for instance, or <em>He is a smooth talker<\/em> \u2014 the sensory cortex, which is responsible for perceiving texture through touch, became active. When they read neutral phrases with the same meaning \u2014 <em>Life is a challenging road<\/em> or <em>He is persuasive<\/em> \u2014 the sensory cortex remained dark.<\/p>\n<table class=\"pinktable\" style=\"background-color: #ffffff;\" border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"3\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"2\" valign=\"top\" width=\"504\">\n<p align=\"center\"><strong>Look and feel<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: lightgrey;\">\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\"><strong>These texture metaphors lit up the sensory cortex \u2026\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\"><strong>\u2026 While these literal phrases did not<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">She drove a hard bargain<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">She drove a good bargain<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: lightgrey;\">\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">That man is oily<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">That man is untrustworthy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">Life is a bumpy road<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">Life is a challenging road<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: lightgrey;\">\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">He is a smooth talker<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">He is persuasive<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">This steak is rubbery<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">This steak is overcooked<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: lightgrey;\">\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">He had leathery hands<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">He had strong hands<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">She is a bit rough around the edges<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">She is a bit impolite<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: lightgrey;\">\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">He fluffed his lines<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">He forgot his lines<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">He is a smooth operator<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">He is a suave guy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: lightgrey;\">\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">She has a bubbly personality<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">She has a lively personality<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">The logic was fuzzy<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">The logic was vague<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: lightgrey;\">\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">She gritted her teeth<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">She ground her teeth<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">She decided to rough it<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">She decided to go without<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: lightgrey;\">\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">She is sharp-witted<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">She is quick-witted<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">It was a hairy situation<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">It was a precarious situation<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: lightgrey;\">\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">This soda is flat<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">This soda lacks taste<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">The wind is sharp<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">The wind is cold<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: lightgrey;\">\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">The operation went smoothly<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">The operation went successfully<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">She has steel nerves<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">She is very calm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: lightgrey;\">\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">That book is full of fluff<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">That book is full of nonsense<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">His step was springy<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">His step was energized<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: lightgrey;\">\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">She gave a slick performance<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">She gave a stellar performance<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">The clouds were fleecy<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">The clouds were white<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: lightgrey;\">\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">His voice was silky<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">His voice was calm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">His eyes went fuzzy<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">His eyes went blurry<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: lightgrey;\">\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">The punch is spiked<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">The punch is alcoholic<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">She bristled with anger<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">She shouted with anger<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: lightgrey;\">\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">He is wet behind the ears<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">He is a na\u00efve person<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">He is on a slippery slope<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">He is getting out of control<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: lightgrey;\">\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">She is soft-hearted<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">She is kind-hearted<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">He is a greasy politician<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">He is a corrupt politician<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: lightgrey;\">\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">He has an uneven temper<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">He has an uncertain temper<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">His face was stony<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">His face was stoic<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: lightgrey;\">\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">He has a slimy personality<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">He has a deceitful personality<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">The movie made her mushy<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">The movie made her cry<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: lightgrey;\">\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">His manners are coarse<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">His manners are rude<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">She is a bit edgy<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">She is a bit nervous<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: lightgrey;\">\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">He was a crusty old man<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">He was an irritable old man<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">She has a dry sense of humor<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">She has an odd sense of humor<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: lightgrey;\">\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">She had a rough day<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">She had a bad day<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">He is a softie<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">He is a pushover<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: lightgrey;\">\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">The singer had a velvet voice<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">The singer had a pleasing voice<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">He was a slippery customer<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">He was an awkward customer<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: lightgrey;\">\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">His skin prickled with anticipation<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">His skin went cold with anticipation<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">She asked a pointed question<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">She asked a relevant question<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: lightgrey;\">\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">She has an abrasive personality<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">She has an unpleasant personality<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">Her voice was scratchy<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">Her voice was hoarse<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: lightgrey;\">\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">The criticism was blunt<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">The criticism was straightforward<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">The book was mushy<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">The book was sentimental<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: lightgrey;\">\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">He had a rugged face<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">He had a manly face<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">It was a polished performance<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">It was a flawless performance<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: lightgrey;\">\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">Her voice was grating<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">Her voice was harsh<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">She looked sleek<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">She looked stylish<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: lightgrey;\">\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">His voice was gravelly<\/td>\n<td valign=\"top\" width=\"252\">His voice was low<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3 id=\"action\">3. And \u2026 action!<\/h3>\n<p>Cognitive scientist V\u00e9ronique Boulenger of the Laboratory of Language Dynamics in France studied how people&#8217;s brains reacted to phrases conveying motion.<\/p>\n<p>When subjects read action verbs like <em>write<\/em> and <em>throw<\/em>, their motor cortexes \u2014 the part of the brain that coordinates the body\u2019s movements \u2014 lit up. When they read nouns like <em>mill<\/em> and <em>cliff<\/em>, their motor cortexes stayed dark.<\/p>\n<p>Even more interesting, one part of the motor cortex lit up when subjects read about arm movement, while a different part did when they read about leg action.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"character\">4. In character<\/h3>\n<p>Just as the brain treats descriptions of physical sensations and action as if they were real, it also treats written interactions among people as if they were real social encounters.<\/p>\n<p>Raymond Mar, a psychologist at York University in Canada, analyzed 86 fMRI studies published last year in the <em>Annual Review of Psychology<\/em>. His conclusion: As we practice understanding people when we read, we become better at understanding them in reality.<\/p>\n<p>Narratives, Paul writes, help us &#8220;identify with subjects&#8217; longings and frustrations, guess at their hidden motives and track their encounters with friends and enemies, neighbors and lovers.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h3>Virtual reality<\/h3>\n<p>Bottom line?<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The brain, it seems, does not make much of a distinction between reading about an experience and encountering it in real life,&#8221; Paul writes. &#8220;In each case, the same neurological regions are stimulated.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Keith Oatley, an emeritus professor of cognitive psychology at the University of Toronto and a published novelist, agrees.<\/p>\n<p>Reading, he told Paul, is a reality simulator that \u201cruns on minds of readers just as computer simulations run on computers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For writers, that means that the words you choose aren&#8217;t just words. They can also be things, experiences \u2014 even emotions. Choose them well.<\/p>\n<div id='MC-AOS-OVW' class='widgets_on_page wop_tiny1  wop_small1  wop_medium1  wop_large1  wop_wide1'>\n\t\t\t<ul><li id=\"custom_html-38\" class=\"widget_text widget widget_custom_html\"><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><a title=\"Master the Art of Storytelling - Ann Wylie's creative-content workshop\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/corporate-communications-training\/writing-classes\/business-storytelling-training\/\" target=\"\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/storytelling-workshop.png\" alt=\"Master the Art of Storytelling - Ann Wylie's creative-content workshop\" title=\"Master the Art of Storytelling - Ann Wylie's creative-content workshop\" width=\"auto\" height=\"auto\" border=\"0\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 250px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 250\/250;float:left; text-align:left; margin: 0 auto; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 1px; margin-bottom: 5px; background-color: #ffffff; font-size: 18x; line-height: 22px; padding: 0px; color: #FFFFFF; max-width:100%; max-height:100%;\" class=\"img-max lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/storytelling-workshop.png\" alt=\"Master the Art of Storytelling - Ann Wylie's creative-content workshop\" title=\"Master the Art of Storytelling - Ann Wylie's creative-content workshop\" width=\"auto\" height=\"auto\" border=\"0\" style=\"float:left; text-align:left; margin: 0 auto; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 1px; margin-bottom: 5px; background-color: #ffffff; font-size: 18x; line-height: 22px; padding: 0px; color: #FFFFFF; max-width:100%; max-height:100%;\" class=\"img-max\"><\/noscript><\/a><h3>How can you tell better business stories?<\/h3>\r\n<p>Stories are so effective that Og Mandino, the late author of the bestselling <em>The Greatest Salesman in the World<\/em>, says, \u201cIf you have a point, find a story.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Learn to find, develop and write stories that engage readers\u2019 hearts and minds at <a title=\"Master the Art of Storytelling - Ann Wylie's creative-content workshop\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/corporate-communications-training\/writing-classes\/business-storytelling-training\/\" target=\"\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Master the Art of Storytelling<\/strong><\/a>, our content-writing training workshop.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>There, you\u2019ll learn how to find the aha! moment that\u2019s the gateway to every anecdote. How to start an anecdote with a bang \u2014 instead of a whimper. And how to use \u201cthe most powerful form of human communication\u201d to grab attention, boost credibility, make messages more memorable and communicate better.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"btn btn--depth\" style=\"text-align: center;  margin: 10px 0 20px; width:100%;\"><a id=\"btnTT\" style=\"\" title=\"BOOK NOW\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/corporate-communications-training\/writing-classes\/business-storytelling-training\/\" target=\"\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-width=\"91\">BOOK NOW<\/a>\r\n<!-- [if mso]>\r\n<p style=\"line-height:0;margin:0;\"><v:roundrect xmlns:v=\"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wyliecomm.com\/corporate-communications-training\/writing-classes\/business-storytelling-training\/\" style=\"width:153px\" arcsize=\"8%\" strokecolor=\"#D96237\" filled=\"t\"><v:fill type=\"gradient\" angle=\"180\" color=\"#f16522\" color2=\"#f16522\"><\/v:fill><v:textbox style=\"mso-fit-shape-to-text:t\" inset=\"0px,11px,0px,11px\"><center style=\"font-size:16px;line-height:24px;color:#FFFFFF;font-family:sans-serif;font-weight:bold;mso-line-height-rule:exactly;mso-text-raise:4px\">BOOK NOW<\/center><\/v:textbox><\/v:roundrect><\/p>\r\n<![endif]--><\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><!-- widgets_on_page -->\n<p>___<\/p>\n<p>Sources: Annie Murphy Paul, &#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2012\/03\/18\/opinion\/sunday\/the-neuroscience-of-your-brain-on-fiction.html?pagewanted=all\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Your Brain on Fiction<\/a>,&#8221; <em>The New York Times, <\/em>March 17, 2012<\/p>\n<p>Julio Gonz\u00e1lez, Alfonso Barros-Loscertales, Friedemann Pulvermuller, Vanessa Meseguer,\u00a0 Ana Sanju\u00e1n, Vicente Belloch,\u00a0 and Cesar Avila, &#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/www3.uji.es\/%7Egonzalez\/neuroimage.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Reading &#8216;cinnamon&#8217; activates olfactory brain regions<\/a>,&#8221; <em>NeuroImage<\/em>, May 2006<\/p>\n<p>Simon Lacey, Randall Stilla and K. Sathian, &#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0093934X12000028\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Metaphorically feeling: Comprehending textural metaphors activates somatosensory cortex<\/a>,&#8221; <em>Brain &amp; Language,<\/em> Vol. 120, Issue 3, March 2012, pp. 416\u2013421<\/p>\n<p>V\u00e9ronique Boulenger, Beata Y. Silber, Alice C. Roy, Yves Paulignan, Marc Jeannerod and Tatjana A. Nazir, &#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0928425708000260\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Subliminal display of action words interferes with motor planning: A combined EEG and kinematic study<\/a>,&#8221; <em>Journal of Physiology-Paris<\/em>, Vol. 102, Issues 1\u20133, January-May 2008, pp. 130-136<\/p>\n<p>Raymond A. Mar, &#8220;The Neural Bases of Social Cognition and Story Comprehension,&#8221; <a href=\"http:\/\/psych.annualreviews.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em>Annual Review of Psychology<\/em><\/a><em>, <\/em>Vol. 3, 2011, pp. 103-134<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Read it; feel it<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":13355,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[182],"tags":[32,202],"class_list":{"0":"post-13354","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-description","8":"tag-creative-techniques","9":"tag-verbs","10":"entry"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v23.4 (Yoast SEO v23.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Why description? - Wylie Communications, Inc.<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Why description? 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