“Tact is the ability to tell someone to go to hell in such a way that they look forward to the trip” -Winston Churchill

Have you ever bought an item you don't need but bought it anyway because the salesperson delivered an irresistible pitch? That right there is the power of persuasion also known as hypnotic writing.A strong argument and logic are not just enough to tug at the emotions of your reviewer.  Follow these simple step-by-step tips we have drafted to trigger a positive response from the reviewer.

1. Over-the-top Exaggeration

We all exaggerate, right?Exaggeration is like a child using big eyes, tears, and sobs to get attention. We use exaggeration to spice up stories: actions are better when you throw in an extra drama to create a worse, or better, image or situation than it is. Although exaggeration lets you describe something in a heightened way to make it more remarkable, don't take it over the top, otherwise, your writing becomes impossible to believe. For example, “The recent fuel scarcity has led to the total shutdown of 5,000 primary schools in Oyo State, Nigeria”.Although, the fuel scarcity was (is) quite challenging, it has little to do with the functioning of primary schools. Therefore, this has overshot the real problem.

2. Don’t Rant

Although anger/frustration/pains could be the fuel for persuasive writing because it directly pokes the emotion of your reviewer or reader, getting heated on a topic is a huge turn-off.  Californian Psychotherapists confirm ranting has long-term health consequences on the writer and reader. Ranting is not only unhealthy, it is too much negativity. Negative moods transfer easily and who wants to absorb or spread that? If you want your writing to pull the right strings, you have to present your writing as knowledgeable.No reader/reviewer wants to deal with tantrums or unnecessary drama.

3.  I or We? (the Writer's Point-of-View)

Writing in the first, second, or third person is referred to as the writer's point of view. Since the second person is avoided while writing proposals, the main confusion remains within the first or third person.Although, the first-person point of view has the benefits of sounding more personal, relatable, and collaborative, using a blend of the first and third-person makes the proposal more readable and personable for our reviewers. Never say “I” but use “we” and “our” to refer to your organization. Take a look at the excerpt below from a grant application:“We aim to bridge the digital divide among secondary school kids in Kosofe Local Government, Lagos, Nigeria... "It reads nicely, huh? No hiccups. No issues.

Persuasive writing might seem like a ton of work, but if done well, you are sure to grab the attention of anyone that picks your draft.