Here is a quote that reaffirms how to get in touch with your readers:
“What leaves your head, enters another’s head.
What leaves your heart, enters another’s heart.”
You can create an emotional tone whether you are writing about a place, an emotion, or a tragedy such as suicide. You can make your readers laugh or make them cry. Create tears in your reader’s eyes.
The way to do this is to “Show, don’t tell.” Show the reader your message through emotions and personal stories. Reach out with your writing and touch the hearts of your readers as Lallani has done in the example below from my book, You Start with One:
“The day arrived when it was time to say good bye; our ‘vacation’ in Sri Lanka was at an end. We were not sure when, or if, we would see Lallani again…
“(Lallani said) ‘I’m staying home because you are going back to America. I’ll never see you again. I must stay with you to the end.’ I stepped toward her and placed my hands on her shoulders. I felt at a loss for words. I wanted to give her one more thing, but all my trinkets, candy, and gum were gone.
“Then I reached in my shirt pocket and pulled out my worn New Testament that I always carried. Over the years, I had underlined it and written in the margins. The pages were crinkled and bent. ‘Lallani, I want to leave this valuable book with you. Don’t let your parents sell it. It tells stories about Jesus.’
“Lallani nodded her head. Her lower lip quivered.
“I swallowed and said, ‘I will pray for you, Lallani, and for Gongala and your parents, too.’ A lump formed in my throat. I could not speak. I felt as if I was deserting my own child.
“Lallani cried softly. ‘Never see you again, Uncle.’
“I put my arms around this special little girl and held her for a moment.”
There is power in simplicity and personal sharing. Fill your anecdotes with emotion, not abstract ideas. Emotion is where people can identify with you.