Writing hypnosis is a handy tool to make your readers feel involved and respected.

Many who hear the term writing hypnosis are probably apt to think of it as a means of willing readers to perceive words in certain ways. To this end, they are right. As writers, we do want our words perceived as we have written them. However, we also want to instinctually recognize that our readers are all unique individuals who may have their own takes on what our words mean to them.

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The use of sensory details, used in a prudent fashion, can serve to appeal to readers from many different vantage points. Consider the idea of writing a persuasive essay. Those who are reading your work may be invested in it for a reason. They may have read much of what you have previously written, and therefore may be expecting a certain turn of events, a certain place where a twist will come into play, a certain sentence structure, etc. This all, in a sense, relates back to the idea of writing hypnosis. If they are conditioned to enjoy your style and structure, they are likely “hypnotized” by your writing, and they are coming back to read more.

If readers have yet to read anything you have written, you will certainly want to gain some ground with them and make your writing as appealing as possible so you can draw them in and warrant their continued readership. What is hypnotism writing if not a means to have readers be more susceptible to your suggestions through their changed state of consciousness? Even though readers are hopefully not asleep as they read your work, their involvement in taking in your writing is a form of hypnosis.

Writing is a great medium in that it can take you to other worlds (such as Never Never Land in Peter Pan or Narnia in the Chronicles of Narnia). It can allow you to soar high above the sky or swim with the mermaids deep below the sea. Writing doesn’t have to be merely words on a page. It can be the words you hear coming from the speakers as you watch a movie on the big screen.

Words are always present and always able to change your thinking at the drop of a hat, depending on how they are phrased and presented. The way you hear the words being said by a character in your head may be very different from the way the motion picture represents the character’s use of those same words. That’s why writing hypnosis makes it easy for readers to be drawn in. They feel respected and cared for when writers take the time to note their likes and dislikes. It is obvious that not everyone can be pleased all of the time, but when writers know their audience and work to please those people, they will likely be successful in their efforts.

Writing hypnosis is somewhat different than reverse psychology writing. You may want to take a look at that page and see how it can help you in a different way to break through your writer’s block effectively. However, the two ideas are similar in that reverse psychology writing is somewhat reliant on the idea of hypnosis. Even though writers who use reverse psychology writing are apt to make readers want to see the opposing perspective, they are still instilling in readers a sense of what they want the readers to believe, understand, feel, etc.

The Dick Van Dyke Show from the 1960s had an episode that used the idea of creative hypnosis well. It resonated with me and made me reflect on how hypnotic writing can be highly beneficial to my own style and the substance of my words. There was once as episode called “My Husband Is Not a Drunk.” Rob Petrie (Dick Van Dyke’s character) was admittedly highly susceptible to hypnosis. However, he was not in the room when Buddy Sorrell (Rob’s co-worker, played by Morey Amsterdam) was being hypnotized. The post-hypnotic suggestion that the hypnotist gave to Buddy, and by extension to Rob (since he was listening from the kitchen), was that every time he heard a bell ring, he would begin to act roaring drunk. When a bell rang again, he would be back to normal, as if nothing had happened. This would continue for a few hours to a day, the hypnotist said.

Unbeknownst to the rest of the people at the party, Rob took this post-hypnotic suggestion, but was not caught doing it for quite a while. At first, every time a bell rang, he would begin to act roaring drunk, and as soon as it rang again, he was normal, and that was, of course, the exact moment when someone would walk into the room. Conveniently, no one noticed Rob’s odd behavior until he had a meeting the next morning at work. Someone thought he was just practicing a comedy bit for the show he was writing, but he soon realized that he must have taken the post-hypnotic suggestion, and he called the hypnotist to come and take him out of it.

The point behind this is that suggestions can play powerful roles in our lives. We must be open to these suggestions, especially when reading the writing of others or even of ourselves. We must also, however, note that the power of suggestion can be strong, but we don’t have to be swayed by it. We must find ways to make readers feel comfortable and confident in our style so they will always want to come back for more. This differs somewhat from biased writing, but the same ideas can be evident. Take a glance at that page to note the similarities and differences that you can find.

Another way to use writing hypnosis effectively is with commands. Not “sit” or “stay” like you might say to your pet, but through the use of book or movie reviews that promote how good a book may be and how you shouldn’t miss out on reading it for the world. If you do, you may be highly disappointed in yourself one day. The way these words are phrased makes readers interested, but if they don’t do as you are saying, they won’t be terribly upset that they missed out. They will know that someone recommended something to them, and the more you get your name out there, and your words, and your unique stylistic ideas, the more they will be eager to heed your words and respond to your hypnotic writing.

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