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(I’ve spent the last 30+ years living at the slightly chaotic intersection of words, psychology, and human behaviour. Amongst other things, I hold degrees in Psychology, Drama, Professional Coaching, and a Journalism internship, which basically means I’m professionally qualified to overanalyse both stories and people. Words and brains are my ongoing obsessions.
I should also apologise for disappearing for the last two weeks from my entrancing blog series on brains, writing, and why humans do peculiar things with both. Between being a writer, mother, indie-author supporter, reluctant admin goblin, and full-time cat staff member, I’ve also been caring for my lovely mumsy, who is sadly slipping deeper into vascular dementia and needing a great deal more TLC. The good news is: I’m back. The bad news is: I’ve had enough psychology and human behaviour in the last fortnight to fuel at least twelve more articles. Now… on with the words.)
Have you ever wondered why you can remember a single emotional scene from a book years later… but forget entire chapters of dry information almost immediately?
You may not remember every detail. But you remember how it felt.
That’s because emotion plays a major role in how memory works.
The brain is far more likely to store and recall experiences that carry emotional significance. Which explains why, despite forgetting where I have left my car keys approximately every second day, I can still vividly remember the time — at about age two — when I clonked my extremely annoying elder brother on the head with a small spade full of sand. What followed was swift justice in the form of an unforgettable parental backside correction. The details of that afternoon have remained suspiciously crisp for decades: the heat, the outrage, the betrayal, the general sense that my artistic use of landscaping equipment had been deeply misunderstood. Because emotion stamps memories into the brain far more effectively than ordinary events ever could.
For writers, this matters enormously — because if readers feel something, they are far more likely to stay engaged and remember what they read long after the final page.
A Writer’s Moment of Friction
With all my tireless editing, one issue appears surprisingly often:
The writing is informative. Even intelligent. But emotionally flat. Everything is explained clearly, yet nothing really lands. Then, occasionally, a single line appears — something human, vulnerable, tense, funny, painful, or deeply relatable — and suddenly the entire manuscript wakes up.
The reader (me) pays attention again.
Because emotion acts like a mental highlighter. It tells the brain:
“This matters. Keep this.”
Without emotional engagement, even good ideas can slide straight past the reader like motivational quotes on LinkedIn after your third coffee.
What Is Emotional Arousal?
In psychology, emotional arousal refers to the level of emotional activation a person experiences.
This doesn’t only mean dramatic emotions like terror or excitement. It includes:
- curiosity
- tension
- anticipation
- empathy
- surprise
- hope
- embarrassment
- relief
When emotional arousal increases, attention sharpens and memory formation becomes stronger.
In simple terms:
Emotion helps the brain decide what is worth remembering.
Why Emotional Arousal Matters in Writing
Readers are not purely rational creatures. We like to think we calmly analyse information like wise scholars in candlelit libraries. In reality, most of us are emotional mammals with smartphones and unresolved emails.
Emotion drives:
- attention
- engagement
- recall
- decision-making
A technically perfect manuscript without emotional resonance may be respected.
But emotionally engaging writing is what gets remembered.
How Fiction Writers Can Use Emotional Arousal
Build emotional tension, not just plot tension
Readers stay engaged when something emotionally meaningful is at stake.
Less engaging:
The meeting started late.
More engaging:
By the time the meeting started, Julia had already rehearsed her resignation speech three times in her head.
Now there’s emotional investment.
Use contrast
Moments of calm make emotional moments stronger.
Humour after tension. Silence after conflict. Relief after fear.
The brain notices emotional shifts.
Focus on specific emotional details
Readers connect more deeply with concrete human experiences.
Example:
His hands shook slightly as he unlocked the door.
Small details create emotional presence.
How Nonfiction Writers Can Use Emotional Arousal
Nonfiction often becomes more memorable when ideas are emotionally grounded.
Start with relatable moments
Less memorable:
Burnout affects workplace performance.
More memorable:
You answer one last email at 11:43 p.m. and suddenly realise you haven’t felt fully rested in months.
The second creates recognition.
Use stories to anchor ideas
Facts inform. Stories help readers care.
A short anecdote or lived example increases emotional engagement and retention.
Create curiosity
Questions and unresolved tension keep the brain engaged.
Example:
What if the problem isn’t your motivation… but the way your brain has learned to survive overwhelm?
Now the reader wants resolution.
Be Careful of Emotional Overload
More emotion is not always better.
Constant intensity exhausts readers.
If every moment is dramatic, nothing stands out — rather like someone who uses seventeen exclamation marks in a work email and expects us not to panic.
Strong writing uses emotion strategically.
It gives readers moments to breathe.
Emotional arousal reminds writers that memory is not driven by information alone. Readers remember what moves them. They remember tension. Humour. Recognition. Curiosity. Relief.
Good writing doesn’t just transfer knowledge. It creates emotional experiences the brain decides are worth keeping.
And that is often the difference between writing people consume… and writing they carry with them.
Take the Next Step
At Harvard Ink, we help authors create manuscripts that combine clarity, emotional resonance, and psychological insight — helping readers not just understand your message but remember it.
Explore our services and special offers here: 👉 https://harvardink.com/services/special-offers/
