Humanize your writing with these 5 startling tips

Write like a human. Connect like a friend. Build trust like a pro.

You wrote something that you thought was solid, but it fell flat. It’s not that your writing is boring, it’s just not alive enough. We’ve been trained to “write well”, use good grammar, proper punctuation, structure, flow etc.

But great writing isn’t just being “correct”, it should feel like a conversation.

• A moment

• A truth

• A jolt of electricity

Think about the best piece of writing you’ve ever read. It probably didn’t follow every writing rule, but it grabbed your gut, made you laugh or cry, run in your mind for days.

But think of the writer, not as some expert behind a screen, but someone like you. You just need to sound more real to write like that.

These 5 startling (but powerful) tips will breathe life back into your words, simple but bold. And they work.

1️⃣ Bleeding

Say the thing you’re scared to say. Because if it scares you, it probably matters.

The truth is, readers don’t fall in love with your wins, but your wounds. We’ve got enough highlight reels. Give us what’s real.

• If you failed, say it

• If you doubted yourself, own it

• If you messed up, share the lesson

Honesty is risky. But it’s also magnetic. And if you’re willing to go first, your reader will follow.

2️⃣ Broken sentences

This tip will make grammar nerds scream. But if you write how you speak, the words screamed their way into your readers’ minds.

Don’t fear fragments.

Or starting a sentence with “And”, or using ellipses…or throwing in a — dramatic pause.

Because perfect sentences don’t feel human. Rhythm does.

Try reading this: “I couldn’t sleep, just couldn’t…I was very tired but anxious. I final blacked out when I knew what I had to do.”

That’s how people talk. It feels like someone’s telling you a story over coffee.

And that’s the goal, isn’t it?

3️⃣ Ditch fancy

Which version sounds better?

A) “I leveraged strategic ideation to maximize synergistic outcomes.”
B) “I sat down, brainstormed, and came up with a plan that actually worked.”

Exactly.

Don’t try to sound like a thought leader. Sound like someone your reader would trust at 2am. Big words don’t build authority. Clarity does.

You don’t impress people by confusing them. You impress them by making hard things simple.

Here’s the rule I follow:

“If a 13-year-old wouldn’t understand it, rewrite it.”

And your readers will thank you.

4️⃣ Micro-stories

In every post, every paragraph, every point, add a sliver of your life.

I’m not saying you need to write your autobiography, but tiny moments matter more than you think. Inject your personality and thoughts into the stories, make your story come alive.

Build trust with them, readers don’t want polished robots. They want real humans navigating real struggles. The moment you drop your mask, they lean in.

5️⃣ Crush the wall

Talk directly to your reader. Say things like:

• “I know what you’re thinking…”

• “If you’ve ever felt like this, keep reading.”

• “You’re not alone. Seriously.”

Because the secret is, your reader wants to feel seen. When you acknowledge them, they stop scrolling.

• They read slower

• They nod

• They feel something

You’re not writing at them, you’re writing to them. That makes all the difference.

What happens next…?

You stop competing with SEO hacks. You stop trying to sound “professional”. You stop chasing empty engagement.

Instead?

You build a real audience. One that trusts you, talks to you, shares your work happily.

Because you’re not just another content creator.

You’re a voice. A mirror. A spark.

Write like a human

If you take just oneof these five tips and apply it to your next piece…
…you’ll notice the shift. Your writing will feel more alive. Your readers will lean in.
And you’ll remember why you started writing in the first place.

Not to get clicks, not to go viral, but to connect, contribute and evoke emotions.

You can do that right now. With your next sentence.

Rewrite a piece and re-read it, see how it feels. Does it hit differently now?

If it does, keep going. Keep bleeding. Keep writing like a human. Because your words can cut through the noise, but only if you let them.

Dare to fail so you can dare to win - Moon Arica

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Expand your comfort zone here, tell me your thoughts:

1. How does robotic writing sound to you?

2. Can you tell if an article is AI-written without a human voice?

More on writing:

10 unconventional ways to write an engaging article (that actually keep readers hooked)

Harness your unique talent for your writing

4 destructive writing habits that are silently killing your growth

Thanks for reading!