Four Writing Hacks to Make Your Words Stick: Lessons from Reader Psychology

Many people complain about feeling too distracted to read or remember what they’ve read.

They blame TikTok scrolling, lower attention spans, or even Carole Baskin down in Florida.

But seasoned writers know that clarity and engagement in writing don’t happen by accident; they’re the result of thoughtful design.

Designing writing that sticks in your reader’s brain is simpler than you might think—when you understand how your reader processes information.

In this post, we’ll explore four psychology-backed writing hacks that will make your words impossible to ignore and hard to forget.

Writing Is Like Coding: Think of Your Readers as Computers

As an English professor, I often tell scientists and engineers they already have the tools to improve their writing. My advice surprises them: You already learned everything you need in your computer science classes.

A programmer’s goal is to create code that runs smoothly and produces the intended output. When it fails, the program misfires, causing errors and confusion.

Similarly, writing that’s clear and purposeful resonates with readers. Bad writing? It leaves readers lost in ambiguity. Great writers, like skilled programmers, understand the architecture of their medium—in this case, the human mind.

To write effectively, you must stop relying on surface-level tricks and learn how readers process and remember information. Let’s dive into how to apply that understanding.

Harness the Two Horses of Reading: Sentence Topics and Context

Reading is like trying to ride two horses at once.

Readers juggle two mental tasks simultaneously: understanding what a sentence is about (its topic) and seeing how it connects to the larger unit of discourse.

If these horses pull in different directions, your readers get lost.

The Sentence Level: Controlling the First Horse

A reader’s perception of a sentence moves from left to right. The first few words prime them for what the sentence is about—the topic. 

Although the information in these sentences is identical, each one tells a slightly different story, all depending on what comes first.

The Passage Level: Controlling the Second Horse

Readers also seek meaning on a broader scale.

If your topics jump wildly from one sentence to another, they’ll struggle to see how the sentences connect. Compare these two passages:

The second passage is easier to follow because the sentences share a common topic: language. 

To keep your readers focused:

1. Choose a consistent topic for your sentences.

2. Keep topics short, concrete, and familiar. Avoid vague abstractions, like "the biological makeup of our brains."

3. Don’t vary topics unnecessarily. Repetition helps readers grasp the passage’s global meaning.

Write with Flow: Old to New Information

Have you ever been so engrossed in reading that you lost track of time?

That state of flow isn’t random—it’s designed.

Flow occurs when sentences work together like relay runners, smoothly passing the baton of information from one hand to the next.

Old to New Framework

We generally depart from the known and move towards the unknown.

Each sentence should start with old information (something familiar) and end with new information (a fresh idea). This creates a natural rhythm and keeps readers moving forward.

In the passage above, notice how the first part maintains a consistent topic, as discussed in the preceding section. Happiness (old information) recurs in the topic position. And notice how the new information, by each person, is picked up in the topic of the next sentence.

This pattern of old-to-new information flow creates a smooth sequence between topics, with each sentence pushing off from where the last one left off.

Make Writing Memorable with Visual and Sensory Details

Humans are wired to remember images, actions, and sensory experiences more than abstract words. This is why you might recall someone’s face years later but forget their name within minutes.

You can use this psychology to make your writing vivid and unforgettable.

Engage the Reader’s Mind’s Eye

To make your writing visual:

1. Use concrete language and sensory details. Instead of saying, “I was in Jakarta,” describe the bustling streets, the scent of spices in the air, or the vibrant colors of market stalls.

2. Write about characters. Flesh-and-blood characters are easier to remember than abstract concepts.

3. Animate abstractions. If you must discuss an idea, make it active: Instead of truth is important, say truth fights to prevail in a world of lies.

4. Eliminate Unnecessary Metadiscourse

Traditional writing advice often emphasizes signposting—phrases like this section will discuss or the final topic is. While this approach made sense for spoken rhetoric, it’s a crutch in modern writing. Readers don’t need constant reminders if your content is well-organized.

Replace Metadiscourse with Action

Instead of telling readers what you’ll say, just say it. Compare these examples:

By cutting out the fluff, you streamline your writing and make it more engaging.

Designing User-Friendly Writing

Clear and engaging writing isn’t magic; it’s a craft rooted in understanding your reader’s brain. By controlling sentence topics, ensuring smooth flow, using sensory details, and eliminating unnecessary signposting, you can design writing that captivates and sticks.