“All that glisters is not gold,” but you can write golden copies with inspiration from The Bard! [Tuesdays: “Write with the Pen of the Masters”]
Take a look at the text below:
“Nay, their endeavor keeps in the wonted pace. But there is, sir, an eyrie of children, little eyases, that cry out on the top of question, and are most tyrannically clapped for’t.”
“These are now the fashion, and so berattle the common stages―so they call them―that many wearing rapiers are afraid of goose quills and dare scarce come thither.”
Would you believe that an aspect of these quotes pertains to writing?
Take a guess on who wrote these words!
Any ideas?
It’s no other than…
William Shakespeare!
The quotes above are taken from Act 2, Scene 2 of one of his famous plays, Hamlet or The Tragedy of Hamlet.
Shakespeare is a 16th century English playwright, poet, dramatist, and actor. He is often called the English National Poet and considered by many to be the greatest dramatist of all time. He sometimes goes by the name, “The Bard” or “Bard of Avon” since during his time, “Bard” means poet and Avon stands for his birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon in England.
Some of Shakespeare’s famous works include:
- The Merchant of Venice
- Much Ado About Nothing
- Romeo and Juliet
- Henry V
- Richard III
- Hamlet
- Othello
- King Lear
- Macbeth
Now, you might be wondering, “What does Shakespeare have to do with this week’s article?”
Well, Shakespeare is just one of the greatest writers that have ever existed on Earth!
Making an Impact Through Writing
Are you curious about what the quotes in the introduction mean?
During that scene in Shakespeare’s play, Prince Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark and the main protagonist, was talking with his childhood friend Rosencrantz about a troupe of actors.
Hamlet asked Rosencrantz why these actors were travelling to different places when they knew that they would earn much more if they would just stay in the city. As a response, Rosencrantz said the troupe was starting to lose popularity because child actors were starting to gain the public’s favor.
As for the line, “that many wearing rapiers are afraid of goose quills,” Shakespeare knew what power writing has in making an impact in people’s lives that he put it in the mouth of Rosencrantz.
Goose quills served as the “Elizabethan Era pen” and according to analyses, Shakespeare implied that during his time, “very socially prominent” people were afraid to be seen at regular theaters for fear that playwrights (who use goose quills to write) would “mock them in their next play.”
More than being entertaining, Shakespeare’s works also leave readers with a valuable lesson and compel them to rethink their standards and beliefs.
For example: Shakespeare’s play, “The Merchant of Venice,” was able to depict to its readers and viewers the ugliness of taking revenge on other people, as well as the beauty of exercising mercy. His book, “Othello,” leaves its readers with a compelling warning against jealousy.
Another of Shakespeare’s plays, “The Taming of The Shrew,” challenged Elizabethan beliefs and practices regarding marriage.
There are a lot more lessons to learn from Shakespeare’s works , but it would take us too long to enumerate each one of them!
Just like Shakespeare, you can also use written words as a platform to make an impact. Here are three ways your writing can influence people’s perspectives:
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Teaching or Imparting Knowledge to Readers.
According to an article from the Writer’s Digest, whenever you share your knowledge with others, you “unlock a special power within you.”
Shakespeare’s writing was influenced by some of the great writers in his time such as Geoffrey Chaucer and Christopher Marlowe. By being constantly exposed to their works, he was able to take note of their writing styles and apply it in his own works.
When you write about something you learned through experience, reading, research, or a mentor, you help make your readers “smarter” by providing them with the information they need to make the right decisions and actions.
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Inspiring Readers.
“If I can do this, so can you.”
You may not actually write those words in your content, but by writing and sharing your words in a compelling and interesting way, you are inspiring readers and potential writers to share their ideas, pick up a pen or open a laptop or desktop computer, and start writing as well.
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Entertaining Readers.
People love to read great, well-written stories.
Great stories help you connect with your readers and enable people to visualize a world that is different from what they have now.
An optimistic story will inspire readers to identify the necessary actions that need to be done in order to improve their communities.
On the other hand, a “dark” or heavy story can serve as a cautionary tale for people, showing them what to do or avoid to prevent problems from happening in their society.
Whether you’re a creative writer, technical writer, or a copywriter who’s writing for a brand or business, you can make an impact with what you write.
No matter what genre you’re writing about, or even if you’re “out of Shakespeare’s league,” as long as you have the right tools, training, and effort, you’ll still be able to influence your readers and convince them to your call-to-action (if there is).
As stated by American author Stephen King:
“Writing isn’t about making money, getting famous, getting dates… or making friends. In the end, it’s about enriching the lives of those who will read your work, and enriching your own life as well.”
Let the impact that Shakespeare made through his written works motivate you to make an impact with your copies or content as well!
About The Dynamic Marketing Communiqué’s
“Tuesdays: Write with the Pen of the Masters”
Who doesn’t find content writing to be a skill that requires a lot of practice and effort?
In fact, many people may even find copywriting very intimidating.
However, you can be a good writer as long as you have the right tools. You won’t always get things right the first time, but with enough time and practice, you’ll get the hang of it!
When you write a copy for any brand or for your company, your aim is to make an impact and…
…to get people to remember.
Getting people to remember means getting consumers to buy your product or to avail of your service.
And when you get your content to deliver the results you want, THAT is a great copy!
Every Tuesday, we publish content based on tips and insights from the masters of content writing, copywriting, and storytelling.
Become more familiar with ways to write great copy that helps you gain ROI from your efforts, drive profitability, and achieve your business goals.
Learn time-tested tactics that better capture the attention of your target audience, and maximize the benefits of great copywriting.
Hope you found this week’s insights interesting and helpful.
Stay tuned for next Tuesday’s “Write with the Pen of the Masters!”
Cheers,
Kyle Yu
Head of Marketing
Valens Dynamic Marketing Capabilities
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