There are many writing useful writing techniques to get your writing a lot of attention. Three of them I come across often lately, are are being exploited by many who write.

• Sensationalism
• Euphemism
• Fanaticism

These three can backfire pretty good if not wielded properly. This post addresses sensationalism. Something that can be really useful and fun to read when it’s used well.

Yourdictionary.com defines sensationalism as:

a. the use of strongly emotional subject matter, or wildly dramatic style, language, or artistic expression, that is intended to shock, startle, thrill, excite, etc.

b. preoccupation with or exploitation of what is sensational in literature, art, etc.

This definition works for the most part. Defining a word with a variation of the word is not generally useful, but it is passable here.

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I used to work as an administrative assistant [AA] for a temp-to-hire placement agency. For one assignment, they placed me at this company where their AA was on maternity leave. Their temp worker before me got the flu, so I was up. A very nice man was assigned to walk me through what I would be doing for them through the end of the week. We got along well, and it wasn’t because I was nice and he was nice. It turned out, he was nice to me because I knew stuff. On the second day, he asked me why I was doing temp work with all the skills I had. Read more »