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Write Now! Persuasive Writing Prompts:
Try a Before-and-After Approach
Practice your copywriting skills with this prompt from The Professional Writers’ Alliance (PWA).
This Write Now! practice exercise will help you become a more convincing writer.
This video prompt from Heather Robson reinforces the concept that in order to write persuasive copy, you need to convince your reader that your product will change his life. (Or read the transcript below.)
When you’re writing persuasive copy, you really want to get to the heart of how the product you’re writing about is going to change your reader’s life for the better. If you can convince your reader that their life is going to be better after buying your product, then the buying decision becomes easy.
So here in my hand, I have a basic corkscrew, like you might see a waiter use in a restaurant. And your writing assignment is to write, in five sentences, what a waiter’s shift is like without this corkscrew. And then, in five more sentences, how much better it is, with this corkscrew. Have fun.
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Karen had a problem. She had 12 bottles of Dom Perignon waiting to be served and no way to extract the corks. She tried pulling, twisting and pondered breaking the bottles' necks. It seemed hopeless. She could lose her job if it went unserved.
Then she found the ACME Wingspan. Its dual-lever action allowed her to insert the shaft into the corks and pry them out. The Dom soon flowed freely. Karen became the hero of the banquet. She also earned a promotion, thanks to the ACME Wingspan!
Detrick Cornelsen – November 20, 2018 at 5:19 pm
Tim loves to serve fine wines. But uncorking specialty bottles was frustrating with ordinary corkscrews. The cork split or got stuck midway. What a mess! What a waste!
Tim went online. To his delight he found the corkscrews he needed. Our company, Specialty Kitchen Accessories, sells all kinds of corkscrews. Now Tim uses a range of corkscrews for bottles of specialty wines, olive oils and salad dressings. The diners love his confidence and winning smile.
lisa25 – August 30, 2019 at 6:20 pm
Ferrell returned to the table with the red wine for the couple; he described the red wine so eloquently that the couple could not wait to taste it, reaching into his apron pocket he pulled out his corkscrew. He began to remove the cork but the corkscrew was failing him. He twisted, he pulled but nothing and now he’s sweating and embarrassed. Suddenly, Dante grabbed the bottle and said to him “Here, you need the Rabbit; no twisting, no pulling and certainly no sweating; just insert, lift the lever and pop!” Then Dante said to him “Keep that one I got two,” “Thanks” said Ferrell, thinking my day just got a whole lot easier thanks to the Rabbit!!!
Guest (VeeJay24) – April 19, 2020 at 1:02 pm
Do you ever feel unease when opening a bottle of vine in front of customers... where you really can't afford any hiccups. Where your reputation as a waiter is at stake!
It's one thing to have trouble opening a vine bottle with your friends – where you can all just laugh it away. But its a different story entirely when it happens at work... it's outright embarrassing!
I don't know about you but I just can't take that chance anymore. And that's why I am using the new WaiterMax CS. Unlike your regular run-of-the-mill corkscrews, this one is designed for professionals. It uses a revolutionary “dual-grab” hook that opens even the most locked in place cork on a first try, guaranteed! WaiterMax CS truly has boosted my confidence... and tips!
Guest (Kendrick) – April 22, 2020 at 4:03 am
James leaped for joy upon hearing the restaurant owner said, "You're hired!".
Ready to create the first impression on his first day, he welcomed the first guests with full excitement and led them to their reserved seats.
He offered them the best wine and the couple nodded for approval.
He groped for corkscrew from his pocket but found none. His heart started racing and his palms began to sweat.
Then he heard footsteps approaching, getting nearer. Is it his boss to shout at him, "You're fired!"? Good thing it was Jim, his co-waiter, to hand him Saverr's Corkscrew! The best corkscrew of all time because it saves future and saves life.
Guest (Rowena) – April 24, 2020 at 10:48 pm
Nice to see examples as I just start out.
New Path in learning – May 3, 2020 at 1:52 pm
It was unexpected, exciting and frankly, terrifying. The elusive Gianni Torino and family, with notorious mob ties had just entered the restaurant. No one had told him. Now made sense that no other patrons were there. Shaking, he wondered if he would make a fool of himself, opening their wine bottles.
As politely as possible, Jax excused himself. He just remembered! Only yesterday a distributor gave him a commercially designed corkscrew. He knew he would not fail. Bring on the art of crime!
Konnect-with-Kate – May 10, 2020 at 11:22 am
Thank you for this challenge it is my first one. Writing the one I chose I know will help me in writing persuasively
Mary Myers – May 24, 2020 at 4:11 am
Imaging you are celebrating your first anniversary, and decided to chart a yacht for celebration.You hire a chef and a waiter to serve you.Your dinner is an specialty of the chef and is going to be served with wine.The waiter is ready to serve you, when he noticed that he forgot to bring the corkscrew!You get mad, the waiter try to apologize, but you don’t accept it.The discussion was heard by the Chef, who decided to show up and ask what was going on.After you explain, he shows you “a corkscrew”.
Barbara Vazquez – May 25, 2020 at 5:56 pm
The Tale of 2 Waiters...
Customers were always not in a good mood when attended to by Mr. Paul.
He's seen as a time-waster when trying to open bottles for customers.
Why? His corkscrew is always missing.
He once spilled wine on someone's shirt, while trying to open a bottle using his teeth when he couldn't find his corkscrew. (It was unhealthy, and the customer was angry.)
Most customers don't like his service.
His colleague noticed that. He advised him to get the new (XXX Corkscrew) with a bracelet attached to his hand, so he never forgets or misplaces it.
Now, most of his customers are happy with his new way of treating them, that they always tip him for a job well done.
Guest (Saifullah Fateh) – June 9, 2020 at 4:23 pm
It’s a busy Saturday and you want to make the most tips tonight. Your goal is to serve 15 tables and at least 25 bottles of wine.
You have one challenge - opening the wine bottle corks takes you too much time – the back and forth to the kitchen reduces your efficiency and ruins your customers dining experience.
Hurry now and get the new True-Tap redesigned, compact cork screw which has been rated top corkscrew by ‘Restaurant Inc.’ magazine.
With its quality precise sharp tip, its balanced metal worm and a comfortable handle, you will pull out the wine corks with ease, and speed up your service.
Without the True-Tip cork screw it will be a challenge to meet your goals and of course take home some good tips.
Dodi – June 13, 2020 at 11:22 am
She was almost in tears. With too many impatient customers pressing her for table service, she was desperate. The wine wasn't going to poor itself. Her squishy Plasticine bottle opener just couldn't pull the corks. She needed a miracle - plain and simple.
Surprisingly, a gentleman standing at the bar discretely handed her his Cork Extractor Doobly Boobles Widget. Ah! Salvation. She was now able to expertly remove the corks and briskly move around the tables deftly pooring the wine into each delighted customer's glass. She returned to the bar to thank the gentleman - he had disappeared.
Adam Bromhead – June 22, 2020 at 11:51 pm
Sam started his shift unable to find his corkscrew. Of course the very first table asked for a full bottle wine. The pit in his stomach made an appearance.
Frustrated and upset Sam needed a solution. His night was long and filled with more customers.
Then he found the smoothlift 2.0 behind the bar.
He was able to open more bottles quickly making him look like a real pro.
His presentation and confidence had him floating on air. And so did all the tips, because of the NEW smoothlift 2.0.
rockeys copy – July 15, 2020 at 8:59 pm
Hi Heather,
Your beautiful and made me think of a wife.
The potential Business Owner without Net Penny Stocks will not be able to easily invest. Most Investment Management Companies like The New York Stock Exhange cost thousands of dollars just to get started with very high risks. You'll lose alot of unnecessary finances that quickly won't pay your rent forcing yourself to be homeless because you lack Shared Investments. Forget buying a Two Family Home not being Independent the way you want without a Wealthy Retirement Strategy. The flexibility and financial freedom you always wanted is at a long distance.
Internal Intelligence 1 – July 22, 2020 at 12:40 pm
Marco’s first day in the mob restaurant was quite bad. You see he wanted to make a great first impression on the family. He got up earlier, made sure he was on time. All he had to do was set up, help bring in the food and help pour the booze. When it came to booze he grabbed a bottle and then panic set in, he had no way to open the wine. BANG…no more Marco.
Lara was away for the summer in Paris. Her first day at her job at La Jules Verne went great. Lara was always a stickler for being prepared. Well that paid off, and she had brought a notepad, a pen and a corkscrew in her pocket just in case. Turns out that someone had stolen all the corkscrews so Lara was the only one able to serve the wine. Promotion!
Sean F – August 10, 2020 at 6:04 am