October 2025
Fireside Publishing Group
Universal Truths
2 strategy
Reveal something small yet deeply relatable — a shared human moment. Example: “Mother died today. Or maybe, yesterday, I can’t be sure.” — Albert Camus, The Stranger The psychology: Humans bond over recognition. Universal truths draw from mirror neuron theory—our brains fire as if we are experiencing the event ourselves. A personal confession that brushes a universal truth (“forgetting,” “longing,” “regret”) immediately builds empathy and trust. Why it works in writing: It feels as though the writer is whispering something true only to you . Yet that truth touches everyone. This technique collapses the distance between the author and the audience, creating instant intimacy—a crucial first step toward narrative immersion.
MEMOIR: “EVERY MORNING I CHECK MY PHONE BEFORE MY PULSE.” “MY MOTHER STILL CALLS ME BY THE NICKNAME I OUTGREW IN SEVENTH GRADE.” HEALTH & FITNESS: “THE HARDEST WEIGHT TO LIFT IS THE REASON YOU DIDN’T START YESTERDAY.”
SELF-HELP: “CHANGE NEVER STARTS WHEN WE’RE READY; IT STARTS WHEN WE’RE TIRED OF HEARING OUR OWN EXCUSES.” BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP: “LEADERS DON’T FEAR NEW TOOLS; THEY FEAR SLOW DECISIONS.” GARDENING: “EVERY GARDENER KEEPS TWO CALENDARS: THE ONE ON THE WALL AND THE ONE IN THE DIRT.”
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