I can't come up with good 'impressions.' So, I let the 'facts' speak for me.

My vocabulary for emotions is surprisingly limited.

Of course, I often feel moved by things, but as soon as I try to express that in words, I get stuck. I don't know how to express my own impressions.

Therefore, even when I am moved by something, I can only say things like "that's amazing," "it was good," "it was interesting," or "the best," which are impressions at the level of a second-grade elementary school student. I have a complex about this.

Previously, an expert in EQ (Emotional Intelligence Quotient) told me, "You have a limited vocabulary for emotions, so you should read literary novels."

So, I actually tried reading them. I got bored in two minutes.

Even if a person unaccustomed to emotions suddenly encounters emotions that are too high-quality, they will just be left blank, unable to understand them at all.

◆ Sometimes there are no impressions at all

Read something, know it, and learn. This is an easy-to-understand flow.

However, I often don't have any particular impressions after that. Before I can express emotions, I don't have any impressions to begin with.

If asked why, I would be at a loss... perhaps I am focusing too much on inputting knowledge, and the emotions before and after that are missing.

You can't have impressions about something you don't have impressions for.

However, as an editor by profession, there are many cases where I have to include some kind of impression or emotion in my writing.

This is the part that always makes me rack my brain.

◆ Letting facts speak for my emotions

Come to think of it, this article was trending on Twitter today.

Prime Minister Abe flooded with critical replies over video 'collaboration' with Gen Hoshino: 'Who do you think you are?'

News articles prioritize 'facts' above all else. If a reporter's emotions or opinions are included, it risks undermining the value of the report.

However, at first glance, this article seems to be swirling with intense emotions.

Words like 'flooded with critical replies' and 'Who do you think you are?' are likely fueling that.

However, this is not the reporter's impression. It is simply a fact.

Fact 1: The collaboration video was flooded with critical replies.
Fact 2: There was a reply saying, 'Who do you think you are?'

Although the title is emotionally charged, it is an article written based solely on facts.

Setting aside the pros and cons of this article for a moment, it is acceptable to include facts that speak for your impressions.

I also use this method often.

Even though I am not good at expressing my impressions, I often come across facts that make me think, 'Yes! This is exactly what I wanted to say!'

For example, this article. It's a bit self-serving, but this is one I wrote that went relatively viral.

'I looked back at all 250 era names (gengo) to date'

This title contains absolutely no emotional elements.

However, people who see this title will likely think:

“You looked back at all 250 of them!? That’s insane.”
“How much time did that take...”
“The intensity is incredible.”

They will have such surprised reactions.

I had the fact that I “looked back at 250 years” speak for my efforts.

◆ What’s important is the presence of “elements that evoke emotion”

Previously, an editor once said, “You should include both facts and impressions in a title.”

However, I don’t think impressions are a mandatory requirement. What’s important is whether it contains “elements that evoke emotion.”

Whether that is a direct “emotion” or a “fact” that indirectly evokes emotion—the approach is just different.

For those who aren't good at expressing “impressions,” I think it’s perfectly fine to let “facts” that evoke emotion speak for you.

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