Write Like Yoda: The Power of Chiasmus in Memorable Writing

Welcome to Christian Story Lab, where the jokes are made up, and the points don’t matter.

If you don’t get the reference, don’t worry. The unsubscribe button is at the bottom.

(Kidding. Please don’t leave me—I need you here.)

Today, I want to share something that blew my mind: how to write like Yoda. 

Yes, the green alien with hairy ears from that movie about WARS among the STARs.

But this isn’t just a Yoda thing.

What I’m about to show you has been used by William Shakespeare, JFK, Martin Luther King Jr., and just about every great speaker or writer you’ve ever heard.

And the best part:

It’s one of the easiest yet most powerful ways to transform your writing.

Have I got your attention?

Excellent, because you don’t need to be Shakespeare or a Jedi to pull it off.

You only need to know about chiasmus.

Chiasmus.

Likely not a word you hear every day, but you’ve seen it a thousand times without realizing it.

How about I start with the definition?

Chiasmus is when the second half of a sentence mirrors and reverses the first.

Like this: "Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country." That’s from JFK’s inaugural address.

Or how about this one from the Bible:
"But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first." (Matthew 19:30)

Here’s Shakespeare getting in on the action:
"Who dotes, yet doubts; suspects, yet strongly loves." (Othello)

Even Neil Armstrong got poetic with it:
"One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

And Bob Dylan practically sings in chiasmus:
"The first one now will later be last."

Pretty cool, right?

Here’s why this matters.

In order for an idea to make an impact, it has to be remembered.

And chiasmus has been a trusty trick for centuries because it’s a natural brain hack.

Our minds LOVE symmetry. It’s why we’re drawn to the design of the Taj Mahal or St. Paul’s Cathedral. That same craving for balance and rhythm applies to words, too.

Let me give you a wild example.

Remember The Wizard of Oz? Most people (myself included) vividly recall the Wicked Witch of the West saying, “Fly, my pretties, fly!” as she sends her flying monkeys off to do her bidding.

But that line doesn’t exist in the movie. 

Seriously. Go watch the clip. What she actually says is, “Fly, fly, fly!”

So why do we all remember a line that doesn’t exist?

Because “Fly, my pretties, fly!” has the rhythm and structure of a perfect chiasmus.

It’s so symmetrical, so catchy, that it just feels like something she would and should have said. (I heard this from Mark Forsyth on How I Write with David Perrell).

That’s how powerful this tool can be.

It can rewrite our memories.

Now, I hear you asking, “Okay, but how do I use this in my own writing?”

Great question.

Whether you’re writing a sermon, a blog post, or a social media caption, chiasmus is your honey on toast for making your message stick.

Try it in your sermon: “Faith grows through action, and action grows through faith.”

↳ Or in your novel: “We built the machines to serve us, but now we serve the machines we’ve built.”

↳ Or in a headline: “It’s not what you give; it’s what you keep that changes you.”

↳ Or your next company email: “It’s not what you say; it’s what they hear.”

↳ Even in tweets: “Don’t fear failure; let failure fear you.”

The possibilities are endless.

Here’s your challenge: find one sentence you’ve written recently and rewrite it as a chiasmus.

Then reply to this email and send it my way. I’ll post the best ones on my Threads feed to show the world just how much of an impact chiasmus can make.

Make sure to include your Threads handle so I can tag you.

Because when your words are memorable, your message becomes unforgettable.

Write on 🤙

Payton

P.S. Below are a few words from the folks who keep the lights on in The Lab 🧪

Make “portfolio chaos” a thing of the past

2025 is here — and it’s time to say goodbye to your disorganized, outdated portfolio.

Authory creates a beautiful, self-updating portfolio for you that stays updated without you lifting a finger. Plus, it backs up your work, keeps it searchable, and makes sharing effortless.

Set yourself up for a successful year by letting Authory handle the tedious admin work while you focus on writing.

New year, better workflow. Let’s do this!

Get started with your free portfolio today