Rhetoric is the art of persuasion. As a writer, you are a practicing rhetor, whether you know it or not.
As with many things in life, learning a little rhetoric can go a long way. One of the best ways to study rhetoric is to look at its building blocks: rhetorical tropes. Rhetorical tropes are patterns that show up across different works, authors, cultures, and time periods. Learning to recognize, identify, and even use rhetorical tropes can take your writing (and your speaking) a level up. It also makes you a more conscious consumer of the written and spoken word.
One of the best resources for learning about rhetoric and rhetorical tropes is Silva Rhetoricae (“The Forest of Rhetoric”). It's an old website and looks that way, but has been diligently maintained and updated for years.
Take a look at the website, and look at anything that catches your eye. Look for a rhetorical trope. Have you heard of the trope before? Have you seen it used? Might you use it yourself?
Here are a few examples of rhetorical tropes to consider reading about and trying yourself:
What's next?