Writers are idea people. The skillful ones create a message that is loud and clear. You enjoy their work because you’ve learned something or felt something or gained something useful. They may have challenged your point of view or helped you understand something that wasn’t all that apparent before. Even writers who primarily set out to entertain you hope to give you something to think about in a new way.
Recently, I was asked to do a podcast that focused on how a writer develops a clear message. If you’re a writer, maybe some of this will resonate with you. If you’re a reader, maybe you’ll discover why you like the work of one writer over another. So, what’s the message?
Personally, I think writers must have a healthy respect for words. Words are not just letters formed on a page. They are not just random thoughts that somehow spin themselves into a novel. Words are the beginning of your own creation. They are the vehicles by which your voice comes to life. We know how important they are because we recognize that God spoke the world into being. He commanded that there would be light and darkness, land, and sea. His words became manifest in every natural thing we see today. His words are powerful.
Words, either written or spoken, have power because they guide or inform or change the thoughts of someone else. They make a difference. Therefore, the message, the main idea of those words needs to be rendered with responsibility and care. The Bible says that human beings will be accountable for every word they ever utter. Wow! That’s a scary thought that also serves as a reminder that words matter.
When you write a book, you’re concerned with how those words will affect the readers. You want to create words to encourage readers to come along side you and seek to know more of what you have to say. You want to give visual and verbal clues that help the reader receive the message you intended. That means you have to write clearly and well, respecting the rules of grammar and noting the words with double meanings that could skew your message in the wrong direction.
The premise or the overall theme of the book, or article or speech is the key to clarity. It’s the way you quickly tell someone else what your idea is about. Typically, when you’ve lost sight of what a book is about, it’s because the author went off message and took a detour. You ended up miles from where you thought you would go.
Think of some of the books you love. Most of them have a very clear message, even if you are given that message from several viewpoints. Think of the Bible. It has a lot of writing styles, a lot of themed messages, but one overarching theme. It’s a message that encourages you to know God and tell His story. It’s a theme you can share easily, no matter how many individual scriptures you trip over.
If you’re inspired to write, it’s because you know you have a message, perhaps a God-given message to share. Be brilliant, be interesting, and most of all, be clear about what you want readers to take away.
Happy writing!
Here’s the link to my podcast with Dr. Dave Jones