takeaway – Almost An Author

Are You Clear on What You’re Trying to Accomplish?

I’ve been blogging for over seven years and in that time I’ve learned a lot about how to be a more effective communicator. One key piece of advice I’ve found helpful is to clearly identify what I hope the readers will do as a result of reading it. To use another term, what is the reader’s takeaway or the desired outcome?

Usually when I find myself struggling to write an article, it’s because I’m not clear about what I’m trying to say. Too many ideas are swirling around my brain, and I don’t know which of them I want to talk about. When I stop and force myself to write down a specific desired outcome, it helps me narrow down which information belongs in the article.

How to define your desired outcome

Be specific

For this article, I could say my aim is to help people write better, but that is much too vague. A more specific aim might be: to introduce the concept of identifying the desired outcome of a piece of writing.

Make it actionable

But introducing a concept doesn’t give the reader any action to accomplish. I want to explain the concept, and then I want the reader to do something with that information. So an improved desired outcome might be: I want the reader to identify the desired outcome in an article they are working on.

Provide a deadline

To make the desired outcome even more potent, suggest an actionable step they can accomplish in the near future, and specify the time frame. For this article, it might be: I want the reader to identify a concise desired outcome for the next article they write.

Here are a few other examples:

I want readers to consider these 6 conversation strategies and choose one of them to try this week.
I want readers to practice this stress-handling technique the next time they stand in line.

You will notice that a well-defined desired outcome not only streamlines your focus, it informs the Call to Action.

Apply this concept in broader situations

You can use a similar process to define the desired outcome for your ministry or business venture. Once you have fine-tuned your target audience, identify the primary issue or problem you want to address. Then, specify the desired outcome you hope your writing, ministry, or business will provide. It should be specific and actionable, but it won’t have the deadline piece since this is your ongoing work.

Defining the action you hope readers will take can clarify your thoughts and help you write a more succinct and useful piece. I hope you will take the time to write out the desired outcome for the next article you write.

Lisa E. Betz worked as an engineer, substitute teacher, and play director before becoming an award-winning mystery writer. She brings her analytical mind, quirky humor, and positive outlook to all she writes. She draws inspiration from thirty-five years of leading Bible studies to create entertaining mysteries set in the world of the early church, and then she fills that world with eccentric characters, independent females, and an occasional sausage-snatching cat. Her first novel, Death and a Crocodile, was recently awarded the Golden Scroll Novel of the Year.

In addition to writing novels, Lisa blogs about living with authenticity and purpose. Visit her at lisaebetz.com. Facebook LisaEBetzWriter Twitter @LisaEBetz and Pinterest Lisa E Betz Intentional Living.

What’s the Point?

Recently my best friend and I met up for our first guys’ night out of the year, after eating dinner we decided to go see the latest Star Wars film, THE RISE OF SKYWALKER .

For us it was more than just an appropriate “guy movie,” it was a trip back through our childhood on a cinematic journey. How could we resist the nostalgia of spaceships, droids, the age-old battle of good versus evil and of course seeing Princess Leia one last time?

The real caveat has been the real message of hope, against all the odds. For over forty years this series has inspired viewers with the idea of hope, starting with Star Wars: A New Hope.

Two generations of fans have left theaters with the idea that hope is the answer. When I first began my training as a writer in 2011, the first term I learned about was takeaway. If we always think reader (audience) first, they will take something with them from our writing.

I learned that the takeaway is inspired by numerous factors:

Plot – the course of events that make up our story.
Theme – the underlying idea behind the events that take place.
Message – how the theme is acted out or upon.

Through these three fundamentals of a story, the takeaway inspires us to take action in life. And I believe deep inside of all writers we have a desire to change lives, and we attempt to change perspectives through our art. This is why takeaway is important to stories.

Takeaway?

Granted there are many forms of writing and each one has a different function: to entertain, to inform, persuade and my favorite, to enlighten.

Regardless of the function, a writer’s ultimate goal is to bring some form of change. We want to encourage our audiences to take action and that is why our prose needs takeaway value.

Even in fictional writing takeaway value is critical. It may be an inciting or motivating incident that gets our audience moving.

When I attended my first screenwriting conference in 2011, it included a speed pitch session. Similar to speed dating, writers were allowed to travel from one industry insider’s table to another for a short amount of time.

During that time we were to pitch our project to each prospective studio or producer. Regardless of the professional I pitched to, they all wanted to know what my screenplay’s takeaway was.

A studio or producer and even networks aren’t willing to invest their resources into a project unless there is a unique and marketable takeaway value in the project.

When writing has takeaway value, an audience or reader gains an understanding or perspective that can be incorporated into day-to-day life. As I learned in one of my classes through the former Christian writers Guild, “Editors look out for their readers—and they want to work with writers… who do the same. They publish articles that provide strong takeaway value.”[i]

They do this to meet a need in their readers’ lives. Once you decide on what you want to encourage your audience or readers to do or think, be sure to take steps to encourage them to take action. Below are a few steps you can take in your writing.

Create an eye-catching title.
Open with a real-life story.
Anticipate the opposition.
Evoke emotion.
Keep readers interested.
Write in the active voice.
Invite readers to take action.[ii]

While these are intended for article or nonfiction writing, they easily apply to screenwriting:

Titles can imply a lot about a movie.
Most audiences can relate more to real-life stories.
Most moviegoers are movie critics and want an enjoyable experience.
Emotional stories touch audiences at a deeper level.
Be creative and keep the audience interested.
The age-old truth for screenwriting is to always write in the active voice as the story is unfolding before our eyes now.
Give your story a conclusion that will motivate your audience.

By the time the credits start to roll at the end of a movie, the audience should have followed the plot, understood the theme and have a clear message from your narrative. No one likes leaving a movie unsatisfied and wondering why they invested the time and money into it—what was the point?

What’s The Point?

Every writer has a story, message or point they want to share. If you’re human you have a perspective, personality, and a voice. Screenplays are a visual way of expressing each.

You can entertain.
You can educate.
You can inspire.

The best movies change us or something in us. Below are a few of my favorite, can you relate to their takeaway?

Shawshank Redemption: Redemption/change.

A Very Long Engagement : Real love never dies.

The Grace Card: We all need grace.

I’m sure you can think of many of your favorites that have impacted your life, character, and beliefs. Because if a story has no takeaway, then what’s the point?

Martin Johnson survived a severe car accident with a (T.B.I.) Traumatic brain injury which left him legally blind and partially paralyzed on the left side. He is an award-winning Christian screenwriter who has recently finished his first Christian nonfiction book. Martin has spent the last nine years volunteering as an ambassador and promoter for Promise Keepers ministries. While speaking to local men’s ministries he shares his testimony. He explains The Jesus Paradigm and how following Jesus changes what matters most in our lives. Martin lives in a Georgia and connects with readers at Spiritual Perspectives of Da Single Guy and on Twitter at mtjohnson51.

[i] Jenkins (2010) Apprentice Course CWG publishing Colorado Springs, CO p 87.

[ii] Jenkins (2010) Apprentice Course CWG publishing Colorado Springs, CO p 93.