Stay on Message

I coach my writing students to stay on message with their writing. This requires first having a clear message to convey. It means going beyond the topic and purpose and going to the heart of the writing. Beneath the surface of every piece of writing, there is a larger message for readers to discover. It's this message that drives the piece, whether it is fiction or nonfiction. It's critical that writers stay true to this message and not stray from it. Readers will consciously or subconsciously connect with the message and they will become easily bored, confused and uninterested if the writing doesn't follow the message. Readers want to know what to expect from writers, and once they have the message figured out, they demand that message be expertly executed. To fail readers on the message is to fail at writing. Challenge yourself to dig deep when you write and discover what your underlying message is. Be open to what you discover, because sometimes the answer will surprise you. It may not be what you originally thought it was when you conceived the piece. That's because your subconscious is hard at work trying to break through to the surface and be heard. In the same way, your true message is screaming to be heard. Listen for it, listen to it, then make sure your readers hear it. Staying on message is the best way to make sure readers get the message.