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.