by Julie Zine Coleman @JulieZineColeman

Today’s reader is not your mother’s reader.

If a devotional seems to go on forever, chances are they will never finish it. If they can’t easily see you heading somewhere, readers quickly lose interest. They want to know: what is in this for me?

How do we write with today’s reader in mind?

As Managing Editor for Arise Daily (the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association’s devotional website), the first thing I do with any submission is read for one thing: the main idea. If I can’t discern it quickly, chances are very good that our readers won’t be able to find it, either. Time for the author to go back to the drawing board.

With today’s reader in mind, we need to aim at delivering one simple, clear thought our readers can take away from your message. It is tempting to include all the things you want to tell them, I know. It’s such good stuff! But it won’t make your devotional better.

As a speaker, I learned this lesson the hard way. Years ago, after giving a particularly information-heavy message, our oldest congregation member came up to me and said, “Julie, don’t ever put us through something like that again! You should tell us what you are going to say, say it, then tell us what you said!”

As caustic as his critique was, I went home and took an honest look at my sermon. Reading from his viewpoint, I could see what he was saying. I needed to be intentional about what I wanted my listeners to take away from the message. Give them one strong idea that permeated the entire sermon.

This principle is true for writing articles, as well. When I finish writing a piece, I walk away from it for a few hours. Then, with fresh eyes, I read it again to see if I have expressed one main idea. I write out the idea in a single sentence. This gives me the opportunity to look at my article again and cut out any story, detail, or superfluous fluff. The unnecessary information only muddies the waters and distracts the reader.

If being merciless is too hard (but I love that sentence!) I move it to the bottom of the document. Just in case I change my mind, I can just put it back. I very rarely do. When I read the new and improved article, I know without a doubt it was the right move to purge.

Here’s what every editor wishes you would do before submitting a devotional article for publication:

1. After writing an article, if you haven’t already, read it over and write a single sentence expressing the main idea. If you can’t articulate one, your readers won’t be able to either.

2. Go back over the article again and evaluate: is every detail or story necessary? Does it add to the main idea I am trying to convey? If it doesn’t, be strong and delete it. You will make your writing much more intentional and crisp.

3. Get another set of eyes (a friend or a relative you trust) and have them read it. Ask them: what do you think is the main idea? If they can’t tell you, you have more editing to do.

Being conscious of a main idea will improve your writing. It’s an important step to creating a sharp, clear piece.

Bio: Julie Zine Coleman is an award-winning author, speaker, and member of the Pastoral Team at New Hope Chapel. She is the managing editor for the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association’s devotional website, Arise Daily. Julie holds a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies and has authored four books including Unexpected Love: God’s Heart Revealed through Jesus’ Conversations with Women and On Purpose: Understanding God’s Freedom for Women through Scripture, which was named The Golden Scrolls Book of the Year as well as The Selah Awards’ Director’s Choice. Julie and her husband have four grown children, six grandchildren, and one crazy Golden Retriever puppy.