Tips for Creating Meaningful Takeaway for Your Reader

by Katy Kauffman @KatyKauffman28

We buy books because we’re hungry—hungry for a good story, hungry for an encouraging message.

When I consider buying a nonfiction book, I read the back cover and flip through the pages looking for the takeaway. What good things can I “take away” from this book? What message, hope, or practical advice does the author share? I also find out whether the author has a conversational voice and good lead-ins. (For that last one, it’s the writer in me kicking into gear.) But I care the most about the takeaway. Do you?

Pinpoint Your Takeaway

Before you write a book, identify your purpose for writing. Are you sharing hope, offering encouragement to a particular group of people, or giving practical steps for a specific plan? Once you know your purpose, write a paragraph describing what you hope the reader will gain from your book. Streamlining this into one paragraph can be one of the hardest things to write in a project, but this is your takeaway. You can expand this paragraph into an outline, detailing the main points you want to share with readers and the subpoints that will illustrate and explain. Then what do you have? An outline for your book. 

Feed the Soul

Don’t save all the good stuff for the last chapter in your book. Put takeaway in each chapter to feed the souls of your readers. Give them reason to read every chapter andevery page. Come alongside them as a friend in both your voice (style of writing) and your content, and fulfill your purpose either to encourage or to instruct. In every chapter of your book, give them something to take away with them that will benefit their daily lives. Make each chapter so well-written and organized, filled with insight and examples, that they can’t wait to read the next chapter. 

Maximize the Value of Your Table of Contents

For your Table of Contents, craft chapter titles and subheadings that will interest your readers in the whole book. Give a hint at what the takeaway will be for each chapter, and use the best wording to grab their attention. Stay away from using cliché phrases, and appeal to both the heart and the mind of the reader. Including your book’s main slant (such as a metaphor) in your titles adds interest.

6 Types of Takeaway

Consider using these tools to create great takeaway for the reader.

1. Stories are a great way to illustrate your points and to feed the reader’s soul with hope and wisdom.
2. Inspirational quotes often word the message you want to share in a to-the-point, memorable way. 
3. Bible verses use the power of God to speak into the lives of readers.
4. Paragraphs offering application of Scripture or wisdom spiritually feed the soul and synthesize any explanations you may have given of God’s word.
5. Pull quotes emphasize a point from your book that you want the reader to especially take to heart and remember.
6. Lists outline steps of action you want the reader to take or principles you encourage the reader to live out.

Of these examples of takeaway, what benefits you the most as a reader? How do you like to learn or be encouraged? Tell us in the comments below, and join in the conversation.

TWEETABLES
Tips for creating meaningful takeaway for your reader - @KatyKauffman28 on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Takeaway is the first thing we should think about when writing a nonfiction book - @KatyKauffman28 on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Katy Kauffman is an award-winning author, an editor of Refresh Bible Study Magazine, and a co-founder of Lighthouse Bible Studies. Her compilation, Breaking the Chains, won a 2018 Selah finalist award. Her newest compilation, Heart Renovation: A Construction Guide to Godly Character, discusses the hidden problems of growing in character and how to overcome them. Katy’s writing can be found at CBN.com, at Thoughts-about-God.com, at PursueMagazine.net, in online magazines, and on devotional blogs. Connect with her at www.lighthousebiblestudies.comand on Facebookand Twitter.