Writing to Felt Needs

by Lucinda Secrest McDowell @LucindaSMcDowel

What are your readers feeling these days – anxiety, fear, anger, confusion, despair, anticipation, celebration, emptiness, loneliness, and weariness? Our souls are full of emotions and needs, longing for someone to reach out in encouragement with answers, or at least something to point us in the right direction.

Your words can touch that person. 

As I consider small writing projects, I have discovered these 5 steps help keep me focused on my reader in order to develop both a practical and powerful message, delivered in easy-to-consume steps.

1. Determine the felt need.

While there are many needs out there at any given moment, your short piece works best when targeted to only one or two. Perhaps you’ve decided you will speak to those feelings of weakness and powerlessness. In the early days of the pandemic, I knew I wanted to reach out to others in my same situation.

2. Decide on a practical takeaway.

If you have a specific aim, then you will hit your target every time. For instance, if I want to impart strength and coping mechanisms to those trying to survive an unexpected quarantine, I will come up with workable suggestions.

3. Design an easy outline.

A memorable way to retain any message is to have 3-5 main points, perhaps listed in a clever way. Alliteration or acronyms are my go-to version for such writings. In this case, I used the acronym S.T.R.O.N.G. to list 6 ways to stay soul strong in a pandemic.

4. Deliver your message.

Open each point with a story or situation that immediately connects with your reader. That’s your “hook” which then keeps them reading for the takeaway from that part of the piece. Be clear, clever, and concise.

5. Direct your reader to God.

Since our calling is to offer Jesus to a hurting and broken world, we speak from our Christian worldview in all we write. Sometimes we are more specific, other times more subtle – all depending on our audience. But, as for me, life is too short not to always include the truth of God’s Scripture as my rule and guide. In this piece on staying strong I included a short Bible verse illustrating each of the S.T.R.O.N.G. points. Another way is to end your writing with a short prayer. 

You have an important message (or two or twenty) to share with the world today! This basic outline can be used for guest blogs, online articles, spoken messages, even a whole book. Cover all your plans with prayer and hard work, and God will use your words. 

WRITE TO FELT NEEDS

1. Determine the felt need.

2. Decide on a practical takeaway.

3. Design an easy outline.

4. Deliver your message.

5. Direct your reader to God.

To see these ideas today fleshed out in a specific message, go to my April 2020 Blog, written in the early days of the pandemic, “How to Survive April” on how to stay soul strong whilst in quarantine. https://lucindasecrestmcdowell.com/how-to-survive-april/

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Lucinda Secrest McDowell, M.T.S., is a storyteller and seasoned mentor who engages both heart and mind while “Helping You Choose a Life of Serenity & Strength.” A graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Furman University, McDowell is the author of 15 books and contributing author to 30+ books. Her award-winning books include Soul Strong, Life-Giving Choices, Dwelling Places, and Ordinary Graces. Lucinda, a member of the Redbud Writers Guild and AWSA, received Mt. Hermon “Writer of the Year” award and guest blogs monthly for ‘The Write Conversation.’ 

Whether coaching writers and speakers, pouring into young mamas, or leading a restorative day of prayer, she is energized by investing in people of all ages. As a communications teacher, she has served on the faculty of Speak Up Conference, Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, Florida Christian Writers Conference, Asheville Christian Writers Conference and co-directs the annual spiritual retreat reNEW – retreat for New England Writing & Speaking. Known for her ability to convey deep truth in practical and winsome ways, McDowell shares words from “Sunnyside” cottage in New England and blogs weekly at WWW.LUCINDASECRESTMCDOWELL.COM