“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free. “
That marvelous quote is attributed to Michelangelo and often offered as advice to writers. There are only two problems with that. First, Michelangelo probably didn’t say it. Second, while it might be inspiring, it’s not very helpful. What is the angel, after all? And how exactly do you get that sucker out of the marble?
What’s the Angel?
Let’s call your author’s message the angel. It’s the most important thing you want to say, the thing that will make your article, blog post, or book powerful.
I help my clients find their angel when I coach them or do a developmental edit on their book. When we figure it out, we know we’ve got the potential for a great book. When we figure it out, we know how to rework, reorder, and reword the material to say what we want. Here’s how to find your angel and free it from all the marble around it.
Ask Yourself the Big Question
The simplest way to find your angel is to ask a simple question. “What do I want to say to the reader?”
That answer might come the first time you ask the question, but it probably won’t. You’ll probably have to ask yourself the question again and again over a period of time. I usually suggest to my clients that they give it about a week.
Once you’ve got an answer you’re satisfied with, consider that your core message. Now, go through your book. Remove everything that doesn’t support that message and move the book forward.
Test everything you consider for the book by holding it up against your core message. Put it in if it supports the message and moves the book forward. Otherwise, save it for another day.
Eliminate the Foreplay
Many clients I worked with begin their book or chapters with a kind of foreplay. It’s like they’re sitting on the edge of the bed and telling their lover how great it will be. Skip that part.
Get right to your core message. Try removing the first paragraph or three from your piece to see if that makes it stronger.
Keep At It
Finding your angel will probably not be a one-and-done exercise. Great writing is iterative and great books usually go through several revisions. As you revise your book, ask yourself whether your core message is still what you thought it was. I have had clients change the core message partway through the revision process and make their book more powerful.
Michelangelo may not have said it, but you’ll create more powerful writing if you find your angel in the marble and set it free.
