If you’re like me, you’ll take stock of your progress in 2010 and resolve to do more/better in 2011. But before you make those important short-term goals, I think every writer should consider writing a Mission Statement. With all the time you spend writing, you want to make sure you’re chasing YOUR dream, not someone else’s. Whether that dream is to write a NYTimes bestseller or be an award-winning author, to share your story with your friends or simply to have a creative outlet, you want to know what drives you – to make sure you’re on the right path and don’t arrive at NYC only to find you like it better in Kansas.
I wrote my Mission Statement 1.0 last year, when I finally decided to get serious about my writing. It came in handy literally the next day, when my publisher first contacted me, suggesting that I submit to them. Now, a year later, after publishing with a small press, completing another manuscript, and writing a third novel – and with a year of blogging under my belt – I have a deeper understanding of my craft, the business, and the place I want to have in it.
This week, I’ll be talking about my lessons learned along the way. But first, I refreshed my Mission Statement.
Mission Statement 2.0
To leverage my background in science, engineering, politics and life, to create compelling stories and characters that pose moral questions to young readers and make them think. To have every story be an improvement in craft. To be a leader and member of a supportive writing community, through blogs, critiques, and social networking. To create a body of novel length works that reaches a large number of young readers, to provide the greatest impact on young lives.
hi miss susan! i didnt ever know about a mission statement. im gonna have to do some thinking on it so i could make sure its now mission impossible. it sounds sorta like doing a goal for writing. for sure im gonna read your blog all this week so i could learn more on this stuff.
…hugs from lenny
@Lenny It's not Mission Impossible, I promise! (ha!) I think you probably already know your Mission, but putting it into words can help you understand it better (this works for many things).
What a great idea, Susan!
My husband and I wrote a mission statement for our life together years ago, and it has helped so much with my writing.
And a Happy New Year to you!
What a fabulous idea! I look forward to this week's posts (well, I always look forward to your posts, but this week sounds fun)! 🙂
Wow. You are so meticulous in your approach to life and writing. I'm seriously impressed. Although this is way outside my comfort zone, I may give it a try.
wow. You are very professional w/the mission statement and all. I'm more Dorey about it… just keep swimming… 😀
Happy New Year, Dr. Q! :o) <3
Love the mission statement, Sue. Does a well-written mission statement help produce well-written novels? 😉
Really good idea.
You've dropped shorter fiction and I dropped novels. A year can show you a lot.
@Darby Wow, a mission statement for Life – even I hadn't thought of that! Awesome. I wonder what the hubs will think … 🙂
@Shannon You always make me smile!
@Tricia The engineer geek in me can't help the meticulous part, but I do believe firmly that writing things down helps me think things through. I hope you'll give it a try!
@LTM I love Dorey. Just because I'm a hyper-planner, doesn't mean I don't appreciate the pantsing approach.
@Jennifer "Well-written" has so many connotations, I'm not sure I can answer that. But the mission statement does keep me focused on improving my craft (more about that on Wed), which I think has made each novel I write more "well-written" than the last.
@Mary You have to be willing to try new things, but I think we do best when we work to our strengths. Good for you, for doing both! 🙂
Mission Statement: Do not crash and burn.
(I bet they used that one at NASA a lot)
@Bryan I think you have a high likelihood of success. NASA on the other hand … 🙂
I'm not sure I know well enough exactly what I want to accomplish to write a mission statement as great as yours. I may have to think about it. Still, yours is awesome.
@Matthew Thanks! Discovering your Mission is an ongoing process. Start where you (where else could you start?), and I bet you'll find more there than you realize. 🙂 The best part is going back and looking at previous plans and realizing how far you've grown.
You have an amazing mission statement!
I wrote a mission statement recently–it still has to be edited, but I'm trying to focus more on my goals and what I want to do. It is helpful as a reminder.
@Eagle Thank you! And go you for writing up your own! 🙂
And I just noticed that your original Mission Statement (1.0) actually linked to one of my old posts! And I didn't even know. Ha, I think that was in the days when your blog used to make my computer crash. So mysterious…
@Bryan Ah yes! Your "burning readers to the ground" post make my head spin for weeks! It demanded that my brain come up with a reason, Why are you doing all this?? Being an engineer, this is what came of that. So, I guess I truly have you to thank for it! 🙂
Your blog is always so very top rate. Congrats! My mission for 2010 is simple: write as much as possible. Not allow anything to steal my writing time.
I love your mission statement, Susan. Now can you write mine? 😀
*goes off to give hers much thought*
@Catherine Thanks so much! And I admire your fortitude and determination for the writing!
@Stina Maybe I can moonlight as a motivational coach! (that's a joke, BTW) I am curious to see yours when you write it, though, if you want to share. 🙂
I love that you are a woman on a mission 🙂
@Sherri Being on a mission is definitely in character for me. 🙂
Fantastic mission statement! Thanks for giving me something to ponder. 🙂
@Julie Thanks! And thanks for stopping by! 🙂
This really is wonderful. Read Tricia's statement too. Think you guys are on to something.
@Terry I'm glad you like it – I particularly like Tricia's. Somehow I feel I understand her as a writer better, now that I've read her mission statement. A perk! 😉
Susan, thanks for directing me over here! I've never thought about having an actual Mission Statement for my writing, but I can see how focusing it would be–not to mention, something to refer back to when I start to lose my way.
Thanks again!
@JB I hope it's helpful! We each have our own way of managing goals and structure; it's important to find the way that works for you!