The Creative Penn

Writing, self-publishing, book marketing, making a living with your writing

  • Write A Novel
  • Write Non-Fiction
  • Publishing
  • Marketing
  • Make a Living Writing
  • Author Mindset
  • Start Here!
  • Books
  • Podcast
  • Blog
  • Audio
  • Courses
  • Merch
  • Tools
  • About
    • Speaking
    • Press
  • Contact

The 5-Step Mission Statement (An Author Essential)

August 3, 2013 by Joanna Penn 31 Comments

Tweet117
Share84
Pin15
Share
Email
Pocket
Buffer35
Share10
Reddit
261 Shares

OLD POST ALERT! This is an older post and although you might find some useful tips, any technical or publishing information is likely to be out of date. Please click on Start Here on the menu bar above to find links to my most useful articles, videos and podcast. Thanks and happy writing! – Joanna Penn

We spend a lot of time in the minutiae of what we do, slaving over word choice, trying to hit a word count goal, counting individual sales.

big pictureBut sometimes it's important to step back and evaluate the bigger picture. In today's article, Shannon from Duolit helps us do exactly this. 

Few things in the career of an indie author are certain.

But I guarantee, at some point in your journey (probably more than once), you will come to a major crossroads. With each foot angled in a different direction, you will have to make a decision before you take your next step.

How will you decide where to go?

In the business world, corporations of all sizes look to their company mission statement as a guidepost for important decisions. When things get muddy, a good mission statement gives clarity to the company’s purpose. It’s like a cliff’s notes guide and a compass wrapped in one convenient package.

So why don’t you have one?

Authors are entrepreneurs in their own right, which means we should use the same set of tools any other business would use to move toward the company’s goals.

Putting together a mission statement doesn’t take a long time. All you have to do is answer a couple of quick questions, then take your answers and work them into a short paragraph.

Question 1: What do you do?

Don’t just say “I write” or “I am an author.”

NO! What do you DO? What is the BIG picture of what happens when you sit down and write?

Do you give life to some incredible characters? Are you the architect of another universe? Do you give a voice to the unheard? Use those creative juices to really describe (in a few words) what it is you do.

Question 2: Who do you do it for?

It’s time to talk about your readers. Who are they?

Don’t use those canned marketing terms like “20 – 30 year olds who like science fiction.” Give dimension to your readers, give them personalities and faces.

Say something like, “People who want to escape this world and explore another.”

Question 3: Why are you different?

What is your most unique attribute?

It might be your perspective, your experience, your technique or your characters. Something about your writing is different from every other person who’s ever put pen to paper. That one little attribute is what will connect you with your readers, so it’s critical.

Dig deep, find that special streak, and put it in writing.

Question 4: Where are you going?

What are your goals as an author?

Do you want to create one long-running series? Or is your primary objective to create quality artistic pieces? Or maybe your goal is to put write short stories?

Whatever your destination is, it needs to go in the mission statement. That way, when you reach the crossroads, you can eliminate any option that doesn’t lead to your ultimate goal.

Question 5: How are you going to get there?

You’ve got a plan in mind, right?

It can be a little general, but you should have an idea of how you’re going to reach your ultimate goal. Whether it’s eventually getting to traditional publishing, or being a resourceful, social media-savvy indie, you need to ask yourself what path or vehicle is going to get you where you want to go.

If you’re not sure about the specifics yet, focus on the skills you have that can help you reach your objective. Perseverance, self-discipline and hard work are all valuable tools in any indie tool box.

Bringing it all together

Once you’ve answered each of the above questions in a short sentence, you should be able to put all five together into one cohesive paragraph – your new mission statement.

Next time you’re unsure about which path to take in your indie author career, you’ll be able to look at your mission statement and find the compass to guide your steps.

If you’ve got a minute, I’d love to hear your mission statement (Or if you’ve got less than a minute, just one of your answers to the questions above!). Please do leave a comment below and join the conversation.

shannon duolitShannon (The Author) blogs, tweets, eats, and sleeps book promotion along with Toni (The Geek) at Duolit (The Self-Publishing Team).

Jumpstart your novel sales with a free copy of The Weekend Book Marketing Makeover – an introvert-friendly approach to finding your crazy-dedicated fanbase!

Top image: Flickr Creative Commons F Delventhal 

Tweet117
Share84
Pin15
Share
Email
Pocket
Buffer35
Share10
Reddit
261 Shares

Filed Under: Author Entrepreneur Tagged With: goal setting, mission statement

Comments

  1. Liton Biswas says

    August 3, 2013 at 3:34 am

    Nice post. Worth reading. Enjoyed.

    Thanks Joanna.

    Reply
    • Shannon says

      August 4, 2013 at 9:53 am

      Hi Liton! Glad you enjoyed the post :- )

      Reply
  2. Eileen Hirst says

    August 3, 2013 at 11:22 am

    Very motivating. I had only thought of mission statements in terms of my other business but have just started work on my author mission as a result of reading your article; thank you.

    Reply
    • Shannon says

      August 4, 2013 at 9:56 am

      Hi Eileen! Glad you’ve started work on your author mission statement, I think it’s definitely a valuable business tool for us authors to use! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Gary Swaby says

    August 3, 2013 at 1:13 pm

    Great post, sometimes you need to reflect on things and question yourself on where you’re going/what you’re doing before continuing.

    Reply
    • Shannon says

      August 4, 2013 at 9:58 am

      Exactly, Gary! It’s a good way to hit the pause button and re-evaluate where we are and where we want to go. Refocusing will also give you more energy and a renewed passion to move forward with your project. Glad you enjoyed! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Alex says

    August 3, 2013 at 1:33 pm

    Thanks for this; I found it really useful. I think I’ve got 1, 2, and 4…but 3 and 5 are going to take a lot more work.

    Reply
    • Shannon says

      August 4, 2013 at 9:58 am

      Awesome Alex! Yes, definitely take some time to think about some of the questions. You want to find as much clarity as possible. Glad you found the mission statement a useful tool! 🙂

      Reply
  5. Derek Murphy (Creativindie) says

    August 3, 2013 at 6:10 pm

    The most powerful thing I learned from a TED talk. Start with the words “I believe.” Find people who believe what you do and they will become clients.

    Reply
    • Shannon says

      August 4, 2013 at 10:00 am

      Hi Derek! Wow, that’s a great approach — I like starting with “I believe” — I think it helps convey your vision and passion all in one. Awesome idea (gotta love those TED talks!) thanks for sharing. 🙂

      Reply
  6. Susan Stuckey says

    August 3, 2013 at 8:03 pm

    Interesting post – had all the mission statement stuff in my college business courses, and DUH never once thought of applying it to myself. A lot to think about. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Shannon says

      August 4, 2013 at 10:08 am

      Glad you enjoyed it Susan! There’s definitely a ton of business tools out there for us to use, the mission statement is just the tip of the iceberg. 🙂

      Reply
  7. Barb Taub says

    August 4, 2013 at 1:33 am

    As an escapee from the Exec Suite, I’ve been allergic to mission statements ever since Scott Adams (Dilbert) posed as a fake management consultant to get Logitech execs to stand on tables, sing songs, and produce a (stupid) mission statement that actually… sounded like everyone else’s (stupid) mission statement. But I found the questions posed in this post worth answering, if only for my personal use.

    As I should have said long before this, your blog is a well of amazing, fantastic, incredibly helpful advice. I can’t thank you enough for sharing so generously!

    Reply
    • Shannon says

      August 4, 2013 at 10:10 am

      I love Dilbert!!! But the author mission statement is definitely a step above the generic corporate kind — you really have to personalize it and make it yours. Joanna’s blog is such a fantastic resource, I really appreciate her letting me stop by to share this tip! 🙂

      Reply
  8. Kate Loving Shenk says

    August 4, 2013 at 2:44 am

    Mission Statement For My Writing

    Giving voice to the Unseen Helpers (angels, higher guides, inner intuition), readers are drawn to my body of work titled, “The Prayer Prescription Series,” as a way to slow down and find inner peace.

    As a 30 year veteran of the Nursing Profession, I have a unique empathic approach to my patients and my readers. I wish to bring this bedside manner to the larger arena through the message of Prayer Prescriptions.

    The first prescription is to uproot our cultural fear of death through a new series starting 9/11/2013 via the Google Hangout Webinar Format. My guest is Julia Assante, author of “The Last Frontier: Transforming The Fear Of Death.”

    Other guests in the series:to be announced.

    Reply
    • Shannon says

      August 4, 2013 at 10:13 am

      Wow! What a great mission statement, Kate! Your passion and vision come through great, plus you found a way to work your relevant experience in there which is always good for showing readers your credibility. I like the idea of Prayer Prescriptions, too. My family is going through a tough medical situation right now and we could definitely use a few of those! Thanks for sharing your statement — great job! 🙂

      Reply
  9. Allen Watson says

    August 4, 2013 at 2:50 pm

    We must have been thinking the same thing.

    Your Indie Author Mission Statement http://wp.me/p3hCwM-7h

    Reply
    • Shannon says

      August 6, 2013 at 7:51 pm

      That’s too funny Allen! They say great minds think alike, right? 🙂 I like your idea to print out your statement and tape it up in your writing space so you can always be reminded of what your purpose is — great advice! Glad we were both on the same page.

      Reply
  10. Daniel Escurel Occeno says

    August 4, 2013 at 6:08 pm

    “Counting individual sales” (???), I am not there yet. It must be nice. I am still trying to increase my word count naturally as I develop and create a novel. I am comfortable with the 50K; it is the 90K plus, which I am trying to work on. I thank you for the information. Currently I am on the slow road to traditional publishing. “Question 5: How are you going to get there?” My Answer: Come up with a novel, which a traditional editor wants to read and read and read maybe even ten times. I will need the luck. (I posted this on my FACEBOOK timeline.)

    Reply
    • Shannon says

      August 6, 2013 at 7:55 pm

      Keep at it Daniel! You can always tailor your mission statement to where you are in the process and then come back and re-assess it once you’ve reached your goals and want to expand your vision. But I think your answer to Question 5 is a great goal, keep working on your story until you have that perfect piece no one can stop reading!

      Reply
  11. Viktor says

    August 6, 2013 at 2:40 am

    My (multiply revised) Mission Statement, after working through your very helpful Qs:
    “Thoughtful young people struggling with life’s challenging questions will resonate with this lad growing up in an unfamiliar age and culture, as he faces similar issues and makes a great discovery: true life is a gift of the Creator God, who introduces himself to us in person.”
    Any remarks?

    Reply
    • Shannon says

      August 6, 2013 at 8:07 pm

      I think that’s great Viktor! It hits who your readers are and how your story is going to connect with them. I love this exercise because I think mission statements can mean a lot of different things to different people, and where I might be more analytical with my process, others can be more abstract with it. As long as the statement gives you some clarity on what you have to offer and who you’re trying to reach with your work. Great job!

      Reply
  12. Heather says

    August 6, 2013 at 7:46 am

    Love this. I actually have the first part down. You wrote: “Are you the architect of another universe?” Well my little description is “Creator of worlds, real and imaginary” as I am an Intern Architect by day, fiction writer by night. (And, I love both).

    Now, I think I have a better grasp on my reader too, teenage readers learning to take a stand, though I know I need to develop it more.

    On to the rest of it.

    Reply
  13. Shannon says

    August 6, 2013 at 8:10 pm

    That’s perfect Heather! Haha, you are literally and figuratively speaking an architect of universes. 🙂 I’m glad the exercise helped you zero in on your readers. I think that’s one of the most difficult hurdles for authors, once you know who you’re trying to reach, you’ll be amazed at how the pieces start falling into place!

    Reply
  14. Amber says

    August 7, 2013 at 3:04 pm

    Great post, thank you for sharing. I never contemplated a mission statement for myself. I’ve literally just written it & it’s currently 2 pages long! I’m now in an editing phase, I will hone till it’s one paragraph! The question that threw me a little was 2 (Who do you do it for?). I had a demographic in mind, but you’re right Shannon, it’s so much more than that. I now know that my readers are those who dig Gothic romances, who revel in thought provo narrativea

    Reply
  15. Linda says

    August 21, 2013 at 10:23 pm

    What a wonderful post! Thanks for sharing the Mission Statement idea. As a first-time writer, I truly appreciate it.

    Reply
  16. Jen Christopherson says

    September 7, 2013 at 7:26 am

    I have written down answers to these questions for my mission statement. Here is the first draft of writing the actual statement:
    I create extraordinary people, places and creatures for people who want a bit of a vacation from real life by describing strange, new creatures on my blog, flash fiction on my Facebook page, short stories on my website, and published novels. I do this to entertain those who are too busy, or too poor, to take a vacation and want to escape for a little while.
    I would love to hear what you think of it, as I feel it is a grammatical nightmare. 🙂

    Reply
    • Viktor says

      September 22, 2013 at 2:51 pm

      @Jen. How about rephrasing it something like this:
      Strange creatures on my blog, flash fiction in Facebook, short stories on my website, and my published novels all aim to entertain people who are too busy or too poor to take a vacation, and wish to escape from real life for a little while.

      Reply
  17. Theresa Krupka says

    September 2, 2014 at 11:22 am

    Great post! I gave it a go using the “I believe” that Derek suggested:

    I believe that young people have greater dignity and value than the world can fathom. With eyes and hearts open, some can see beauty and pain like no one else. I write for them: for those who question, explore, and dare to adventure. Through fiction series and nonfiction guides, my work invites young readers to witness the triumph of virtue in an uncertain world.

    Reply
  18. Kami says

    January 25, 2016 at 12:52 pm

    First Draft of my Mission Statement:
    I am a creative writer with the belief that I can bring my imagination to life through Children’s Stories. My dream is for children and parents looking for fun or adventuresome getaways to discover my books. I have a quirky view of life and as a mother of six spunky, intelligent and energetic children, I have daily inspiration for stories.
    My goal is to write short children’s stories and a couple of short series for children. With hard work, self-discipline and perseverance, I hope to have my stories published.

    Reply
  19. Debi SP says

    June 1, 2016 at 10:58 pm

    Very good information, thank you! I appreciate the information you shared regarding the Mission Statement and I look forward to exploring much more of the website which has a wealth of information. I appreciate your willingness to share, especially for those of us who are learning.

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Allen Watson Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Become a more successful author

Looking for something?

Subscribe to the blog by email, or connect with me on social media

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Get started right now with links to the best content below!

Need a professional editor?

Need a professional book cover design?

Inspiration and Information every Monday!

Need help with book marketing?

Want to make a living writing? Here are some ideas how you can

How to set up your own author website in under 30 mins

Useful Books on Writing, Publishing, Marketing and Making Money Writing

My J.F.Penn author blog, for fans of my thriller novels

Stronger together! I’m a proud member of The Alliance of Independent Authors

Topics

  • Author Entrepreneur
  • Creativity
  • Ebooks and Technology
  • Intellectual Property Rights
  • Marketing and Promotion
  • Publishing Options
  • Writing

Recent Posts

  • Writing Tips: What Writers Can Learn From Bodybuilders
  • How To Effectively Work From Home With Amanda Brown, The Homepreneur
  • Writing Tips: Common Mistakes In Police Procedurals
  • Writing With A Family. Productivity Tips With Andrea Pearson
  • Tips For Self-Publishing In Translation: Adventures With AI and German
  • Writing Tips: Using Beats To Keep Readers Emotionally Engaged
  • How To Sell More Books With Reader Funnels With Mark Dawson
  • How To Outline A Non-Fiction Book So Readers Can’t Put It Down
  • How To Write Your Darkness With David Wright
  • Book Marketing: Engineer Your Book Launch Success With A DIY Strategy
  • From Bestselling Book To Netflix Series With Vikram Chandra, Author Of Sacred Games
  • 5 Tips To Help You Write A Novel In A Month #NaNoWriMo
  • Writing Tips: 6 Ways To Give Perfectionism The Boot
  • How To Be A Free Range Human With Marianne Cantwell
  • 12 Book Translation Tips For Authors

Archives

Thanks for visiting The Creative Penn!

Most of the information on this site is free for you to read, watch or listen to, but The Creative Penn is also a business and my livelihood. So please expect hyperlinks to be affiliate links in many cases, when I receive a small percentage of sales if you wish to purchase. I only recommend tools, books and services that I either use or people I know personally. Integrity and authenticity continue to be of the highest importance to me. Read the privacy policy here. I hope you find the site useful! Thanks - Joanna

Connect with me on social media

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
© Copyright Joanna Penn. The Creative Penn Limited. All rights reserved.

Search The Creative Penn

Inspiration and Information every Monday in The Creative Penn podcast

Thanks for visiting The Creative Penn

Most of the information on this site is free for you to read, watch or listen to, but The Creative Penn is also a business and my livelihood. So please expect hyperlinks to be affiliate links in many cases, when I receive a small percentage of sales if you wish to purchase. I only recommend tools, books and services that I either use or people I know personally. Integrity and authenticity continue to be of the highest importance to me. Read the privacy policy here. Read the Cookie policy here. I hope you find the site useful! Thanks - Joanna

Copyright © 2019 · Beautiful Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

I use cookies to ensure that I give you the best experience on this website. If you continue to use this site, I will assume that you are happy with this. Thank you. OkRead more