Missionary position…
Earlier this month, Joanna Penn wrote a blog post on the need for a writer to have a solid mission statement. I gave this some hard thought and have answered the questions she posed.
Question 1: What do you do?
The easy answer is to say I’m a writer. Or perhaps that I’m an entertainer.
The more detailed answer is that I try to convey the thoughts and actions of people that I would like to know, set in a credible timeframe that is of interest to me.
Simply? I am a storyteller – that’s my mission!
Question 2: Who do you do it for?
I do it for people who love the medieval era. Who want to read about ordinary people within a world dominated by kings, factions and the church.
Who want to read about love.
I don’t care if my readers are 18 or 80, I want them to feel entertained, educated and safe as they read my novels.
Question 3: Why are you different?
Tough, tough question.
I might be different to the mainstream hist.fict/hist.romance writer because I write cinemagraphically. I want my readers to use every one of their senses as they read. If I achieve that, I’m happy. What I don’t want is to overload them with fact that they can read in any non-fiction title on the Middle Ages. If they experience what my characters experience through their senses, then they will appreciate the medieval lifestyle far more than if just dumped upon with fact from a great height.
One of my delights as an individual, is living in the moment when I experience something. I ask myself what sense is being appealed to – is it touch, smell, sight, sound – and I note the feeling. I also draw on as many emotive experiences of my own as I can and relay those to the reader through the characters. THAT is what will make them believe in the story and to believe in my characters.
Question 4: Where are you going?
Another tough question. Does it seem patronizing to say I am happy with where I am?
I have readers. How could I not be happy? And the books review well, another great thing in my life as a writer.
But looking at the question more deeply, I would have to say that I’m leaving the fantasy worlds I’ve written about in the past behind me, despite that I’ve won awards with them. I’m only interested in writing historical fiction/historical romance within the 1100’s-1500’s. It chimes repeatedly – calling me like a medieval church bell. I’ve almost finished a three book saga based in the twelfth century and have ideas for two more books – one in the twelfth century, one in the fifteenth century. The inimitable Juliet Marillier talked once about writing novel spin-offs using a minor character that one likes and spinning a tale about that (now major) character.
I ADORE that idea because I love my minor characters – what incredible lives they lead! I want them to spring from the page…
But my main interest above and beyond, is to write quality stories that my readers feel is time and money well-invested. That then makes me feel I’m achieving my goal of wanting to be a storyteller.
Question 5: How are you going to get there? You have a plan, right?
Do I?
Honestly no. I write because I love writing the way some love drawing, gardening or writing poetry. Why does one need a ‘plan to get there’?
If I have any plan at all, it is to make sure that I always have the services of my brilliant cover designer, my wonderful editor, my best-est beta readers and my swift formatter. And that my publisher will keep publishing me as long as I have stories to tell.
And that’s it!
Phew!
Does it work as a mission statement do you think?
Yes, it definitely does, Prue! I’m so glad you didn’t go for the Target 1, Target Target 2 stuff. Enjoying writing is, first and foremost, what it’s about. If you enjoy it yourself, then other will also enjoy it, provided you do it as well as you can.
Thanks Gerry. Enjoyment is a given. I find life just that touch emptier when I’m not writing as it gives me the same endorphins as chocolate, I think.
Prue!
It certainly does!
Great post!
Mel
Thanks, Bookworm! It was fun to think about, harder to write than I thought.
Well said, Prue. Note to all authors…force these answers from yourselves before spilling another drop, and if you can’t stand on a box and show the results to the world without squirming then go find something else to do.
Thanks Johnny. It was quite a revealing thing to myself and I wondered if maybe that’s what Joanna Penn meant to happen when she blogged on the topic.
I think so. These very questions would make for a good blog hoppy sharey thing, you know.
I actually thought of that, only I thought they’d make excellent questions for my Big Red Chair with no apologies at all to Graham Norton. Or do you think it should be a blog hop and spread the love. If it’s the Big Red Chair, (which I prefer because it keeps all the excellent authors on MY stage!) would you like to be the first one to answer the questions? Happy to have you here if and when you’re ready!
You’re on!
Great blog. I think I may ask myself those questions, or have a character ask me. I’m sure they’d love to know why I gave them life and continue to “interfere” instead of leaving them in peace.
Hi Pam, thank you. Perhaps I should sit you in the Red Chair after Johnny and get you to answer the questions for me. Would you be interested?