The idea of having a personal brand is often viewed by authors as an inauthentic marketing gimmick, but it shouldn’t be. If your brand is a marketing gimmick, you’re doing it wrong. Your brand is meant to be the essence of who you are. When you have an author brand that speaks to that authenticity, it will be sustainable and joyful. And a starting point for building a sustainable, authentic and joyful author brand is having an author mission statement. Just like with other businesses and brands, your mission statement will be your reason for doing what you do. It will also motivate you to keep going, and tell the world what you have to offer. It allows you to define your purpose as an author, whatever that purpose may be.
So, let’s talk about mission statements. I’ll cover how to get there and provide some basic templates so you can create your author mission statement.
What is a Mission Statement and Why Do Authors Need One?
Put simply, your author mission statement is your action plan for attaining your vision. Much like your core values, your mission is your purpose, and knowing your purpose is what drives you and keeps you going on the long road of building your author brand, increasing your visibility, and marketing your books. It is what you refer to when you need focus and purpose and it’s how you show the world your values and promise. A mission statement will help with everything from how you do what you do, to setting the tone of your communication, and even writing your author bio.
It All Begins with a Vision!
In order to create your author mission statement, you will begin with a vision statement. What is that, you ask? Your vision statement is your dream. It’s your vision for your future. We all have dreams, the key is to believe in those dreams ardently enough to make them come true.
Keep in mind that your vision statement is for you. It’s your personal barometer for measuring your success as you move forward and establish your brand. Your vision is the thing that helps you keep your eye on the prize, and move forward at a steady pace.
An Exercise for Crafting Your Vision Statement
Take a moment and imagine your future self five years from today. Visualize the things you’ve accomplished and imagine what it feels like to have your message resonate with your target audience. How does your work affect your readers? How does your unique perspective and voice change the shape of your niche and the people who are currently influencers in that space? This will all help you create your author mission statement.
It all comes down to what success means to you and what you will bring to your audience.
Your vision statement will be:
- Clear
- Concise
- Forward thinking
- Courageous
- Inspiring
Grab a paper and a pen, and get ready to write this down! Remember, this is just for you, personally.
1-What Does Success Look Like to You?
Imagine your success in five years. Think beyond the idea of a best-selling book. Where are people buying your book? How did your readers find out about you? Who endorsed you? How did you get your message to your audience? What sacrifices did you need to make? Now, describe your success journey.
2-The Value You Want to Offer to Your Audience
What specific value do you offer your readers? Your purpose as an author? Describe what your readers can expect from you.
Now, On to Your Mission Statement!
Now that you have your vision—your dream for the future (the “where” you want to be), it’s time to make a plan. It’s time to define the “what,” the “who”, the “why,” and the “how.” Your author mission statement is your action plan for attaining your vision.
There are Some Things to Consider Before You Start
First, think of your WHY
Why do you write? This is your passion, the reason you endure all the hard work that comes with being an author. Why do you do it?
Then, Consider the HOW
How do you write? This is your voice. Are you funny, academic, compassionate, inspiring?
And, The WHAT
What do you write? How do you stand out? Think about your experience, your voice, your passions, and your drive. What do you bring to the writing that no one else can?
Now, the WHO
Who do you write for? Your ideal audience? The person who needs you most? What’s your promise? What do you offer your readers that they can expect and rely on?
Are you ready to write your mission statement?!
But What Does A Mission Statement Look Like?
Now that you understand why you need an author mission statement, and you’ve crafted your vision statement, you may be wondering, what exactly, a mission statement looks like. Well, it’s just as it sounds. It’s a clear and concise statement of why you do what you do, your purpose, and a promise to your audience.
Below are some more templates to get you started. *They’re sourced from Columbia College Chicago.
Mission Statement Templates Authors Can Use
You can start with these, or create your own from parts of them. The important thing is, you get an idea of what an author mission statement looks like.
Template 1: My mission is to use my [interest/abilities/positive personality traits] to achieve [your goals], based on my [principles/values/education].
Template 2: To be known and respected for my [expertise/abilities/qualities you wish to develop], which exhibits [principles/values/training/problem solving] and results in [your goal].
Template 3: To [what you want to be, or what you want to do] so I can [describe what achieving the aspiration you wrote in the first blank will let you experience, contribute or provide here]. I will make this happen by [list the most important actions you will take]. I believe my [list training, experience, values that set you apart and end with positivity and/or future aspirations].
Template 4: As a [what you are], I [what you want to do, hope to do, what you are doing]. I [explain what makes you special about what you do]. I [say what you believe, include your values, training] and [end with how you will contribute positively to your artistic medium/industry/field/career/society]
So, are you ready to share your author mission statement? Feel free to leave it in the comments.
