Envisioning your writing career

 

Creating a vision statement is a powerful tool used by businesses to define the image of its future success. Microsoft’s vision many years ago was to put a computer on every desk! If we define a vision statement as an idealistic and aspirational roadmap to achieving excellence in their field then Microsoft is a runaway success.

So how does it differ from a mission statement? The simple answer is that your vision is about tomorrow, what you want to become or achieve. A mission statement is about today. Nike’s mission is to create ground breaking innovations and its vision is to bring innovation and inspiration to athletes.

So what are your goals and direction for your writing career? If anyone can write a vision or mission statement it’s a writer; a crafter of words from the heart and the mind. It doesn’t need to be long-winded or verbose but it does need to be truly your own. It doesn’t matter if it’s a mash up of vision and mission, a mix of today and tomorrow.

So here’s how a business might create a writer’s statement:

What:  My vision is to write stories that grab the attention of my readers and holds them tight until the very last page. (Vision)

How: Through my focus on crafting my best plots, characters and chapters I will create stories that are meaningful, exciting and resonate with my readers. I will feed my writing inspiration by researching and reading in my genre. (Mission)

When: By devoting the required time and energy to my craft I will get the words written that I commit to each day, week and month. (Mission)

Why: And by my persistence I will achieve my writing goals and be the writer of my dreams. (Vision)

Let your personal statement be your touchstone when the going gets tough!

Extract from online writers’ group blog, used with permission