I've made a commitment to write a mission statement for the group, but I thought I ought to start by taking the proverbial plank out of my own eye, and doing a market test on my own behalf.
With luck, I'll receive some suggestions that will help me formulate something useful and representative for this fantastic group.
Here's mine (and this one is personal, as applies to what I write).
My goal as a Romance author is to give good value. I expect to provide my readers with six to eight hours of amusement, at least a couple of really good laughs, a romantic frisson or two from the sensual scenes, and something to think about when the book is finished.
Tags:
Romance, value, hours, laughs, frisson, sensual, think.
What do you think? Pretentious? Pompous? Off-putting? Helpful?
If you are an author, do you have one? What's yours?
If you are a reader, what do you want and expect for the $7.00 to $14.99 that you pay for a novel?
Best wishes,
Rowena Cherry
4 comments:
I don't have a "mission statement" but I do have a committment when I write. First, I commit to creating a story that will hit an emotional button, whether that button is laughter or tears or dread. Second, I want the reader to walk away with something new, perhaps a new word or idea. Third, as I write erotic romance, I always remember that my characters are in love, not simply lust.
belinda
For most of my life, I've written every single day and my only goal has been to tell a really good story that I am proud of when I re-read it.
I haven't shared my work publically until the past two years. Maybe that's because writing is the one thing in life I'm hypersensitive and shy about.
As I get into the frightening world of being published, I guess I should think long and hard about what I want to accomplish. And, I will. But as of today, my mission is to have readers become absorbed in the world and characters I create for them. Like it, love it, hate it, but become a part of it.
Rowena, I don't find what you've written to be pretentious at all.
I've also thought a lot about this and have come up with some rather profound mission statements--some quite worthy of competing with government documents considering their complexity and verbosity, I confess. But lately I've wanted to simplify, so here's mine:
Give joy.
Jacquie
This is a wonderful mission statement, Rowena..especially the last line about giving your reader something to think about. I think what we as writers strive for more than anything is to leave our readers with something special, whether it be memories of the romance itself, a time period, the characters or even a new experience (my favorite). I really strive to give my readers a vacation away from reality, new experiences, romance and a satisfying ending. Nothing makes me happier than receiving a letter from a reader. Those are the best reviews in the world. I remember a letter from a reader upset about a secondary character's death. She was really angry with me and at first I thought it was the craziest letter but then I realized that she must have identified with the character. For her to have been upset at this character's death meant something to her and that is what I think we all strive to do as writers...touch our readers. I hope I can do that at least part of the time.
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