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We writers have grand plans. Getting an A-list agent. Selling 250,000 copies of our first book. Scheduling our appearances on The Today Show and Good Morning America.
We know we have to do a lot of work—writing the book and promoting the heck out of it—but sometimes it can feel that our end goal was merely publishing a successful book.
The book is not the end goal
Now, if you know me, you know I am not into the woo-woo stuff. I’m kind of a practical girl.
But I just started an eye opener of a class. It’s a six-week online intensive course called Build Your Author Platform from Dan Blank of wegrowmedia.com.
I’m not here to sell you on the program (so far, it’s been wonderful), and I’m not an affiliate or anything. But, rather, I wanted to share with you an epiphany I had during the first week.
Now I know quite a bit about goals (and their more detailed cousins, objectives). I wrote them in lesson plans when I was a teacher. I created them in proposals to funders when I was a grant writer. I developed them for clients’ marketing campaigns in the 20 years I owned Cat’s Eye Marketing.
I can do that.
But the slap on the forehead came as I dug deeper and asked myself why I really wanted to write my book. And I realized it wasn’t for the money. Or the fame (which alludes most of us anyway). Or the recognition that I was finally an author.
It was something more. I wanted to affect change in the world—or in my tiny corner of the world. I wanted to get people to open their minds and think a little differently. To feel what life is like for people who may have had different experiences than they have had.
Figure out your big goal first
Sometimes people who write memoirs are accused of being ‘navel gazers.’ They are all wrapped up in themselves. They think that their lives somehow have greater meaning than others.’
I knew that I wanted to focus a single lens on a part of my life in this memoir. But I discovered that my unspoken goal was not just to turn the camera on myself. And with that, it gave my book—and my life—greater purpose.
So, if you are writing a book, or contemplating writing one, ask yourself this one question:
What do I want the effect of my book to be?
Because that slight shift will change your thinking. You may not be out to change the world, but what do you most want to be known for at the end of your career?
So, what’s my big goal?
I realized that I am drawn to memoir because I want to help people see one person’s experience and relate it to their own life. To see that we are all alike but that we each respond to our life experiences in different ways. To help people not to feel so alone.
From that, I made my ‘big goal’ in writing my books:
To raise awareness and understanding of the important social issues of the day.
My memoir, Out Tonight, is about the effect of a religiously repressive childhood on a woman who thinks she has escaped it all. She has discarded the old values, gone on to become a political activist and a champion for people without a voice. But her core beliefs are turned upside down when her beloved daughter, all grown up, comes out as a lesbian. She is forced to confront the skeletons in her own closet and discover who she is—and who her daughter is—all over again.
So my big goal sits there, a sticky note on my computer screen.
Will it inform my book? Yes. Will it overtake my plot, conflict scenes and character arcs? No.
Because the best memoirs read like good fiction. But beneath the narrative, beyond the story’s conflicts and climax scene, way past the number of books I want to sell, I know what I am trying to accomplish.
And even if you write fiction, it is a valuable exercise and a good question to ask yourself. What are you hoping to accomplish?
Does this make sense to you?
Have you thought about your big goal?
If you feel comfortable, share it with us here in the comments
About the author
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Yes, it makes perfect sense. For most people, I think there is, or was, a deeper reason a greater caused being served than selling a few books. Although, that has its place too.
Martina recently posted..Getting your finances under control: 4 steps
Martina,
Most definitely. There is nothing wrong with selling books. In fact, I really, really want to sell books. But the process of writing and promoting them does get a little easier for me if I understand why I am doing it. Cheers and thanks for taking the time to weigh in here!
Judy Lee Dunn recently posted.. Guy Kawasaki Hits a Home Run with His New Book, ‘APE’
Thank you Judy, this brings clarity. For me, the idea of writing a book actually sent me on a detour from my initial goal. It seems that as soon as you say you are a writer, people ask about a book, but I want to write a column, blog or on websites consistently. Not a book that will get dusty on someone’s shelf.
My goal in writing is to help people know that the fierce tyrannical picture they may have of God is a false picture. Thus my blog is called “Recovering Church Lady”.
susie klein recently posted..Have You Ever Just Lost It?
Susie,
You have noted a distinction here. “Writer” automatically becomes “author” in some people’s minds. But whether you are a writer or an author, it can be valuable to ask yourself the goal question.
I have told you this before. I really, really love the goal of your blog. We need more Susie’s in this world. : )
Judy Lee Dunn recently posted..What I Learned On My 5-Day Social Media Diet
First off, Judy, your memoir sounds very compelling! Congrats on having your very clarifying epiphany. Love it when that happens!! I\’m reading \”The Glass Castle\” right now, and indeed, truth is stranger than fiction. Right now I\’m taking away the author\’s goal of helping me to see \”it\’s all in how you look at it.\” I don\’t *know* if that\’s her goal, but it\’s what I\’m taking away from it so far. Someone asked me about my goal for my nonfiction book, and the first thing that popped into my mind was \”Before someone reads it, he or she will be asking, \’Can I do this [be an entrepreneur and an introvert]?\’, and when finished will say with confidence, \’I can do this!\’\” It\’s not only my goal… it\’s also what motivates me to keep writing!
Beth Buelow recently posted..Let’s Just Kiss and Say Goodbye: The Art of Letting Go
Judy, not sure what happened to the formatting of my comment… and I don’t see a way to edit it. I hope it’s easily decipherable!
Beth Buelow recently posted..Let’s Just Kiss and Say Goodbye: The Art of Letting Go
Beth, my friend,
Great to hear from you! I read the “Glass Castle,” recommended to me by the agent I pitched my memoir to. I don’t know how kids can survive a childhood like that, but she came out on the other side a wise and talented women.
So your goal is to empower introverts, to assure them that they have what it takes to own/run a business? That’s a nice goal. And, yes, the goal keeps us motivated, for sure.
Yeah, that strange formatting. What’s up with that? : )
Judy Lee Dunn recently posted..Stuff that Matters: A Blogger’s Creed
WOW Judy, now that has me thinking. For over 3 years I have envisioned a book warning women about the dangers of hypothyroidism in pregnancy. Under the care of doctors with no clue about the current guidelines for thyroid dysfunction in pregnancy, I miscarried my baby. Thyroid testing is currently not mandatory in pregnancy. I’ve had a vision of this book for some time. I created my blog with the hope of building followers to help me market to publishers that there is interest in this topic. What’s interesting is that I’m not a writer and never imagined myself a writer. I’m the last person you would ever imagine to create a blog or to write a book. I just have this feeling deep in the pit of my stomach that a book is what I’m supposed to write.
Dana Trentini recently posted..Is Your Thyroid KILLING You? Breast Cancer
Dana,
The best thing a reader can ever say to me is, “That has me thinking.” I love to hear that. : )
You have such a powerful story to tell. And the way your blog is taking off, I have no doubt that you will be able to tell it.
Don’t ignore that “feeling deep pit in your stomach.” Take it out, hold it up to the light and examine it. Helping other women avoid what you have gone through is certainly a ‘big goal.’ Thanks for sharing here.
Judy Lee Dunn recently posted..What I Learned On My 5-Day Social Media Diet
Thank you Judy!
I am sitting here laughing out loud, because I meant to just say “Thank you Judy!” but when I hit post comment a note came up saying that I “did not write enough words, to go back and add some more!” Hilarious, I love that! Need to get it added to my comment system! Ha!
susie klein recently posted..Have You Ever Just Lost It?
Haha. The reason I activated that setting on my Comment Luv was because the spammers’ seem to leave the one- and two-word comments. “Thank you.” “Nice.” Great post.” Comment Luv allows you to set the length for a comment you will accept, with the reasoning that people who have actually read a post will respond with something a little longer. This screens out some of the bots, but, unfortunately it tried to filter you out, too. : )
Judy Lee Dunn recently posted..Stuff that Matters: A Blogger’s Creed
When I started to blog I just wanted to write and share my weight loss journey to lose 385 lbs and maybe inspire a few people. In the back of my head there was, and still is, that voice that says “bloggers can get famous” and “bloggers can get book deals”. I’ve always wanted to write a book. I was a creative writer at one time and wrote an award winning story. I have been waiting for that email or blog comment offering a book deal and you know what? I didn’t know what I was going to write about because there are so many aspects you can write about with weight loss. I’ve come up with one because of a series I did, and potentially still doing, life at 385. I’m going to start to write my book and shop it around myself, even if I haven’t lost all of my weight. I can always write a follow-up!
Wendy,
Wow. What a journey that must be! And I love the Twitter handle, @shrinkingwendy. If writing a book has been a dream of yours, perhaps you should explore that. It’s strange to think of it this way, but maybe with the time it takes to write a book, you will be closer to your goal weight by the time it is finished.
Thanks for sharing here. : )
Judy Lee Dunn recently posted..What I Learned On My 5-Day Social Media Diet
It certainly amazing. I’ve already lost almost half of it. Well. I lost more than half and then gained 16 back, but I’m not going to give up. I expect to be down to my goal weight in another year or so. So, I’ll probably be still writing! I actually tried writing a book once, It’s very time consuming, but will be worth it.
Wendy McLaughlin recently posted..Surveying the damage by the numbers
Wendy,
I would just encourage you to go for if, if that is your goal. And I’m finding that to produce a quality book, it takes time. I spent six months just figuring out the story arc, the timelines (the events in my book happen both in current time and in flashbacks),and the three conflicts that lead up to the climax scene. Having written straight nonfiction, as your book will be, I can just say that it was a lot easier than this memoir!
All my best to you.
Judy Lee Dunn recently posted..Cowboy Macaroni and Divorcing Witches: The Changing Face of Blogging
I think I responded to the wrong comment. Thank you so much. It means a lot.
Wendy McLaughlin recently posted..Surveying the damage by the numbers
My pleasure, Wendy. : )
Judy Lee Dunn recently posted.. Guy Kawasaki Hits a Home Run with His New Book, ‘APE’
I am familiar with Dan Blank because I receive his weekly newsletter and had taken a blogging class with him. You are right about memoir and having that “big goal.” I have recently written a memoir and am about to start approaching agents and am hoping I have conveyed my big goal to them…great post!
Emily recently posted..When I Was Younger, I Tried…
Emily,
Thanks for weighing in. I am very impressed with Dan. I think this is exactly the class I need at this point in my writing career. Best of luck with that memoir! It is quite the journey, isn’t it?
Judy Lee Dunn recently posted.. Guy Kawasaki Hits a Home Run with His New Book, ‘APE’
I just started a new book proposal and so appreciate your words here tonight. I think the big goal you wrote sounds terrific and you have given me lots of food for thought Thanks for sharing!
jean Wise recently posted..At Lo Levad – We are Not Alone
Jean,
You may be a pro at writing book proposals, but when I went to tackle my first one, someone recommended a book that was very helpful to me. In case you or anyone else reading the comments is writing their first one, it’s “Write the Perfect Book Proposal.” It’s written by two agents, Jeff Herman and Deborah Levine Herman. It walks writers through the process and the whole second half of the book is “10 Proposals That Sold—and Why.”
Best of luck with your proposal. That is very exciting!
Judy Lee Dunn recently posted.. Guy Kawasaki Hits a Home Run with His New Book, ‘APE’
I appreciate your suggestions. I have several books on my writing shelf that need dusted off to review. Good idea before I get too far along….
jean Wise recently posted..Spiritual Lessons in Frost – Quote of the Week – Joyce Rupp
Judy,
This is wonderful to read! To understand.
I want, more than anything, to make a difference. Truly and with all my heart, soul and devotion and I believe that I am learning to do just that.
Congratulations and I am sorry to have been swept away for so long…I have missed reading you!
Amber-Lee Dibble recently posted..Women in the Outdoors ~ Make a Plan
Amber-Lee! Wow. It’s been a long time.
I see you on Twitter now and then and I always wonder how you are doing up their in the gorgeous Alaska frontier.
You know, everyone makes a difference in their own way. That is the beauty of it. You are a very unique person and you have so much to offer. I am glad that you found a way to find what feeds your soul.
Oh, and I keep forgetting. My @CatsEyeWriter Twitter account is now @JudyLeeDunn, so if you talk to me on Twitter or mention me, I might not see it if you are still using @CatsEyeaWriter.
Have a wonderful weekend, my friend.
Judy Lee Dunn recently posted..A Holiday Wish from the Dunns
It makes perfect sense. When I finally decided to write my WIP it was because I want to write a story that kids would be drawn to and fall in loving with reading. More specifically that the characters would be people of color. I grew up with a love of reading but few books had characters that looked like they could be about me. Now when I read I see the world as Anglo even if the characters a lee described differently. I want to help shape young reader so that their filter is the color of diversity.
Thanks for sharing your epiphany.
Gail
Gail,
Having been a teacher of younger kids for so long, I can just say that I am so gratified to see that kid lit has changed so much. When I first started teaching, there were few children of color who were the main character in a book. I am so glad that you are on mission to see that things still improve in the diversity department. Children do need characters and story lines that speak to them and who they are, no matter what color, what religion, what their family unit looks like.
That is a very ‘big goal’ of yours and I wish you the best in your writing!
Judy Lee Dunn recently posted..Stuff that Matters: A Blogger’s Creed
Thank you so much! It means a lot!
Wendy McLaughlin recently posted..Surveying the damage by the numbers