Write the Book: What’s Your Mission?

This Mission, Should You Choose to Accept It…

By Donna Kozik

In many ways, your book is like your business. And, like most successful businesses, it should have a mission statement.

We’re so inundated with reading material that you have to give it your all to capture and keep a person’s attention. The way you do that is give them a clear idea of what it is you will deliver in your book and what the reader will receive. And the way you do is by putting it in ink for everyone to see, including yourself.
Tell All in a Nutshell

Your book’s mission statement is a few sentences that “tell all in a nutshell.” If you have a clear idea of what your book is all about, it won’t be that difficult to determine your mission statement. If you’re finding it hard to describe the essence of your work, though, a good place to start is by answering the basic questions of journalism.

Who: What is about you and your expertise that you’re the one to write this book?
What: Briefly mention the subjects you’ll be covering
Why: Describe why these subjects are important
How: Describe how you will do this, for instance using true-life examples, stories or a step-by-step plan.

(Wondering where the “where and when” are at? Actually, they are both givens—the “where” is in the being held in hand and the “when” is now. Plus, here’s a bonus tip for stronger writing: never start a sentence with the “when” element. It’s usually the least important aspect of the information you’re delivering.)

Other Qualities of Your Mission Statement

Some additional qualities of your book’s mission statement:
• It’s tied to your “end vision” of how you will use the book as your “big business card.”
• It says a great deal in a few words.
• It’s a “working paragraph.” In other words, it may change as the book develops.
• It will give you clarity about “what to include” and “what to leave out” as you write your book.
• It identifies your reader, or who has the most to gain from reading your book.

Mission Statement Examples

Authors and their books’ mission statements:

Matt Heinz, author of Move the Mouse & Make Millions:
“This book is dedicated to helping small business managers and owners build and maintain a successful, profitable Web marketing strategy. Its focus is on giving you simple but effective steps to grow your business, win more clients and make more money by taking better advantage of the powerful consumer reach the Internet has to offer.”

Rick Vassar, author of Hide! Here Comes the Insurance Guy:
“This is what the Insurance Guy series is all about: simple explanations, practical solutions and time-tested strategies that will reap huge savings in insurance costs…mapped out to be not just an initial learning tool but also an ongoing resource…the first section is an overview of business insurance….the second section explains the most basic insurance coverage…the third section is the glossary…”

Peter Wallin, author of In Pursuit of Business:
“I am addressing business owners who seriously want to grow their business…I will take over two decades of experience and give it all to you in an easy-to-digest manner. I will share my success stories and, yes, my failures. Through it all you will see how I fit the importance of proper thinking, planning and building relationships into my game plan.”

Sally Stewart, author of Media Training 101:
“Media Training 101 is an in-depth guide to handling the news media written by a seasoned journalist and public relations professional. A former USA Today reporter and consultant to major companies, Sally Stewart leads you through every step in developing a communications blueprint and a strategic public relations plan to support it.”

Mission statements come in all shapes and sizes, first person and third. Notice, though, how these mission statements tightly explain the essence of what’s to come. That’s the key and the first step into getting your book on track to being a successful “big business card.”

In addition, besides keeping you on track when you’re writing your masterpiece, your mission statement is the start of your marketing message appearing on book jackets, Amazon listings and other places needing a quick and strong description of your book.

The DK Takeaway: Keep writing and rewriting your mission statement until it is crisp, clean and powerful! It will make the rest of your book writing process super easy. (And we like easy!)