I recently finished the first draft of my third novel, GIRLS ON THE VERGE, and sent it off to my editor. It’s an odd thing to hit send and go on about your day when your characters have occupied your every waking moment for months and months, but it’s also nice to clear your brain and have a ponder about what’s up next. And this always makes me think about the mission statement I made several years back. A mission statement is something every artist should make before she steps out onto that path. A mission statement helps remind you about who you are as an artist and what you want to say. The other day, while I was frantically trying to pull the last strings of my story together, I was listening to a soundtrack I made when I wrote my second novel, THE FORBIDDEN ORCHID, which you can listen to here: THE FORBIDDEN ORCHID soundtrack . I had thrown a Wailin’ Jennys song on it, simply because I really like the harmony, but I listened closely to the lyrics and realized how much the song reflected my mission statement. For me, I want every story I write to show that your dreams are worth the struggle, and that you, my dear reader, matter.
Do you have a mission statement for your life? I’d love to hear about it!
You Are Here, Lyrics
You wonder why you wonder when
You wonder how now and then
How you became who you’ve become
You are here
And yet you dream of being there
Of being where you think the good life has begun
Every darkened hallway
Every fallen dream
Every battle lost and
Every shadow in between
Will bring you to your knees and
Closer to the reason
And there’s no making cases
For getting out or trading places
And there’s no turning back
No you are here
Who can say who made the choice
In the matter of your birth
Who brought about that fateful day
Well you are here and born with fire and desire
You’re the only one can stand in your way
And every broken arrow
Every hardened smile
Every foolish gamble and
Every lonely mile
Will bring you to your knees and
Closer to the reason
And there’s no making cases
For getting out or trading places
And there’s no turning back
No you are here
And every sign of love
Every seed that’s growing
Every sweet surrender
To that silent knowing
Will bring you to your knees and
Closer to the reason
And there’s no making cases
For getting out or trading places
And there’s no turning back
No you are here
