The Power of Your Writer’s Purpose by Author Ellen Valladares: A WOW Blog Tour

Posted by Kathleen Pooler/@kathypooler with Ellen Valladares/@ValladaresEllen

“Effort and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.”~ John F. Kennedy

Purpose by John F. Kennedy

Welcome to Ellen Vallardes WOW Woman on Writing Blog Tour for her new young adult novel, Crossing the Line.  She will discuss why  and how defining your purpose can keep you on target.

Welcome , Ellen!

Author Ellen Valladares

 

The Power of Your Writer’s Purpose

Over the years, I’ve been involved in creating mission and vision statements for different organizations and I’ve always tried to create my own personal visions and goals. I’ve even taught workshops about discovering and living your life purpose. So, it was ironic that until a few years ago, I’d never heard of or thought about creating my writer’s purpose.

I was struggling to complete a rewrite of my manuscript and feeling stuck when I saw that Children’s Book Insider was offering a workshop called “It’s Your Time” with life coach and author Andrea Woolf. It was about getting unstuck and geared toward writers. It couldn’t have been more perfect, and I will tell you that I completed my rewrite a couple months after the course ended.

Our very first assignment for the course was to come up with a writer’s purpose. As Woolf explained, having a purpose gives us clarity and a sense of mission. Perhaps the most important part (to me, anyway) is that a purpose shifts the focus away from you. It can remind you, especially in those times of struggle, rejection, or procrastination, that it is not just about you. When we look at the bigger picture and see that we have a meaningful, important reason for what we are doing, we can get out of our heads and forge ahead in the direction of our dreams. If you’re like most writers, you have your own unique voice to share, a message to impart, and/or words that can inspire, motivate, uplift and entertain others. Your stories have the potential to impact other people and make a difference.

So, how do you come up with your individual writer’s purpose? Write about it, of course. I suggest carving out some quiet time for yourself to reflect about what motivates you to write, what inspires you, what you hope that others receive from your writing, and so on. You could start with “My writer’s purpose is…” and just begin writing. Keep digging deeper. What makes you unique as a writer? How will reading your words make a difference in another’s life?

It doesn’t have to be deep and serious by the way. It can be as simple as making a reader smile or laugh, or transporting them to another world for a moment. What it does have to be is authentic. You will know in your heart when you have honed in on it. Once you’ve finished writing, go back and reread it, picking out the highlights that speak to you, and condensing them into a few sentences.

I wrote and rewrote my writer’s purpose several times before coming up with something that resonated in my core. From time to time, I look at it and tweak it as needed. I have a short version and a longer version. It might also help to create a purpose that matches the current project you are working on since each book has a unique trajectory.

I truly believe that having a writer’s purpose was a powerful factor that helped me persevere through the writing/re-writing process and in seeking a publisher. As I now embark on sharing Crossing the Line with the world, that purpose is as important as ever. In the throes of marketing, social media, and being “reviewed,” my purpose provides an anchor, reminding why I began this journey. It also serves as a guidepost as I continue on to the next exciting steps.

If you have any questions about creating your writer’s purpose, comment below or email me at ellen@ellenvalladares.com. You can also find out more about purpose and other tools for moving forward in Andrea Woolf’s book, entitled Ignite Your Life! (Available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Ignite-Your-Life-Where-Want/dp/1600377726).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crossing The Line:

Paperback:  300  pages

Genre:  Fiction / Young Adult Novel

Publisher:    WiDO (March 2018)

ISBN-13:    978-1-937178-99-4

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079ZZD4VR/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_dp_U_NlfLAbVNHMYR3/?tag=wowwomenonwri-20

Book Synopsis:

Laura, who died thirty years ago, enlists the help of a tenacious high school reporter named Rebecca, who is very much alive. Rebecca, although skeptical and conflicted by her supposed encounters with a spirit, determines to learn the truth about Laura’s tragic death. As the clues unravel and their worlds collide, Rebecca finds herself at a dangerous crossroads.

Laura, now pulled back into everything she left behind when she died – her old high school and memories of her life and death—has been in training for this exact moment. And nothing means more to her than succeeding at her assignment.

It is her one chance to make sure that what happened to her does not happen to anyone else, and especially not to her new friend, Rebecca.

About the Author:  

Ellen Wolfson Valladares is an award-winning writer/author, workshop facilitator, community volunteer, and mother. A native Floridian, she grew up in St. Petersburg and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Florida. She has worked as an editor, public relations professional, and freelance writer. Her first book, a children’s novel entitled Jonathan’s Journey to Mount Miapu, received several awards, including a Mom’s Choice Gold Award and the 2009 Coalition of Visionary Resources Visionary Awards Book of the Year award. She also has a meditation CD, entitled “Healing and Manifestation with the Archangels.”

Today, Valladares continues to work as a freelance writer. She also enjoys coaching high school students working on their college essays and helping other writers realize their dreams. She has been married to her husband, Manny, for 30 years and they have two sons, Gabriel and Michael, two dogs, Flash and Chili Pepper, and a crazy cat named Zelda. They live in Weston, Fla.

Find Ellen Online:

 

website: http://www.ellenvalladares.com

Twitter: @ValladaresEllen

FB: @EllenValladares444 (link: https://fb.me/EllenValladares444)

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author

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Thank you, Ellen for sharing your thoughts on the writer’s purpose. 

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How about you? Do you find that being connected to your purpose helps you stay on target with your creative projects?

We’d love to hear from you. Please join in the conversation below~

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Next Week:

Monday, April 23, 2018:

“Life’s Sweet Treats: A Memoir Moment”