Ask the Coach: What Is the Purpose of Writing? – On Script Mag

In this month’s “Ask the Coach” article, I’m responding to a few readers in one article, in response to their submissions to my recent survey about the classes, workshops, and programs I teach.

Their comments and questions coalesced around the purpose of writing:

“It’s not the writing as much as the writing with a purpose. What’s the end goal? What are the strategies?”

“I am once again struggling with the demon that says writing somehow isn’t enough. That it’s not enough of a purpose to justify my life, particularly as publishing keeps saying ‘no’ to my knocking.”

“What is my writing purpose?”

These are similar questions, but with varying shades of intent. I suspect these are questions all writers ask periodically, though the specifics may vary for each of us. These overlap with the commonality of purpose.

In the article, I explore navigating one’s purpose as a writer and reply to the specific questions and situations of the screenwriter, novelist, and essayist who chimed in via my survey.

Writing with purpose means being who we are in the world and expressing the unique insights and perspectives we bring to the table…. Whether we choose to focus on writing for the sake of the practice, make strategic choices to meet both ourselves and the market, or put our work out in the world ourselves, we write because we are writers.

Want the full scoop? Get all the details in the full article on Script Mag:
 
 
 
If you’ve got writing questions, please send them my way!
I’d love to answer them for you in my column.
 
Image credit:  Script Magazine / Canva
 

Do You “Believe Beyond Reason?”

When Joss Whedon’s sci-fi western television series,Firefly,” was cancelled by the Fox network in 2002, the fans of the show were devastated. But Joss told his actors that he wouldn’t give up and that he would find the show a new home.

Eventually, he found that place with Universal Studios in 2005, where they made a feature length movie called Serenity and resurrected the Firefly story.

Joss says about his movie making, “It’s not to make things people like. It’s never to make things people like. It’s only to make things that they love.”

Refusing to Let It Go

What I love about this story (in addition to loving the show unabashedly), is that Joss was so committed to vision and believed in it so much, that he refused to give up. And his fans and cast did too. Joss says about the experience, “[People] fell in love with it a little bit too much to let it go, too much to lay down arms when the battle looked pretty much lost. In Hollywood, people like that are called ‘unrealistic’ … ‘quixotic’ … ‘obsessive’.”

He seems to be totally okay with that. :)

When he presented the first footage of the movie at San Diego Comic Con, he said to the assembled masses of fans, “This movie should not exist. Failed TV shows don’t get made into major motion pictures unless the creator, the cast, and the fans believe beyond reason.”

Isn’t that the most beautiful turn of phrase?

What Do You Believe Beyond Reason?

What are you so ridiculously over the moon about that it makes you giddy just to think about?

The word passion has become so overused in our culture today, I’m not even sure we know what it means anymore.

To most of us it apparently means something like, “What do you think is a realistic way to make money that you would enjoy doing?”

And while that is a useful question when one is paying one’s bills, it is NOT really the same question as “What are you passionate about?”

Seems to me it’s time to change the question.

Let’s start asking, “What do you BELIEVE BEYOND REASON?”

“What do you believe in so deeply, so permanently, so passionately that you can hardly keep yourself in your skin because you are exploding with joy when you consider it?”

“What brings tears to your eyes when you allow yourself to even just consider the possibility that you might be lucky enough to do it for a single minute of your life?”

Do that. And do it as quick as you can.

Because really, why would we do anything else?

Time’s a wastin.’

Watch Joss’ Introduction Here

Your Turn

I always love hearing from you in the comments on my blog.

 

Jenna

 

How to Say What You Do, and Why It’s Key to Doing Your Calling

A Conversation with Jenna Avery and Isabel Parlett

Without the right words, it’s hard to make “the big thing you’re here to do” come to life. It’s hard to hold on to your own focus and clarity, and it’s even harder to communicate what you’re doing in a way that lets other people in on the fun.

I first worked with Isabel in 2004, when I found myself struggling to describe my own deep, powerful, and hard-to-describe work. Isabel’s help was instrumental in helping me get my coaching business “on the map.” Since then, I continue to consult with Isabel when it comes to matters of communication as my work continues to evolve.

Isabel has a gift for showing business owners, especially those whose work is intangible, transformative, or unusual, how to find clear, simple, soulful language to clarify their core message, communicate their value, and create an elevator speech their audience will actually understand.

I want to invite you to join me for an interactive conversation with Isabel and I on Friday, February 25th at 11:30 Pacific (12:30 Mtn, 1:30 Central, 2:30 Eastern), where we’ll explore:

In this interactive conversation, Isabel and I will explore:

  • The power of words to make the thing you do come to life
  • The key to having more fun and finding better words
  • How you know if you’ve found the right message
Isabel is one of my all-time favorite and best coaches and mentors — I’m thrilled to have the chance to share her with you.

Register here

Called to Write
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.