Homework Day 2: Branding - Keven

This is a tough one and very much a first draft. The exercises have caused me to re-think my branding, so super helpful, but painful. The movie exercise what particularly helpful in helping to find what drives my motivations and passions.

1. What are your strengths? Analytic ability to sort out complex problems and challenges - weaving details.

2. What are you best in world at? I don’t know, probably nothing. But… I’m so desperate for justice, I create new worlds to find it. Standing against injustice and oppression.

3. Favorite Movies? Gladiator, Braveheart, Patriot, Hunger Games. Strong character taking on oppressive enemy to fight for justice, freedom and what is right.

4. Why do readers pick other authors over you? Other authors are better known, have a proven track record of what their brand delivers, and are better promoters.

5. What do you do that exhausts you? Large social events, self-promotion.

6. What are your unfair advantages? Hard work.

7. What gives you authority to write on the subject you’re writing on? Have formal degrees in theology and the law, practiced law many years, worked at NGO advocating for persecuted Christians around the world.

8. What gives you authority to explore the themes in your writing? The above, plus lots of reading on Christ and the culture. Have raised two daughters and blessed with two grandsons.

9. Who is your target reader? 9- to 18-year-olds who are committed followers of Jesus, his teaching and way of living. Hungry for safe, clean stories that celebrate and affirm their faith convictions and values. Passionate against an oppressive authority.

10. How is your target reader different from other readers? They want more than a fun story. They want characters, storyline, and themes to align with their faith convictions and values. They want to experience a world changing challenge through the main character that stands for what is right against an oppressive regime or evil enemy.

11. Why does your target reader read books? To be entertained, gain courage to live boldly changing the world for Jesus.

12. How can you thrill your target reader? Stories that portray them (through the character) as the hero, defeating darkness and evil against all odds. Stories that give them permission to proudly live out a robust faith. stories that give them the vision to change the world through their courage and conviction to follow Jesus, his teaching and way of living.

13. What does my brand let readers say about themselves? I’m proud to be part of God’s family and committed to live life differently than the secular culture. It’s awesome being different!

14. What tribe does this brand give me access to? Bold courageous Christians unwilling to compromise their faith even as the cost of such commitment goes up in our society.

15. Who are the outsiders? Anyone who is not wholly committed to Jesus, his teaching and way of living.

16. What is the promise I am making to my readers? I will take them on adventures to conquer evil and oppression. I will take them on adventures to experience God’s goodness, beauty and truth.

17. What is the empathy you have for your readers? I am saddened that kids are growing up in a culture that distains their values and belittles their faith convictions. I am saddened for parents who are trying to pass their faith onto their children in a culture determined to prevent that from happening.

18. How will I shock, surprise and delight? I am stumped on this one as it’s not my nature. Still working on this. Here’s a start: I’m so desperate for justice, I create new worlds to find it.

19. In what areas do you need to give yourself permission to be you? Saying controversial things.