September 1 question – How do you define success as a writer? Is it holding your book in your hand? Having a short story published? Making a certain amount of income from your writing?
The awesome co-hosts for the September 1 posting of the IWSG are Rebecca Douglass, T. Powell Coltrin @Journaling Woman, Natalie Aguirre, Karen Lynn, and C. Lee McKenzie!
The awesome co-hosts for the September 1 posting of the IWSG are Rebecca Douglass, T. Powell Coltrin @Journaling Woman, Natalie Aguirre, Karen Lynn, and C. Lee McKenzie!
I’ve answered this question before, long ago, but I can’t find that post to copy! So, I’ll make the answer short and simple.
Success is writing a book I’m satisfied with. Sure, it would be wonderful to become a best-selling writer, but I have no great expectations of that ever happening. I try to be satisfied with the few sales I do make. When I get one of those rare reviews that lets me know that a reader loved my story, that’s icing on the cake.
But the joy is in writing. Find the right word that I need in a sentence. Putting on paper the thought that has been eluding me for weeks. Writing “The End” and knowing I’ve accomplished something. That’s success. And that’s what I strive for.
Find out what other authors define as success by following the links below. And, as always, stay safe until next time!
Being satisfied with something written is success. Unfortunately, as the Rolling Stones sang, “I can’t get no satisfaction.” Now to correct the grammar, “I am unable to acquire any satisfaction.” I find it hard to be satisfied with what I write. I re-write, and re-write and re-write. It’s its own kind of hell.
At some point you have to let it go. Or at least step away and move on to something else to you can come back with fresh eyes. It will never be perfect, no matter how many times you edit and how many people critique and proofread it.
So agree with you that the joy is in the writing, not in reaching a goal we can’t control.
I feel the same way. I just want to write. That’s success for me. There’s a bunch of marketing and income related stuff I know I need to worry about, because being a full-time writer means I’ll have more time to write. But my ultimate goal is just to do more writing.