DECIDING ON SUCCESS
Success isn't something someone else can define for you. I mean there are universal definitions, like if you hit a bestseller list, or if your book gets made into a movie, or a monetary goal. But at the end of the day, those things happen to so few writers and authors, that they're kinda the dream big, but be okay with knowing you might not hit them. I have never hit a bestseller list. I doubt my books will ever be made into a movie, and I like the idea of making more money, but it's also not where I, personally, would claim success.
You see, no one can tell you when you've 'made it'. That's something you have to know for yourself. I always try and set goals that I don't really tell other people about for my books. Like hitting a certain number of sales in a time period, or having this happen with a reviewer or whatever. I've won awards for my books, three, and was listed for another. That could, to a lot of people, define success, and it does for me too, but here's the thing no one really tells you when you're just starting out: definitions change.
I don't mean that the things that come before are meaningless. Nope, my awards are in pride of place on my wall. I have it in my bio that I've won awards. I have a whole page on my website about them. I am proud of my awards, and I earned them. My books earned them. But that doesn't mean that therefore I've reached the height of my career and there's nothing left to do.
What I'm trying to say is, that with the way the world works, there's always going to be something new and shiny that will redefine success for you, whether you want it to or not. My last award was in 2020 I think, and I've released other books since then, and the reading and writing world has moved on. That's not a bad thing, we can't always be looking back at the past, but you need to define, and decide what success means for you.
I know I just said that it will change, and it will, but you need to be the one to make that choice of when you will feel like you've made it. For some authors it's more about just knowing their book is out there. For others, it's hitting a certain sales goal. For even more, it's about being able to quit the day job and be a writer full time. I'm talking generally there, for a lot of people, indie and trad, the thought of putting all your eggs in one basket and living off your books alone, is terrifying because that income is not guaranteed. But I digress, whatever that definition is for you, that's what matters, that's what you're working towards.
At the start I mentioned universal definitions, and they remain true, but I would caution you of only dreaming big. While yes, it's a great thing to be able to aim towards something like movie deals, or bestseller lists, and if that keeps you on track, go for it, but also remember to have the realistic and the smaller ones too. No one else can define success for you. Even if you're a writer who is full time, has movie options, has more sales than you know what to do with, you will still keep looking to that next goal, because we're human, and it's what we do.
So make a conscious choice to decide and define what success looks like for you, right now. Keep moving forward, keep your eyes on the goal, and just remember that it will take time. No one is an instant success, even those who seem to be have a lot going on in the background. Decide your success, and keep working on it. You will get there, it just might take a while.
Any questions? Lemme know in the comments!
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