The Insecure Writer's Support Group is the brainchild of Alex J. Cavanaugh. He, his clones, minions, friends, and fellow authors make it an amazing event every month.
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
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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?
For me, success is a moving target.
On any given day, any of these mean success:
- feeling good about the words I've put on the page
- knowing I had my first short story chosen for a great anthology
- someone buys one of my books
- drafting over 1k words in a session
- a reader leaves a positive review
- a payment from one of the retailers lands in my bank account
- I manage to write a scene I've been avoiding
- an idea for a new scene/book/series/character lights up my day
- I edit a scene and it's so much better
- I can provide feedback for another author
- I can help a newbie writer - even though I feel like I'm in that category myself
- I manage to plot out a book...
Oh, wait! That last one is totally impossible!
Success is relative and changing. To be honest, I rarely give it much thought! Instead, I just focus on the next step.
How about you? What does success mean to you? When was your last successful moment?
49 comments:
Well, you still have all of those other successful moments, even if you never manage to plot a book.
Always focus on the next step is great advice!
I no longer think about it either.
I like that you have personal goals as well as ones dealing with your published books. Taking it one step at a time is great advice.
You're so right. Success comes in many ways.
I feel like success is a moving target for me, too.
Isn't it a great feeling, though, when we do finally write those scenes we've been avoiding?
I think you took a smart road to your own success...writing and then rapid release! You've done such a great job with your books!
Feeling good about the words we put on the page is definitely the first (and truly most important) step.
That's a great list of successes. I agree about it being an ever-changing target. And I mostly plot out my books... for all the good it does me! I admit it was WAY harder to do for the current WIP, an entirely new series.
I really like your list. I'm thinking of combining this with L. Diane Wolfe's scrapbook idea.
Love your list - and am awed by your productivity. Success is SUCH a loaded word isn't it, and the money which so many people seem to think defines it - doesn't. Or not for me.
I don't much think about this, but I think it's mostly the little accomplishments along the way. As an indie author, that includes not only the writing, but publishing and building a following, too. Plus building a solid team to help me do the things I don't do myself.
Good list and I'm gonna make one too. Congrats on all your success. I have no doubt that each has been hit a few times this week. :-)
Anna from elements of emaginette
Yes, success is always changing, as long as we keep going. Great list.
Fabulous list! I do manage to plot a book, but that has absolutely no relevance to how the story actually turns out. 🤣
What a great list. Like you, I don't think about it too much. Too busy. But today, I keep seeing great answers that I think I should have thought of.
The first one on your list: "feeling good about the words I've put on the page"...That one resonates the most with me. THAT is success.
Exactly! Plotting is a steep learning curve for me. Doubt I'll ever reach the top!
It helps me keep moving forward!
Too much else to do!
It gets to be overwhelming if I look at too many things at once!
So many!
Yep - never going to happen!
Those are the BEST moments!!!
Thank you! I'm having so much fun with Bloo Moose!
It really is! Everything builds from there!
I WISH I could plot with more detail. Basically I know there's a happy ending but there will be bumps along the way... :)
Love Diane's idea, too!
Success really is a loaded concept. If I think too much about it, I shut down!
Money just doesn't do it for me either!
That's exactly it!
Thanks so much, Anna!
Thanks, Olga!
I'm so envious of your plotting prowess! Even if it goes sideways. Pretty sure mine would as well!
I keep wanting to steal answers, too!
It really is, Lynda. Everything else falls. in. place. after that
Whoa: "Success is a moving target." Love that!
Hi,
Love your list. I got an email from someone telling me how much they enjoyed my book. That made my day and that was success.
Take care.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
All those successes add up to one huge mega-success. Seems like you're pretty successful to me!
Me too - helps me not get tripped up on any one thing!
Yay! I've had a couple of those emails and it's an amazing feeling!
Thanks so much, Ken! I'm having fun, so I'll agree!
I identify with so many of the successes in your list. Great blog post.
Thanks, JQ! I think we probably all have similar moments that give us thrills!
great way to look at success — completing milestones, even small ones
and always glad you join the chat,
talking with writer friends is always a success!
Tara Tyler Talks
Yes!! Finding friends who have the same passion is awesome!
Sorry for the late reply. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog. I like your various definitions of success. Right now, I'm finding success in a very small Patreon community- just connecting with people who believe in my writing.
It's so nice to find a group like that - good for you. I haven't looked at Patreon at all!
We think alike, there are many episodes of success when writing. At least it's always felt that way with me.
Thanks for continuing to comment on my blog. I'm always catching up on follow-up comments. But one day I'll get there!
No worries. I don't think I'll ever get caught up!
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