Redefining Success In Order To Stay Sane (extracts)

Some of my fellow writers may find this blog entry interesting. Actually one of my fellow writers probably told me about this.  Is it short-term or long-term memory that's the first to go?


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Redefining Success In Order To Stay Sane by C S Lakin

Live Write Thrive blog entry for July 14, 2014   in Writing for Life



Article extracts which made me smile are given below

"When you hear of the numbers of novels submitted to agents and publishers each year (in the six figures), you sometimes think winning the lottery offers better odds than getting traditionally published. But then . . . you finally break through and get a contract, and months later are holding your brand-new brilliant release in your hand, feeling like you’ve finally arrived.

"Yet . . . if you’re like me, the flashbulb moment of that exhilaration lasts a very short time, only to turn into something akin to another stark, depressing realization—that the odds your book will become a huge hit or best seller is . . . well, about the same odds as winning the lottery

"I don’t mean to dive right into depressing statistics and start you into a tumble toward negativity.

"In the twenty-eight years of my publishing journey, I’ve seen some authors who I would call plenty successful—with many wonderful published novels under their belt, having won some awards and getting great acclaim—suffer from continual disappointment, frustration, and even despair over their writing career. While I waited for my first “breakthrough” novel to go to press, I had foreboding nigglings in the back of my mind, telling me that would never happen to me. I would be on the NY Times best-seller list out the gate!

"Yet, four published books later, I found myself crying for a week at the completion of my latest novel. Why? Because I knew it was the masterpiece and apex of my writing life and ability, and I knew the book would never sell big and get the acclaim I felt it deserved.

"We have been programmed to believe many things that, I feel, contribute to our disappointments, frustrations, and feelings of failure as writers. I believe it’s time to redefine, truly and in our hearts, what success means and looks like to us.

 "Success is not defined by numbers or money earned. Instead... How can you deepen your writing and reach out to readers in a significant way?

"We write for an audience, and know the kind of hearts we want to touch. Write, then, for that audience in all sincerity and passion

"One way to stop focusing on your own sense of failure is to help others. I find great joy in helping my editing clients get agents and publishing contracts, and their success brightens my day.

"Believe your audience is out there waiting for your books and write for them. 

"...with the trend of ebook publishing and social networking and marketing, any good author can get known, grow a true fan base, and connect with readers who love her books. And that’s what we need remember—that we are writing for that connection between writer and reader.

 

       "...think about redefining success with a fresh attitude ... and a renewed dedication to write the best novels you can, knowing that your readers are out there and in time you will find them—and they will find you."