What are our goals as writers? What gives us a feeling of success? Do we all expect to grow rich and famous? Thinking about the Insecure Writer's Support Group started me asking those questions to myself.If we set goals, we writers will feel more secure. How many books do we intend to write? One a year? Three?
Self-publishing, once a blight to the writer's career, is now fully accepted and thriving. Perhaps we can have even better careers if we control every aspect of them ourselves. Or perhaps self-publishing will drive us crazy and into leading non-productive lives. It's something to consider as we jot down our goals.
Success as a writer. Is it a publishing contract? That's a beginning. How about a first book signing? That's pretty exciting especially if people come by and actually buy your books. Is it a speaking engagement? That gives you the opportunity to share what you've learned with others and can be a win/win situation for your career as a writer.
How about winning an award in a writing contest? Yesterday, I received a letter telling me that I had won third place in the National Federation of Press Women's Communication Contest in the Novels for Adult Readers category. I was happy because Daddy's Christmas Angel, for which the award will be given, is a book of my heart. Earlier this year my book won first place in the Virginia Press Women's Communication contest and was sent on to National. I probably will not attend the awards banquet in Salt Lake City, Utah in August to receive the award, but it feels like success when your work is appreciated and recognized by others.Do we expect to become rich and famous? Probably at one time or another we all expect and hope to have exceptional monetary success. Obviously, that will happen to very few. There are just so many books out there and the competition is tremendous. Still, there are some who will have amazing success. Sometimes, for unexpected reasons a book will catch fire and make fantastic numbers of sales.
We cannot count on that or even expect it to happen. We can, however, lift a glass of champagne for the little successes along the way. A glowing book review, a new contract, a nice royalty check, a contest win, the bright smile of a reader telling you how much he/she enjoyed your book, a thoughtful comment from a reader of your blog. These are goals you can expect to obtain.
Live in the moment and enjoy them! That's a great goal to have...
Thank you, Alex Cavanaugh, Sheena-kay Graham, Suzanne Furness, and Laura Eno
for co-hosting the Insecure Writers Support Group this month.
