I've always been ambitious, and have achieved quite a lot in my first profession, so I'm pretty pragmatic with regards to writing too. I don't like to waste time or effort and if I didn't think I was capable of writing a bestseller, I wouldn't be writing a book now. I'm not saying that I will do that, but I believe I can if I try hard enough, and that's my goal. To write and publish a very successful book and make a decent career of it.
since i'm a practicing philosopher and no longer write to make a living, but only to enlighten, 'success' now would be only having as many as possible reading my work...
I think our notions of success change with our accomplishments. For example, I got my first ever short story published a couple months ago, and despite the fact that it was barely more than a blog (and didn't pay a dime), I considered that a success. After that my idea of success changed. A few days ago, I got notification that one my stories has been accepted at a paying e-zine. They pay at semi-pro rate of 3 cents/word. Not much in other words However, it once again has adjusted my view of success and I'm now targeting a more pro, 5 cents/word publication.
Today, I'd consider success having modest yet steady sales, whether they come from self-published material or other publishing markets.
I consider every page I finish to be a success. But all in all, I think I'd have to take a few of the above examples- Ultimately I'd like to have a story (or a series of them) that is published (with or without being paid) and have even a few people who really enjoy and maybe feel inspired by them. I just want to tell stories to an appreciative audience is all. Making a lving off of it would just be a dream come true, but since we're just talking about success here...
Hi, Just finishing my first novel 'Thief' was my success. Then publishing it was my success. Then my first sale. Then my second novel 'Maverick' that was a success. Selling a thousand copies of it. And so on. It's all success, success is a process, and with luck it doesn't end, even if you don't become a bestseller. Cheers Greg.
wow..lots of different answers on here..that is truly amazing..as long as we're doing what we love and continuing to grow and develop i think we're being successful..so heres to writing that masterpiece, getting it published, inspiring others and yes selling a shitload of your work...lolol
I agree with psychotik. Success is a process, not a destination. For me success right now will be finishing a story, completely. No more rewrites!
Success for me would be: Having a sea side home to write at Having a best-seller that would buy me that sea side home actually finishing anything that's worth trying to publish following through on one idea
I'd measure my success on a scale. The first step would be finishing the thing =P I have a tendency to get distracted, and my projects have a habit of not being finished. Still, solid 6 months or so on this particular project so far, so not a bad beginning. Getting it published would be a nice second. Then I suppose I'd have to think- I have loads more ideas of things I could write about, and they'd be bigger in scale than this one. But there are loads of other things I'd like to do besides writing- after this point, should I put it down for a bit? Guess I'll define my success when I've decided I've reached it =P
Success would be getting published and making £1000 on it. The dream is to have a cult following of 20+ people
I wrote a book about an abusive program I was in when I was a kid, and three months after publishing they announced they were closing their doors, and cited internet activism as the cause. My book was called "The hit that knocked Elan out of the park" I'd call that success
I just want to hold my book in my hands as an actual book. Making money off it is a second goal. Living off it is a dream
Hi, Congratulations. But I'd have to ask - why is that cult following you? And do you need protection? Cheers, Greg.
Actually, Elan survivors have helped me make friends with the memories, they're really good people. But, I did inherit a stalker. One of the worst on the internet. The FBI and the police have done nothing. I blocked him and avoid him on websites
Success, 1st; Finishing another book. 2nd; finishing the first book with editing and rewrites. 3rd; published by company, book or SS.
