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​Success: How Do You Define It?

7/21/2020

6 Comments

 
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by Christine Liu-Perkins

How you define success will impact how happy you are as a writer. It will influence what motivates you and where you focus your energies. What do you consider markers for your success?

My sense of success as a children's writer has changed over time. When I first started, I was thrilled just to play around with ideas and capture them in a draft. Then I moved to seeking publication. I celebrated milestones along the way: personalized rejection letters! requests for rewrites! publication in children's magazines! book contracts!

But I also thought more than once about quitting – was I beating my head against a wall? Was it worth the frustration and disappointment? Fellow critiquers were publishing, and although I was genuinely happy for my friends, I just wanted the same for me. I felt immense relief from the pressure to prove myself when my first book was accepted.

At this point, I'm happy concentrating on two things. One, I love doing research. (Confession: I chose to specialize in nonfiction when I realized that, whatever I was writing, I always looked for excuses to do research.) Two, I choose projects that hopefully will inspire readers to love learning and to understand others better.

Two perspectives I found helpful are:
  • Agent Erin Murphy discussed markers often overlooked in "Success is Like a Snowflake" http://shrinkingvioletpromotions.blogspot.com/2011/02/literary-agent-erin-murphy-success-is.html
  • Author Kelly Milner Halls said, ". . . the real measure of success are those readers and their ability to feel a little less alone because of something you’ve given them," in her interview at https://lauriethompson.com/2012/02/14/interview-author-kelly-milner-​ halls/ )

If you're ready to ponder how you define success as a writer, here are some articles that might help:
  • Joanna Penn described seven common answers to the questions, "What Is Your Definition of Success? How Do You Measure It?" https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2014/03/01/definition-of-success/
  • Jami Gold discussed six steps in "How do you define success?" https://jamigold.com/2017/10/how-do-you-define-success/
  • Luke Reynolds talked about redefining success along your writing journey: https://cynthialeitichsmith.com/2012/06/guest-post-giveaway-luke-reynolds-on/

6 Comments
Beth Anderson link
7/22/2020 07:30:17 am

Thank you for this important food for thought! There's a line from an old song that always comes to mind when I think about this idea..."the expectations you have lead down that path to where the devil discouragement lives." I think if we can be happy in what we're doing, that's success!

Reply
Christine Liu-Perkins link
7/22/2020 03:50:25 pm

Beth, I like that lyric and your idea of success! Thanks for sharing them.

Reply
Kathy link
7/25/2020 12:57:42 pm

I really like your definition of success, and so agree with your reasons for writing nonfiction! Thank you for your helpful insights!

Reply
Christine Liu-Perkins link
7/31/2020 09:00:28 pm

You're welcome, Kathy. I hope you're celebrating your writing successes!

Reply
Sloane Jacobs link
7/29/2020 11:30:50 am

I love your ideas about success too. Research is so much fun! And I love the idea that something I wrote could have a positive impact on a child. That is important to me and the very reason I started writing in the first place. It's been a journey and I'm still very much on the long and bumpy road...but it's good. And one day I will get an agent and it will be even better. #positivethoughts #keepontrucking #writewritewrite #coffee

Reply
Christine Liu-Perkins link
7/31/2020 09:02:33 pm

Wishing for you an impact on many children, Sloane!

Reply



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