When you enter the world of self-publishing and really dive deep into the writing process, you need to define your success as a writer. What would it mean for you to find success as a writer?
Do you want to make a full-time income from your writing?
Do you want to be a famous author and have your book on the shelves of Barnes and Noble?
Or would you consider yourself successful if you sold a few books through Amazon?
Does success as a writer mean that you actually finish your manuscript?
Or that you finish your manuscript and actually publish it?
Regardless of how you define your success as a writer, you need to be clear and honest with yourself.
Many writers in the indie publishing world can live off of their writing, but most of us are not yet at that point. Many of us have to hold full-time jobs just to pay the bills and we manage to squeeze in a little writing in our free time. Those of us who do not work, often have little kids at home and a spouse that financially supports the family. Just because you haven’t reached the point where you can make a comfortable living from your writing alone, doesn’t mean that you are not already on the path towards your success as a writer.
My Story
For the last year and a half, I have been a stay at home mom trying to fit some writing in between raising a newborn and a toddler. I have to be honest, I wrote more than I have in a very long time. Although, I am not sure if it is because I really had more time or if I just grew tired of letting my writing fall by the wayside. During all this, my husband carried the brunt of the financial burden.
However, times change. We came to a point where he wanted to change careers.
This meant a few things for us.
1) He was probably going to get paid a lot less,
2) The kids had to go to daycare, and
3) I was going to have to go back to work.
So, what did this mean for my writing?
I knew it was time to let my husband follow his dreams and that I needed to do what I could to support him. Since I don’t yet make much of an income from my writing, this meant that I needed to get a regular J-O-B.
Now, writing still burns a fire inside of me that I cannot quench. Nor do I want to. My definition of success as a writer is still the same: I would eventually like to fully support my family through my writing. However, I also know what is best for my family and for my husband.
Why Tell This Story?
I told you this story to show you that it is not a failure that I have to go back to work. It is not even a step back. I see it as a step that will bring me closer to my success as a writer. Yes, I will now have to work for someone else for 40 hours a week. Yes, my kids will now be in daycare. I will also have a commute. However, I don’t want this to come off as I am dreading to go back to work. In fact, I am actually very excited. I actually see it as a win-win.
Win 1: My husband can follow his dreams.
Win 2: Our pennies and dollars won’t have to stretch as far; we can live a lot more comfortably.
Win 3: My kids will get to socialize and learn more with other kids their age.
Win 4: I will get to see, experience, and work in another side of this industry.
Win 5: And I know that I will continue writing, it will just be at a different time.
I only see this as furthering my success as a writer. It may take me a little longer than it would if I continued to stay home. It may not, considering I could probably carve out consistent chunks of time, whereas at home with the kids, I would just write whenever I could.
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So What’s the Point?
Once you define your success as a writer, you can easily maneuver around the curves and roadblocks that life will inevitably throw at you. Know what you want out of your writing career and make it a priority in your life. I know what I want to get out of my writing, what I want to get out of myself as a writer. Even with another giant responsibility on my plate, I am confident that I will continue writing and striving to reach my goals.
Define your success as a writer, stay focused, plan your time, actually write, and watch your dreams unfold in front of you. Feel free to tell us in the comments about your definition of success as a writer and sign up for our email list to receive new blog posts and updates of the goings on at Quill and Tome!
Over To You
Hopefully, you found this helpful.
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