What is success and when can
you call yourself a writer? What makes you a successful writer?
Success. What exactly does it mean? According to the Oxford
Dictionary success is defined as
1) The
accomplishment of an aim; a favorable outcome
2) The
attainment of wealth, fame, or position
3) A
thing or person that turns out well
I’m sure many people will focus on number two: the
attainment of wealth, fame, or position. They will only call somebody
successful if he/she accomplishes one of those things or all three of them.
Does that mean if I as a writer have published many books
but haven’t become rich and famous I’m not successful? Can I even call myself a
writer unless I’ve made tons of money with my writing? I read somewhere about
somebody stating unless you’ve written at least a million words you’re not a
writer. Somebody else even went as far as saying if you’re not on the New York’s Bestseller
list you’re not a writer.
It is my understanding that you can’t become an active
member of SFWA (Science Fiction Writers of America) unless you’ve sold at least
three stories that paid you a minimum of $250.00, in other words they won’t acknowledge
you as a writer until you’ve done that. I don’t know if they recognize
e-publishers as legitimate publisher.
To me that’s all nonsense. I’ve written over a million words,
published over twenty books with a respectable publisher. I haven’t become rich
or even famous, but I still consider myself a writer. In fact, I’ll go as far
as saying anyone who has written a few stories, unpublished or not, is a
writer. Perhaps even a successful writer.
Look at number one. It says: The accomplishment of an aim.
Having written and finished just one single story fulfills
that rule. If it turned out well you’ve got two out of three. Not bad. You’re a
successful writer.
I have no doubt there’ll be plenty of ‘real’ writers who
will argue this. How can anyone even think of putting some unsuccessful,
unpublished, probably untalented, would-be-writer into the same pot with them?
Just such an idea is unthinkable and almost criminal.
What a pompous attitude that is! Unfortunately, we’ve been
so brainwashed in our thinking by the establishment that to be successful also
means to have made lots of money with an endeavor. And that is a pity. Not
everything in this world is about making money. Sure, money is fine and good to
have. It is important to one’s happiness, but so is the pursuing and
fulfillment of a dream. For some this is writing, to turn thoughts and
fantasies into words and stories. To have finished a story is a measure of
success. Perhaps only the first part of
a success story but still an accomplishment. In my opinion, if you’ve done that
you can call yourself a successful writer. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
I am a successful writer.
1 comment:
I totally agree with you Herbert! I have 'only' e-published one book ('The Courage of a Woman') and will shortly air my second novel ('A Tale of the South'.) The first took me over 6 years to write, mostly on scraps of paper in the bus to and from work, in between babysitting grandchildren and housework and I remember the thrill I had when I saw the cover with my name on it as the author. I had achieved a goal! Your words give me encouragement and the energy to continue to the next step. Just to write down the words I have in my head makes me feel good! Of course, as a pensioner, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, it would be great if I could also make money......
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