Writing Success

Success. What is it? Everyone has their own definition, but so does the dictionary after all. How can we measure and define our success? Is it our own understanding or does someone else define it for us?

If I make enough money to pay my bills and feed my family, am I successful? If I write a one thousand word essay in one sitting the night it is due, was I successful? If I make millions of dollars every year but I remain unsatisfied, am I successful? If I am doing what I love but no one else seems to enjoy it as fans enjoy music, am I successful?

Perhaps the purpose of our writings will shape how we are successful. Perhaps the target audience defines whether or not our writing is a success. Who do we write for in the first place anyhow? Let’s say that I write a story about a chapter of my life. Maybe this was very troubling to go through where I made a clown of myself constantly and it introduced some emotional trauma into my life. But upon reading it, my audience saw it less as an emotional experience for me and more as a comedic story. My audience still loves the piece, but not for my original intent. Was I successful?

Personally, success is not about the destination, but the journey. To determine if I was successful in my writing is solely measured by where I began. If I started with nothing but an image in my head for a book but turned that image into an entire series of novels, I would measure that as successful. How far I came from where I started is how I measure my level of success.

I am confident that you have watched Monsters Inc. and know who these two characters are. They started out in the scaring business as simple mail guys. But through their hard work, they become top scarers and then top comedians as they changed the course of how their society worked. I would argue that they were successful. Not just because they were on top of the world, but because they started at the bottom and worked hard to get there. Based on where they began their journey, I would argue them as successful.

Now opposingly, if I were born into a rich family and stayed just as rich in ten years as I am right now. I have lots of money, but I have accomplished nothing and gone nowhere. It is very clear in that manner, that I would not have been successful.

So where does that leave us? Who determines our success? Who determines my success? Well, I have a clouded mind and sense of judgment towards myself, so I guess I’ll just leave that to you. I know I have a long way to go from where I am, but am I on the right path so far? I’ll find the answer later. Find ways to be successful every day.

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