When I first started seriously pursuing publication, I thought the mark of a true professional was to be able to make enough money from one’s art to be able to quit the day job. Then I found out less than 4% of writers make enough to support themselves fulltime. (And call me crazy, I’ve grown fond of three meals a day.)
So if writing for money doesn’t make you a professional what does? Success, to me, has no finite lines. How do you define it? By your profits? Your readership? The number of contracts received in a year? Or Fictionwise rankings?
To me, and this took many years to learn, success is measured by my happiness. I can say I’m a published author. Not only have I fulfilled a lifelong dream, I have received messages from strangers saying they loved my books. Just yesterday at a signing, I had a woman buy my newest book. She said she had read Belonging, one of my historical romances, and the hero made her cry. Not from his struggles, but from the way he was able to overcome his disability. If he could do it, she could certainly learn to overcome her arthritis pain and continue on working at the hobbies she loved. She said my book spoke to her, made her realize she couldn’t give up on life. Is there a better recognition than that?
When a reader tells me that I’ve touched them in some way, that’s the best feeling in the world. Gives recognition to what I do. That’s my definition of success.
So if writing for money doesn’t make you a professional what does? Success, to me, has no finite lines. How do you define it? By your profits? Your readership? The number of contracts received in a year? Or Fictionwise rankings?
To me, and this took many years to learn, success is measured by my happiness. I can say I’m a published author. Not only have I fulfilled a lifelong dream, I have received messages from strangers saying they loved my books. Just yesterday at a signing, I had a woman buy my newest book. She said she had read Belonging, one of my historical romances, and the hero made her cry. Not from his struggles, but from the way he was able to overcome his disability. If he could do it, she could certainly learn to overcome her arthritis pain and continue on working at the hobbies she loved. She said my book spoke to her, made her realize she couldn’t give up on life. Is there a better recognition than that?
When a reader tells me that I’ve touched them in some way, that’s the best feeling in the world. Gives recognition to what I do. That’s my definition of success.
~ Nancy
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