tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post113019346837733354..comments2024-03-28T02:00:11.260-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: At What Point Success?JA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1131064778225122052005-11-03T18:39:00.000-06:002005-11-03T18:39:00.000-06:00If you're a writer, that implies you want to be re...If you're a writer, that implies you want to be read. The question is, by whom? by how many? How many readers did Emily Dickinson have in her life time? Very few outside her immediate family. Maybe she had as many as she wanted, maybe not. I think she had as many as she needed. The proof of that is in her ability to go on, to keep producing the work. Was she a success as a person? Was she happy? I don't know enough about her life to judge. But I'm pretty sure she was a success as a poet. I'm pretty sure of that.Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05516574151553582372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1130259899285390062005-10-25T12:04:00.000-05:002005-10-25T12:04:00.000-05:00We're writers. We'll ALWAYS need validation.For t...We're writers. We'll ALWAYS need validation.<BR/><BR/>For that matter, we're HUMANS. We'll always need validation.Rob Gregory Brownehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11952008139132652259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1130259073467893872005-10-25T11:51:00.000-05:002005-10-25T11:51:00.000-05:00I think success is best met when defined by each i...I think success is best met when defined by each individual person for him or herself.<BR/><BR/>Where you get into trouble is when you rely too much on measuring your success relative to others.<BR/><BR/>If you know you're doing what you're supposed to be doing right this moment, I would call that a success.Stacey Cochranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14128613653591282474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1130240699976183122005-10-25T06:44:00.000-05:002005-10-25T06:44:00.000-05:00Joe, you're stealing one of my themes here. What i...Joe, you're stealing one of my themes here. What is writing success? I remember a TV interview with Elmore Leonard where the interviewer asked him when did he feel successful? Was it his first book? His fifth? His first bestseller? Now, Leonard can be an odd interview subject, but he kind of looked bemused (or annoyed) and said, "I've always been a success."<BR/><BR/>I think this question of "success" is a particularly big deal for writers because it's such a constantly receding horizon, which might be a definition of hell if there ever is one. Once we get our book (or whatever) published we pat ourselves on the back and say, "Ah ha! I'm published! What a success!) Then we want more money. Or multi-book deals. Or to make a living at it.<BR/><BR/>First time I got published in a magazine for payment, it took (as usual, there's great truth to "The check's in the mail") a while to get paid for it and a friend of mine said, "It doesn't count if you haven't gotten paid." I snapped at her, "It counted the minute I wrote it."<BR/><BR/>Here's a saying I have printed out and placed prominently on my wall above my desk. <BR/><BR/>SUCCESS IS A JOURNEY NOT A DESTINATION.<BR/><BR/>Best,<BR/>Mark TerryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1130205457408068332005-10-24T20:57:00.000-05:002005-10-24T20:57:00.000-05:00Nice site :) I don't believe success negates the n...Nice site :)<BR/> I don't believe success negates the need for validation, whether in writing or some other type of work. Humans are social animals, and therefore generally always seek the respect, approval, and admiration of others. <BR/> I've met a few fairly successful people who claimed they didn't need anyone to validate any part of their life or work. Sadly, they had such inflated ego's they were'nt much fun to be around. <BR/> Most people, even those who are confident and self-assured about their work, like at least a pat on the back once and a while. :)Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06106410070220667314noreply@blogger.com