![Day 4 — Focus on Successes.]()
Day 4 — Focus on Successes.
Writing successes can take many forms. They can be an acceptance by an editor, publisher or agent.
But successes can also be completing a project, writing about something that challenged you emotionally or technically, exploring a new genre or form of writing, or being brave enough to submit your work to others to read and critique.
Every writer has his or her own definition of success—something I wrote about in How Writers Measure Success — 15 Authors Share Their Thoughts. Unfortunately, too many times we define successes by comparing ourselves to other writers.
As I wrote in How do you define writing success?, success is too often a measuring game. For example:
- Writer A gets an encouraging rejection letter, giving him/her a dose of hope until…Writer B gets an acceptance from the same agent.
- Or Writer A’s book is published, making him/her feel great until… Writer B sells out on Amazon within a few hours.
- Or Writer A’s article is published in the local newspaper, which leads to much celebrating until… Writer B gets a byline in the New York Times.
There will always be other writers who do better than you in terms of publication, performance or sales. Focusing on them and what they have accomplished will just dishearten you and possibly even keep you from continuing with your writing goal.
The only writer you should compare yourself to is you—the writer you were yesterday, last month, last year.
To be a successful writer, of course you must be willing to constantly grow and develop your abilities. At the same time, take the time to acknowledge each step forward.
How can you do that? Develop a Success Résumé—an ongoing list of your accomplishments no matter how small. For advice on how to do this, check out the “Writing Roadblocks” chapter in RUT-BUSTING BOOK FOR WRITERS.
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The post 31 Days of Rut-Busting Tips For Writers—Day 4: Focus on Successes. appeared first on The Writer's Place.