TUESDAY: SUCCESSFUL I AM (I THINK)

What is success? That’s one of those philosophical questions that has as many answers as there are people answering it. Here’s my take on the answer, at least for me and my writing.

Success for me is NOT:

• Selling a gazillion books and making a gazillion dollars—or even a million. It’s NOT about the Benjamins. (Although I wouldn’t turn down a few)

• Being at the top of all the bestseller lists. the bottom of the list is fine (just kidding). Seriously, I don’t expect that will ever happen, and I’m okay with that.

• Receiving lots of critical acclaim from people who don’t know me or even care about what I’m writing, and why. Some good reader reviews—that I can handle.

• Getting to the point where it’s just a job, something I have to do. It is something I have to do, but it will never be a burden, or a job. It is and will be my passion.

What success as a writer is for me:

• Having someone stay up late so they can finish one of my books and find out what the happily-ever-after is.

• Someone realizing from reading one of my books that love and romance is still possible in this world.

• Selling a hundred books to people who really love them, instead of a million just because it’s on some magic list.

• God giving me enough years to write the rest of my stories. Okay, that might take another thirty years, but it would be great!

• Getting up every morning and be able to keep doing what I’m passionate about: writing novels.

• Continue to be grateful for all of the above.

Success is where you find it, and what you make it. I know there are writers who are satisfied with getting their stories down, whether anyone else reads them or not. And others are writing them only so they can sell them and make money. I’m not either one. I consider myself a successful writer. I hope others do, too.