How Do You Define Success as a Writer?

One of the very first questions I ask new book coaching clients is, “What does success look like to you?”

I’ll admit, I sometimes second guess myself when I ask this question. After all, isn’t it obvious what success as a writer looks like? Aren’t we all supposed to be aiming for traditional publishing deals with a Big 5 Publisher, reaching #1 on the NYT Bestseller’s List, and having movie rights to our stories auctioned off to the highest bidder?

But this is exactly why I ask—because sometimes, often even, this isn’t the definition of success the person sitting across from me has in mind for themselves. They might want nothing to do with traditional publishing at all and has already decided to pursue indie publishing. And the next client might not even care about publishing at all; they might just want to write their memoir for their children to read as a PDF someday.

I always ask because I never want to assume, and depending on what each client’s version of success looks like, our goals for working together may be somewhat different.

The Traditional Definition of Success 

There was a time before indie publishing became a real option for writers when being an author really only meant getting a traditional book deal. The publishing world was heavily gate-kept, and I truly believe writers and readers alike are served better now with the addition of indie publishing.

Still, this idea that being a successful author means a traditional publishing deal persists, especially for newer writers. Even if they would be happy to publish on their own, there’s a lot of pressure internally and externally for writers to want the traditional deal. After all, why wouldn’t you want to strive for greatness?

Except the reality is that many of the authors making good money from their writing these are doing so by indie publishing their books. If you can wrap your mind around treating your writing as a business and handling your marketing, you can do just as well and often times better than traditional authors financially by indie publishing. There are reasons authors choose to go indie rather than it being the “last ditch effort” it once was thought of years ago.

And beyond even just the debate between traditional or indie publishing, there are also writers who simply want to finish writing a book whether anyone else ever reads it or not. Success comes in all shapes and sizes, so we shouldn’t assume that just because someone is a writer, that must mean they’re aspiring to be published by a Big 5 publisher.

How Do You Define Success?

Your definition of success for your writing career may very well be obtaining a traditional publishing deal. And if that’s your goal, then that’s a great one!

But I’d urge you to pause for a moment and truly consider what your definition of success is for yourself. I think newer writers and even some seasoned writers fall into the trap of assuming they need to be aiming for that prestigious publishing deal, but when they take a step back and really think about it, that may not really be what they want. 

I thought for a long time that I wanted to land an agent and a traditional publishing deal. I queried multiple manuscripts over many years, but at a certain point, a voice started creeping in that told me I should become an indie author. When I really sat down and considered my goals, values, and the pros and cons of each publishing path, I realized I really wanted to become an indie author. Still, it took me almost a year to fully embrace that goal simply because the pressure to pursue a traditional book deal was so strong.

Taking some time to really consider what success looks like for you, no one else, will allow you to better align your goals with your desired outcome. Striving to reach a goal that others define as successful but you don’t will often lead to burnout or disappointment.

I’ve heard from many authors who were published traditionally that while they thought getting that book deal would allow them to finally feel like a writer and banish their imposter syndrome, they still struggled with self-doubt and wondering if they were a good enough writer many days. And it’s entirely possible that while the world was telling them this was what they needed to do to be successful writers, that didn’t align with their own vision for what success meant. So, even though they achieved the traditional standard of success, there was still something missing.

Daring to define success on your own terms and strive for goals that might not be what others have in mind for you can feel difficult. But if the goals you’re working towards are truly in line with your own desires and views of what will make you feel successful, it will be a lot easier for you to show up for them. If querying agents is something you truly want to do because you want that traditional book deal, then you’re more likely to put in the work and effort for that task than someone who is doing it only because they believe they should be doing that.

Having a successful writing career can mean any number of outcomes. Defining success in your own terms will give you a greater chance of truly feeling successful when you do meet your goals.

How do you define success in your writing life? Have you reached those goals or are you still working towards them?