This was both touching and relatable, and I know I have some pithy bulletin board quote at home (I am away) about success = growing as a person while becoming more and more engaged in process over outcome. It's a simple, cliched idea, but living it is not so simple. I think we need to reinforce ourselves for when we get it right--when we truly appreciate the day's writing, reading, or literary citizenship. What would this look like? How do we actually distance ourselves from the post-pub indicators of success and really focus on what MOST of the writing life is--typing sentences and revising them. Thinking. Reading. Discussing. Daydreaming. Rejoicing in that glimmer of a new idea or plotpoint.
As for compare-and-despair, I've also noticed that being away from social media has allowed me to experience more unreserved happiness for other people's success. Maybe our brains are wired to handle only so much of seeing the Best-of lists, new deal announcements, book tour dates, and so on. Delivery mode may matter too, because when I get news via a newsletter or email, directly from an author, it feels different from seeing it while scrolling.
I think you have shared this with me over Zoom -- the process over outcome quote, because it's ringing a bell and it is ringing like truth!! As is your comment about only being wired to handle so much information about other people's achievements. We can only handle so much bad news, but maybe we can only handle so much GOOD news, too!
I absolutely love the image of success as a prism. It's an ongoing process for me to stop measuring success against things that are out of my control. True success is not out there somewhere, measured in sales or book deals, but in the promises I keep to myself and the effort I put into my creative projects. I can only truly succeed in the things I can control!
And it's impossible not to look at those external, out-of-control measures at times! Especially for someone like yourself, heading into your debut novel's publication (or any publication, really). But there is daily success to be had if we can appreciate it.
This was both touching and relatable, and I know I have some pithy bulletin board quote at home (I am away) about success = growing as a person while becoming more and more engaged in process over outcome. It's a simple, cliched idea, but living it is not so simple. I think we need to reinforce ourselves for when we get it right--when we truly appreciate the day's writing, reading, or literary citizenship. What would this look like? How do we actually distance ourselves from the post-pub indicators of success and really focus on what MOST of the writing life is--typing sentences and revising them. Thinking. Reading. Discussing. Daydreaming. Rejoicing in that glimmer of a new idea or plotpoint.
As for compare-and-despair, I've also noticed that being away from social media has allowed me to experience more unreserved happiness for other people's success. Maybe our brains are wired to handle only so much of seeing the Best-of lists, new deal announcements, book tour dates, and so on. Delivery mode may matter too, because when I get news via a newsletter or email, directly from an author, it feels different from seeing it while scrolling.
I think you have shared this with me over Zoom -- the process over outcome quote, because it's ringing a bell and it is ringing like truth!! As is your comment about only being wired to handle so much information about other people's achievements. We can only handle so much bad news, but maybe we can only handle so much GOOD news, too!
I absolutely love the image of success as a prism. It's an ongoing process for me to stop measuring success against things that are out of my control. True success is not out there somewhere, measured in sales or book deals, but in the promises I keep to myself and the effort I put into my creative projects. I can only truly succeed in the things I can control!
And it's impossible not to look at those external, out-of-control measures at times! Especially for someone like yourself, heading into your debut novel's publication (or any publication, really). But there is daily success to be had if we can appreciate it.
Yes, totally agree!