Getting a
manuscript finished does not mean you will get an agent to represent it.
Getting an agent
does not mean you will get a sale.
Getting a sale
to a publisher does not mean the book will make it all the way to publication.
Making it to
publication does not mean it will have decent sale numbers. Or awards. Or good
reviews. Or anything.
So when do we get
to celebrate?
I’d say- celebrate every one of these milestone.
LIFE IS TOO SHORT.
No, this is not
an announcement. I celebrate every milestone, and have had almost every one of
the above mentioned set-backs. I’m just doing my usual thing here- giving my
four-cents worth.
Chin up, brave
dreamers. Every bit counts.
I celebrate when I finish writing a project that pleases me, because I've done my best work. After that, much of it is out of my control. So I start another book, because the writing is really all that matters to me. Sales, reviews, rankings-- phhh. Those are results I can't control so I try to avoid looking at them.
ReplyDeleteThis is so true. Live in the moment. Celebrate each milestone!
ReplyDeleteLOL Mirka, that was a teaser ... Alas, except for the agent thing, I've been derailed at every step. So if I write I celebrate! Love the Andes thin mint chocolates.
ReplyDeleteI've been celebrating finishing a first draft- and it feels amazing! We definitely need to find the joy in all the steps along the way, even if some of those steps then don't lead to 'bigger and better'.
ReplyDeleteI celebrate everything, even daily word count goals. :)
ReplyDeleteI can believe it, Kelly. Especially with your phenomenal word counts!
DeleteLove your graphics! I celebrate daily writing goals/quota. :)
ReplyDeleteYAY! Just what I needed to hear today! Every chance I get to sit down to write is a cause for celebration. And I celebrate that I get to know great wise folks, with wonderful senses of humor - like Mirka! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like my post disappeared. Nothing about waiting for approval. Please let me know if it doesn't show up.
ReplyDeleteHa! THIS^ POST got through, not the original. Try again, and maybe we'll get to celebrate it.
DeleteCan't remember exactly, except I agree with you totally. And if I don't have something to celebrate in my own writing career, I can usually find an author friend who has something wonderful happening that I can enjoy celebrating. (I posted on your FB when it looked it didn't go through here.) :)
DeleteI think I've figured out--on your site, for some reason, if I don't click Preview first, my posts don't go through.
DeleteHooray!
Delete~Celebrating Evelyn's successful posting~
YAY for celebrating every step of our writing journeys.
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking about this lately. I struggle with the celebrating/being satisfied thing - seems there's always something to strive for, but maybe that's what keeps me writing... The idea that we need outside affirmation is what really bugs me!
ReplyDeleteIf we write to communicate, we need to feel we reached someone. Maybe this plays a part with the yearning for outside affirmation.
DeleteI totally agree with you:) It's the same for illustrators too,but I think is ok foer everyone:) So,let's celebrate :)
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU for this, Mirka. It was *exactly* what I needed to hear today!
ReplyDeleteI agree. I think every success, big and small, deserves to be celebrated. Hearing from readers is a biggie too!
ReplyDeleteSometimes I feel bad about not working much enough, and forget to look at what I HAVE done. Every bit adds to the grand achievement. There is no reason not to celebrate. :)
ReplyDeleteSo true!!! There are so many milestones once you get published, too. Signing the contract, finishing revisions, finishing copyedits, getting your ARCs in the mail, getting your actual BOOKS in the mail... But each one means lots of work, so it's important to celebrate when you finish them. It's really more about finishing the work than what happens on the other end because you can't control that.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely true. I celebrate every step, because you have to celebrate when you can.
ReplyDeleteYes, yes, yes!
ReplyDelete