Tuesday, August 26, 2014

When Do Writers Celebrate?

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.

23 comments:

Karen Jones Gowen said...

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.

Barbara Etlin said...

This is so true. Live in the moment. Celebrate each milestone!

Vijaya said...

LOL 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.

Leandra Wallace said...

I'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'.

Kelly Hashway said...

I celebrate everything, even daily word count goals. :)

Mirka Breen said...

I can believe it, Kelly. Especially with your phenomenal word counts!

Tina Cho said...

Love your graphics! I celebrate daily writing goals/quota. :)

Anonymous said...

YAY! 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!

Evelyn said...

It looks like my post disappeared. Nothing about waiting for approval. Please let me know if it doesn't show up.

Mirka Breen said...

Ha! THIS^ POST got through, not the original. Try again, and maybe we'll get to celebrate it.

Anonymous said...

YAY for celebrating every step of our writing journeys.

janlcoates said...

I'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!

Evelyn said...

Can'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.) :)

Evelyn said...

I think I've figured out--on your site, for some reason, if I don't click Preview first, my posts don't go through.

Mirka Breen said...

Hooray!
~Celebrating Evelyn's successful posting~

Mirka Breen said...

If we write to communicate, we need to feel we reached someone. Maybe this plays a part with the yearning for outside affirmation.

theartofpuro said...

I totally agree with you:) It's the same for illustrators too,but I think is ok foer everyone:) So,let's celebrate :)

Becky Shillington said...

THANK YOU for this, Mirka. It was *exactly* what I needed to hear today!

Ann Herrick said...

I agree. I think every success, big and small, deserves to be celebrated. Hearing from readers is a biggie too!

Yanting Gueh said...

Sometimes 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. :)

Stephanie Faris said...

So 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.

Marcia said...

Absolutely true. I celebrate every step, because you have to celebrate when you can.

Unknown said...

Yes, yes, yes!