Winning Defined by Steph Beth Nickel

 

As writers, we want to “win,” but there are numerous definitions of exactly what that means. Each of us must determine what winning means to us and refuse to be tied to the definitions of others.

For some, winning (or success) means making a fulltime living with their writing. If you’re doing so, that’s incredible. Kudos!

This may be your ultimate goal, but even if you’re not there yet, know that it’s alright to define each “smaller,” more attainable goal as a win well worth celebrating.

If you’re not making your living with the written word (or in your preferred style / genre) and are not particularly interested in doing so, be encouraged, knowing that this isn’t the only definition of winning at writing.

Is your goal to write every day and most days you’re putting pen to paper? You’re winning.

If your goal is to hit a certain word count each day, week, or month, and most times you’re able to tick it off your Action Plan, you are winning.

If you are writing for a limited audience and even one person is entertained, encouraged, or empowered by what you’ve written, that is definitely a win.

Is your goal to process your thoughts and emotions in a journal for your eyes only, and you are often able to do so? This is one of the most important wins of all—and will have an impact on all areas of life, including your other writing.

You may be writing every day or once a week. You may be writing for a readership of thousands or a handful of people. You may be writing full-length books or social media posts.

No matter what you’re writing, know that there are different definitions of winning, and don’t neglect to celebrate the “smallest” of wins while pressing on to those “bigger” wins—or not. It’s your choice. You are free to define winning.

And while we’re learning to celebrate our writing wins, let’s encourage our fellow writers and remind them that winning doesn’t necessarily mean publishing a runaway bestseller or taking home first place in a prestigious contest. It doesn’t necessarily mean becoming a household name or being recognized when walking down the street. It doesn’t necessarily mean reporters are calling to set up interviews or social media influencers are highlighting our writing.

Sometimes winning means sitting down at your computer and adding 250 or 500 words to your WIP, taking a deep breath and hitting Publish, visiting the local coffee shop and jotting down inspiration for an idea that’s just starting to percolate in your mind (coffee shop + percolate = unintentional metaphor / pun).

So, what does winning at writing mean to you? Regardless of whether or not you’re achieving your ultimate definition of success, how are you winning today? And I assure you . . . you are!

A Repressed Writing Memory by Loretta Bouillon

This month’s prompt was to write about a memory connected to your writing journey. I contemplated for a while, trying to remember when I first started writing. In previous posts, I have talked about keeping a diary when I was a young girl and writing stories in my grandma’s kitchen. Then I remembered something I have not thought about for many years.

I entered a story-writing contest in school. I don’t remember what grade I was in, or what the story was even about, but I remember writing a story to enter into a contest (city wide or country wide, I really don’t know). I remember going to the Kitchener Public Library to write the story to feel more like a “real” writer. Not really sure where “real” writers did their writing, I suppose I felt it was the best place to be inspired.

Once it was written, I needed to have the piece typed. At that time in my life I could not type. I decided to ask my Aunt Lee if she would type it for me (on a manual typewriter!) She was the secretary for our school library and I saw her typing stuff all the time. I am not sure what she really thought but she very kindly agreed to type up my story.

Weeks must have passed and I never heard back from the contest. When I think back on the experience now, I think I must have felt a certain level of rejection. I remember taking the bus several times across the city, to the library and pouring my heart and soul into the project.

It was years…..many….before I seriously wrote again. I kept journals all my life and I wrote what I needed to for school, but I never entered another contest until much later in life. It’s interesting that it took this prompt to remember this experience.

Over the years, I have been learning to accept rejection and criticism when it comes to my writing. If I gave up after every rejection then I most certainly would not be writing anymore. Logically, I see it as a valuable tool if there is feedback attached to the rejection letter. It can help me grow as a writer if I don’t take it personally. Also, not everyone is going to like what I write… and that’s okay.

The really neat thing about this post, is that it prompted me to contact my aunt who painstakingly typed up my story. Forty years later I finally thanked her properly!