I've been watching this and not really weighing in on it, not really having the experience to, you know, say anything.
People comment on the different meassurements of success, mostly involving publishing and payment, and others mention artistic importance and success.
I...well, I must have the lowest bar for rating something successful in writing history:
I just don't want to suck.
It would be fun if the thing I'm writing got published, hell yes. And getting money for it would be icing on the cake. But mostly I'd want it published so I could send nifty copies to my friends, and they could all giggle over it, because it's supposed to be funny.
For me, writing is like acting, my actual long term talent and skill. I'm good, very good, on stage. But basically, I have no illusions that I'm Ian McKellan (I've met and seen him live, so I KNOW I am no Ian McKellan); I just want the people who come to see the show I'm in forget that it's me, and enjoy the performance.
And in the book thing, it's much the same way. Everyone who's beta reading the MS is havin a hoot of a time on it, and is really enjoying the thing. They all want the final chapters. And frankly, so do I. And I'll be able to finish within a relatively short time.
So. I'll have written a full book. And people will have liked it.
I will have succeeded.
In fact, I've already vastly exceeded my expectations on this project; so I've already succeeded.
Six years ago two friends of mine were riding back from a choral recording session we did at Lucas Ranch, for the SFGMC. We had stopped at the Marin Farmers' Market and bought fresh grapes, cheese, smoked salmon, and crackers, and were driving across the Golden Gate Bridge, eating them as we went.
One of my friends said "This is how I want my life to be someday. I want to be driving in a BMW, eating brie and fresh grapes with my friends, and just having a great day."
I looked in the mirror and said "Sweet? That's your life today. Why not enjoy it?"
Again, I guess I set my bar low, but I've already succeeded at this writing thing, to a large degree, and each word I put down towards finishing this MS makes the success even greater.
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Pollyanna speaks up.
Date: 2006-03-08 09:36 pm (UTC)People comment on the different meassurements of success, mostly involving publishing and payment, and others mention artistic importance and success.
I...well, I must have the lowest bar for rating something successful in writing history:
I just don't want to suck.
It would be fun if the thing I'm writing got published, hell yes. And getting money for it would be icing on the cake. But mostly I'd want it published so I could send nifty copies to my friends, and they could all giggle over it, because it's supposed to be funny.
For me, writing is like acting, my actual long term talent and skill. I'm good, very good, on stage. But basically, I have no illusions that I'm Ian McKellan (I've met and seen him live, so I KNOW I am no Ian McKellan); I just want the people who come to see the show I'm in forget that it's me, and enjoy the performance.
And in the book thing, it's much the same way. Everyone who's beta reading the MS is havin a hoot of a time on it, and is really enjoying the thing. They all want the final chapters. And frankly, so do I. And I'll be able to finish within a relatively short time.
So. I'll have written a full book. And people will have liked it.
I will have succeeded.
In fact, I've already vastly exceeded my expectations on this project; so I've already succeeded.
Six years ago two friends of mine were riding back from a choral recording session we did at Lucas Ranch, for the SFGMC. We had stopped at the Marin Farmers' Market and bought fresh grapes, cheese, smoked salmon, and crackers, and were driving across the Golden Gate Bridge, eating them as we went.
One of my friends said "This is how I want my life to be someday. I want to be driving in a BMW, eating brie and fresh grapes with my friends, and just having a great day."
I looked in the mirror and said "Sweet? That's your life today. Why not enjoy it?"
Again, I guess I set my bar low, but I've already succeeded at this writing thing, to a large degree, and each word I put down towards finishing this MS makes the success even greater.