What's Your Why?
Understanding the motivation behind your passion, your art, your pursuit, can make it that much better, and more successful.
In her recent newsletter, Croatian book coach and writer Lidija Hilje asked, “Why do you write?” It launched a conversation about how writers define “success,” and she was saying that the why behind your writing will determine that answer. And she said something so true, but a little chilling nonetheless. She said…
“Writing the best book might not get you an agent.
Getting an agent does not mean getting published.
Getting published does not guarantee sales.
Getting people to buy your book does not guarantee good reviews.
Good reviews don't necessarily mean people will buy your book, either.
Writing one successful book doesn't mean your next one will be successful as well.”
And then she said that your why will determine when and how you’ll be satisfied in your writing pursuit. If you write because you LOVE it (like I do, like Lidija does), then you’ll always be successful. No matter what happens with your writing.
If you write to figure out what you think about things (like I do), then you’ll find satisfaction when you work on a piece and get closer to some answers.
If you write to play with words, and find new ways to be creative, and take apart the mechanics of storytelling only so you can reconstruct them with your own unique perspective, you’ll always be satisfied.
The hard cold truth about the writing industry (as you can see from the comments above) is very different from a passion for and a pursuit of the act of writing.
I want to publish everything that I write. That means sometimes I must fiercely and persistently submit my writing for other people’s scrutiny and wait until someone says, “YES! This is the piece we’ve been waiting for. Thank you!” And I’ll have to endure many rejections until I get there.
It also means that I can give myself permission to find alternative, out-of-the-box paths to publishing if the industry standard - the making-money-for-other-people structure of book publishing today - doesn’t necessarily resonate with my writing and vice versa. (Check out Joanna Penn and Pierre Jeanty and Sophia Hembeck who are just a few people publishing books in super creative and non-traditional ways - and succeeding at it!)
If satisfaction and success are the goals, it’s essential to figure out what that looks like for you. For me, it’s writing first, getting the story out, getting the words on the page, and then sharing them with a willing and eager audience.
Wherever and however I might find them.
In this day and age, you get to call the shots. You get to define success.
No. One. Else.
Let’s Write!
This week, I thought I’d like to share two writing prompts that I offered to my lovely community of writers who gather once a month for a free writealong. (Sign up here to join the Monthly Writealongs!) Feel free to use these again and again and again. You’ll get something new each and every time.
March Writing Prompt #1
Think of something in your life you are curious about. For instance, my husband and I watch a lot of British TV shows and we leave the captions on so we can better understand their accents. That’s turned into us leaving the captions on for all shows and movies we watch! I’d like to write something about needing captions to get the full story – a metaphor but using the real experience we are living now. What in your life could you write about descriptively but that will also offer another layer of meaning?
March Writing Prompt #2
Look out the window. Take notes on everything you see. Be as descriptive as you can, using all the senses if possible. Do this for 5-7 minutes, then continue writing with whatever these details lead you to think about. A sort of stream of consciousness setting piece.
And, if you’d like to share a piece of writing with me that comes from these prompts, send it here! Along with questions about writing, publishing or any feedback on this and other newsletters.
In the next issue, I’ll be announcing the winner of the March book giveaway. If you’re not a paid subscriber yet, now’s your chance to enter the drawing for this month!
Thanks for reading!!
All love, Lynne