What is the Measure of Success?

[snaky_poet]

A friend asked on facebook recently, in a poetry group:

'Dear Writers: what, for you, is success?'

I answered:

1. Touching people's hearts. 
2. Applause (as performance poet). 
3. The respect of my peers. 
4. People remembering particular poems for years. 
5. Respecting myself / my work. 
6. Publication by reputable publishers/editors. 
7. Money. 
... In

Comments

[rowanryder]

what an excellent list!
I can relate to all of these, but not necessarily in the same order - and that order has itself changed for me over the years. I might actually leave money off the list altogether now, although of course that's because I can!
I think that one thing I would say, as an extension of your list, and which always stays for me, is my own sense of exploration (and wonder) when I work through possibilities, and which leads me to the sense that something is being born.
Can't beat it.
xx

[snaky_poet]

Thanks for commenting. Yes, that's a great addition to the list! I would think of it, perhaps, as a personal reward rather than a measure of success, but I guess the fact that it is present indicates that you are in that very moment succeeding a a writer.

[jongibbs]

Success for me is earning enough money from writing so my wife can give up work and I can leave a legacy for my two special needs daughters.

In the meantime, I'm having a ton of fun :)

[snaky_poet]

Man, I hope you get there real soon! I think you must be well on the way.

[captlychee]

I once said that buying the house in Camberwell wherein I lived on moving out of home would be when I'd 'made it'. That's not so important now, but I still wuold like to be able to walk in with a royalty cheque and buy it or something similar.

1. Buy said house.
2. Sitting on a panel at a WorldCon.
3. Having a movie credit.
4. Somebody doing a fanfic based on something of mine.

[snaky_poet]

Oh yes, those are good dreams! No-one coud argue against them as marks of a successful writer.