The Modern Illusion of Success Is Killing Your Writing Career

We've all seen the fantasy version of a writer's life that we all secretly strive for - a big house, a spot on the NY Times Bestseller list, more cars than we'll ever drive, and the ability to pay off our student loans. 

Isn't that a fantastic dream? 

Somehow, writers have the idea of success in writing and fame and glory all roped into one when in reality both can exist without the other. 

Social media is mostly to blame, but the movies have created their own fair share of images of writers clacking away at their keys for only a short while, not showing any of the realities that go into being a writer. It's not just writing one draft, and sending it to an agent; then the next thing you know, there's a movie deal waiting for you in your inbox.

I wish. 

The Hollywood Mirage has its downfall in three parts. 

• The Idea of Instant Fame and Fortune

Nothing in this world comes in an instant - but it can only take one to lose everything. 

Most authors you see making the big bucks off of their words had to struggle and grind for years, sometimes throwing away entire novels that never even got a second glance before being tossed into some agent's trash bin. 

Most authors's success stories start with years and years of failures before they were even able to go out and buy themselves something to celebrate the occasion without wondering if it was going to make the difference between whether the lights were still going to be on when they got home. 

• Over-Glamorization 

Sure the moves may show the author walking down the same red carpets as those who star in the films of the world they helped create, but most of the time they don't show the hours of loneliness and aching backs spent crouched over keyboards or the lost hours of sleep trying to figure out that once scene the story needs but they just haven't figured out what it is yet - most likely for that scene to be left out of the movie altogether in the end. 

You may know how it feels to be a reader whose favorite book is going to be made into a movie, - just to not have your favorite part shown on the big screen. 

Imagine how that feels to the author who in too many cases, has absolutely no creative control over the movie - yet they'll take the fall for it from those who loved their book and paid the money to see the movie and support them. 

• Blockbusters…or Bust

I'm not sure how it became that writers started to believe that if their books aren't being made into the next Hollywood blockbuster then they have failed as a writer. 

Isn't the whole point of writing a book - is to write a book?

If you want to see your work up on a movie screen why not write screenplays to begin with?

But in all honestly there are thousands and thousands of writers who have made a thriving living off of their books and not a single one of them has had their books made into movies. 

The illusion that our books need to be seen on social media and talked about by everyone does nothing but give us anxiety about our own work and may even lead to us becoming so stressed out with comparative anxiety that we fail to finish them altogether. 

But there's still hope for us and what we need to do is - 

• Set Realistic Writing Goals

 Success is not the same for everyone. 

I define my writing success as being able to tell the stories that are in my head and share them with the world, while also making sure the lights in my home are never shut off and I don't have to worry about whether or not I'm going to be able to feed my cat. 

You may define your success by seeing your book made into the next summer blockbuster to come to a movie screen or a streaming service near you and that's perfectly okay as well. 

It's going to take a lot of time, dedication, and hard work, so remember that when you get to the last point in this list. 

• Embrace the Journey 

Writing is a process and success rarely happens overnight and is more like learning to run a marathon. You can't run 26 miles if haven't even laced up your shoes to run that first mile. 

You can't publish a book without writing that first chapter. 

Celebrate accomplishments and milestones and even in moments where you fall and scrape your knee and feel like throwing in the towel, just remember that there's something amazing waiting for you on the other side of the finish line. 

• Prioritize the Craft 

It may be hard to do for some of us, but instead of focusing on seeking external validation and scrolling through social media to see which writer on our feed has been given the book or movie deal with more commas than we've ever seen in our bank accounts - we focus on how we can improve our writing so that we will be able to share our own deals when it comes around. 

There are writing classes available all over the web as well as hundreds of books available online or for free in your local library if not a writing class in your area. Use the tools you have available to you to better your craft and the rewards will follow. 

• Build A Support Network 

Writing doesn't have to be a lonely endeavor. 

We may spend hours alone in front of a screen or with our notebooks to bring the things we see in our heads to life - but that doesn't mean that this is all we have to have. 

Family, friends, and a writing community are all essential to a healthy life as a writer. 

We need those who support us, those who will drag us away from our computers to experience the real world every once in a while, and those who are going through the same thing we are so they know just what to say to stop us from throwing our laptops out of our third-floor windows. 

and absolutely the most important one 

• Don't Give Up

I know this can be a lot to ask, but the only thing that can ruin any chance you have at a successful writing career is giving up because you think that you have somehow failed because you are not seeing instant success or the money isn't flowing in as fast as you thought it would. 

But you need to hang on just a little while longer. 

If you haven't finished writing your book yet, finish it before you make the decision to quit. Just to prove to yourself you can. 

If you haven't been accepted by an agent yet, submit your work to at least 100 of them before taking a break from it. Agents receive many submissions so it's possible your acceptance is just around the corner and if you quit now you'll miss it. 

If you're novel hasn't been made into a movie yet, maybe it's only a matter of time. There are more streaming services popping up every day, find out how to get your work in their hands and maybe that'll change. 

but it won't if you quit. 

Now get back to writing - your story isn't over yet. 

With love, 

B - King xo xo

Want to write with me live? I'm now on Twitch! Come join me in some writing sprints every Wed-Thurs-Fri-Sat at 10:30 pm EST

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