How Can You Measure Your Writing Success?

Writing success can be a subjective and multifaceted goal, often dependent on the medium and genre of your work. As an example, I will draw from my own experiences in poetry, memoirs, and literary fiction to illustrate different ways of gauging writing success.

Introduction to Writing Success

The best way to determine if your writing is successful is through audience reactions. Unlike the screenwriting industry where scripts are often screened without payment, the literary world typically involves reading your work aloud to a critique group or an audience. Emotional reactions from your listeners often indicate that you have hit the right tone and conveyed your intended message effectively.

For me, I began with poetry, and eventually published three books. Although I treasure them and return to them often, commercial success is a different matter. My memoirs have been well-received, and each of my mysteries and romantic suspense novels has achieved a level of success that satisfies my personal goals. Success, in my case, is not solely about financial gain or winning awards, but about whether my work has entertained or provided value to readers.

Measuring Success Through Commercial Metrics

There are typically two conventional ways to measure writing success: financial metrics and award recognition. Financial success can be gauged by the number of books sold or the number of plays or movies based on your work. Award recognition, such as the Nobel literature prize, is another indicator of success, though it is rare for most writers.

For me, success is more about knowing that I have entertained readers in my CODE RAVE book series or the Lie to Me series. Success also means that I have shared valuable insights on living and aging in my non-fiction works, and readers can relate and enhance their lives through my work.

Longevity as a Measure of Success

While financial and award metrics provide immediate feedback, another way to gauge success is through the longevity of your works. This involves the length of time your books stay in print and if they remain relevant over generations. This longevity test determines if your writing offers something that stands the test of time and transcends differences in culture and values. It's a measure that you will never know in your lifetime but is crucial for future generations.

As a writer, my journey is a mix of emotional validation and commercial success. While I am neither famous nor infamous, my success is measured by the average review rating of 4.2/5 across my 20 books, compared to the average commercial authors who rate 3.9/5. My work has found its place in Amazon, and readers continue to engage with my stories and teachings.