A Re-Defining Moment

I've always had a plan: Write books, sell books, become a bestselling author. Success is simple, right? Only it's not. Not by a long shot. 

I  recently met with the  couple who helped me publish my last book, lovely people who are generous with their time and encouragement. My mission? Get this book launch right, after the last one fell flat. The book itself was great, but the seller (me) just didn't have her act together. This time I want to go about things differently. And to do that, I need a game plan. The first step is defining my objectives. 

Money has never been my big motivator, but let's face it, I didn't pursue a writing career to lose money either. Contrary to what people may think, being a published author is not synonymous with making your living at it. I personally know LOTS of authors, and except for those who are retired, only one of them doesn't have a day job. 1) My goal is to be able to afford to make writing my day job.  

I am also an artist, but one of the reasons I don't sell much art is because selling sucks the beauty out of creating. (There is a reason why "starving artist" is a well-known phrase!) I thought writing would be different, but it's not. I want readers to love my book-babies for the wonders they are, not because I've shoved them in their faces saying "read me, Read Me, READ ME!" Carnival barking has never been my style, yet I'm expected to have a platform, a hook, a pitch, an eye-catching banner, and free giveaways to make my books enticing, and then spend 90% of my time marketing them on social media. Geesh! What made folks read before that was a thing? Well...good writing, I suppose. So, my next objective is to 2) Write more and better books, building up a substantial body of quality work.

I also want to 3) Connect more with my readers. I like people. I like hearing their stories and sharing mine. I love inspiring them to use their gifts and talents, which I've always believed are given for more than just our personal enjoyment. How much more crazy-awesome would this old world be if everybody was doing what they love to do, and what they are good at? Can you imagine all of the positive energy that would create? The discoveries that would be made? Yet, how many of us can say we are truly living up to our full potential?

Maybe success is simply being able to do whatever you and I were born to do.
 

Let's find out. Let's be successful together this year.