This post was written for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group where we share our encouragement or insecurities on the first Wednesday of the month, to join the group or find out more click here.
~~~oOo~~~
I’ve thought long and hard about my five year plan. I started wondering if I picked being an author because it is really, really hard to be successful. Rejections don’t hurt as much if I expect them. Hearing where my writing needs work is enlightening because I know I’m not perfect and incorporating the feedback into my work is mostly a pleasure. Nothing like seeing something evolve.
Looks like I’ve done a bit of evolving myself.
My five year plan is to improve as a storyteller and how I’ll get there is by practice and spending time in groups like this one. The experienced writers are always willing to help me and it feels pretty good to offer advice now and then myself.
I’m not a spotlight dweller, and never know what to do when I’m caught in one. I’d like to think if lightning ever hit, I’d be like Rowling and donate most it. I mean, how much money does a human female need anyway?
Who am I kidding? It’s lightning. hehehe
And that’s what gets me submitting, because my biggest fear is success.
So where do I see myself in five years? It might be in therapy trying to get over my fear, but I doubt it. It might be writing like I do today feeling the passion and enjoying the ride. Somehow I don’t think it matters as long as I’m able to express myself.
Making some money sounds great. Even being partnered up with an agent would be awesome, but spending time in our community is where my heart lives. What about you, are you enjoying the journey?
elements of emaginette 
“It might be in therapy trying to get over my fear,” I read somewhere that writing every day is a form of therapy – perhaps the better we get at it, the less we need to fear writing. Good luck with your writing endeavours.
Thanks. You’re right. Writing is a form of therapy. No wonder I love is so. 🙂
You make a good point about how hard it is to be successful as an author, therefore you just expect rejection. I hadn’t really thought about it that way, but you’re right, I don’t ever expect to be a success as a published and therefore just do it because I enjoy writing.
The love of writing is where the joy lives. I’m glad we share that. 🙂
Lol – love the line about being in therapy – I hear you on that one. If lighting hit and I were the next Rowling – I, too, would need therapy to get over my fear – TV appearances – radio interviews – yikes. So here’s hoping that in 5 years you a mid-size success so you won’t need therapy but are having loads of success.
Tweeted.
hehehe. Fingers crossed. 🙂
Great point about enjoying the journey. I’m definitely having fun writing for myself. Getting better at the craft is always a great goal, as well. If success happens, I’m sure you’ll grow with it, but hey, you’d be able to afford therapy if you needed it 🙂
A bonus I never thought of. hehehe
That is a wonderful sentiment!
Thanks. 🙂
I often think I couldn’t possibly spend the money that comes with success. Too often, it’s about keeping up and I don’t even like that race!
So true. 🙂
I’m definitely enjoying the journey and have gone about it completely backward 😉 My first stab at a novel didn’t go well, but I found my stride in editing. Now I’m back to writing short pieces. Time will tell if I have a novel within me.
I’m sure it’s there. If you ever need a beta reader I’m one poke away. 🙂
Yup just keep plugging. Yes I am enjoying the journey but feel more like a way of living. Great post
Juneta @ Writer’s Gambit
I’m glad we are having fun together. That’s nice. 🙂
Writing is definitely therapeutic for me! I get cranky and depressed if I miss too many morning free writing sessions. Your 5-year plan sounds good to me. I really struggled with that one. Doesn’t 2021 sound so far away?
~Tui, via TuiSnider.com
Way too far away. 🙂
I’m with you in that I write to express myself, let my stories out. I don’t think I’m in danger of being a Rowling ever, so I don’t have any plans for such an impossibility.
Lightning may hit any of us, so keep your head up. hehehe
Great goals. Learning to be a great storyteller takes time and effort. You’re on the right track.
All the best.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G.
I hope so. Thanks for dropping by. 🙂
Ooh, pretty snowflakes!
Being prepared for failure sounds far healthier than unrealistic expectations.
Enjoy the journey, after all it’s as well to spend the next 5 years with people you like! 😉
Thanks. *Lifting a coffee cup* To us!
As an indie author, I know I can publish whatever I want to write, though finding an audience for my work isn’t always easy. Improving one’s craft is important no matter where you are on your writing journey. Good luck with yours!
True. Finding an audience is the challenge. 🙂
Hard to think of a better goal than improving as a storyteller. No matter where we are in our writing journey that should always be a focus.
I’m glad you agree. 😉
It’s all about the journey for me. It had better be, after spending on this time journeying with nothing to show for it yet. But the writer friends I’ve met have made it all worthwhile.
We are part of a wonderful community. I couldn’t do it with you. 🙂
I’m not a spotlight dweller either. I tend to keep my head down and plug away, hoping to continue to learn and improve in the craft.
We’ll stick to the shadows and work on it together. 🙂
Awesome post. I don’t like the spotlight myself, and while it scares me, I keep on pushing forward. You can do it! 🙂
We’ll both do it and then I’ll hide behind you. hehehe
If lightning hit for me, I’d do the same thing. I’d just need enough money to be comfortable. I’m sending you an email in a moment to explain the difference between the blog hop (which you signed up for) and the other blog tour (which was the other option). 🙂
Thanks, Chrys. 🙂
I don’t think you need therapy. You sound like you know exactly what you want to go and I’m sure you know how to get there.
Thanks. 😉
I feel like I’ve plodded along in writing land at my own pace and a pace I can handle—first a blog, then some other public profiles on social media, then self publishing things. I can’t imagine being Rowling all of a sudden. That would me really nervous.
Good! I’m not alone. 🙂
I often feel that success is harder to take than failure. I’d often like to break even.
Breaking even sounds perfect to me. 🙂
Very good plan. Keep doing what you love and improvement is sure to come your way. I always feel like there is something to learn and groups like this one are full of knowledge and I’m thankful for that. Happy Holidays!
Community is a wonderful thing. 🙂
Improving as a storyteller is an awesome goal, Anna. The publishing world is in constant flux. No one can predict the next big thing, but great storytelling will always serve you well. Move forward, one word at a time.
VR Barkowski
Yes, one word at a time. Love it! 🙂
Sounds like you’ve got the right approach. Enjoy the journey, keep at it for the right reasons, and see where it takes you. Dropping in as a co-host for IWSG this month!
Thanks, Nick. 🙂
Enjoying the journey is everything.
Thanks, I’ll do my best. 🙂
I love this, Anna. It’s so important to enjoy the journey. Sometimes we get so focused on achieving goals we forget to actually remember we like the process. Life is short! Too short to worry yourself into an early grave, I say.
Happy holidays! Glad we got to meet this year.
I’m really glad we met as well. Definitely the highlight of the year. Best of the season to you. 🙂
I also enjoy my writing community almost as much as the writing itself. It’s fun to daydream about being the next big thing, but I’ll keep writing even if that never happens. As it sounds like you will too 🙂
It is true. I will. 🙂
I am absolutely loving the journey, Anna. If we aren’t enjoying it, we should change careers! I liked hearing your thought process around success. I tried to phrase my answer to this month’s question from the point of view of my ideal, my “dream” of what I can do and also what might happen if lightning does strike. I’m trying to remember to think big while continuing to do the work. Great answer to a good question. 🙂
Thanks. 🙂
Fear of success is an interesting fear. In my case, I planned to be a guest on Oprah, but she’s not on anymore, so strike that one out. Of course if I ever did get the chance, I’d be scared to death! You can travel that path to success in your writing, just remember to stop along the way and smell the roses. Best wishes!
Smelling the roses is never a problem. hehehe
I think fear of success is common, but I have no doubt you will accomplish it. Keep up the great work!
sherry @ fundinmental
Thanks, Sherry. 🙂
It’s “White Lightning”! Ha. Enjoy every minute of success that you earn.
HA! too funny. 🙂
Anna, =D Maybe in therapy. Probably not. 😉 I think we need to be able to laugh at ourselves and you have this knack for drilling down like that. You definitely have your heart in the right place, and it shows in how you write and express yourself.
Anne
Thank, Anne. 🙂
That fear never goes away. Sorry. We just have to suck it up and keep writing! If you do this, you will succeed.
A catch-22 if you ask me. 🙂
You’re doing everything right, Anna, but there’s just one thing I want you to do. Stop expecting rejections. Expect to be taken on as a client. Visualize it. Live it. Feel it. It took me 28 years to be publish, so I know what I’m talking about. See the success, feel it, and it’ll come. I promise.
I’ll try. 🙂
It won’t take you 28 years, Anna. I’m a slow learner.
I have this group and that does give me an edge. 🙂
I have had a couple 5 years plans in my life and never accomplished them. Ugh!
I change them as I go. Better success that way. hehehe