ROWAN UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF WRITING ARTS
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Measuring Your Own Success as A Writer - Helaina Parejo

4/18/2021

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Picture
Photo: Laura Chouette on Unsplash

It won’t take long for any new writer to come into contact with the coveted term of ‘successful’. There is this set standard and it feels like we’re all grasping toward it:  becoming a successful writer. There is an underlying pressure of fear that if a writer does not become ‘successful’, then they have failed. They will never be able to support themselves and now, they’ve wasted all this time on their silly projects when they could’ve been focusing on something else.

But, this line of thinking, for lack of a better word, sucks. First off, the term ‘successful’ is ridiculously ambiguous. What defines success to one person may be extremely different to another. Is a successful writer someone who has had their work published? Is it a New York Times Bestselling author? Is it the author of a book series that’s being made into a movie? With so many variables, the only way to decide if you have become a successful writer is to make your own terms. 


Beyond the lack of consensus behind the term, ‘successful’, this idea can create a huge mental obstacle for many young writers. For most, the concept of success is something they do not believe they can reach. Whether they doubt their talent, their skills, or their love for writing entirely, any kind of questioning can stunt your creativity. And, in the most extreme cases, make people give up on writing entirely. Secondly, there is also the possibility of exasperating the burnout that writes face on a normal basis. While it may be a common issue, the amount of time spent feeling ‘burnt out’ only increases when reaching for success. A lot of writers will push themselves too far too fast, sacrificing their mental health just to get their daily word-count in. There are plenty of other harmful repercussions when it comes to perpetuating the myth of the successful writer, but none of them are worth clinging to this idea. 

So, in lieu of reaching for this undefined idea of success, writers should try setting success on their own terms. 

Regardless of how small or insignificant your successes may seem at first, any progress and any goal is worthy of achievement and recognition. Creating writing goals for yourself is a great way to keep yourself motivated. By breaking the long-term process of writing into smaller, more manageable goals, finishing your project will seem significantly less daunting. Also, it prevents you from comparing yourself to others. You can’t exactly judge your writing based on another writer’s piece when you both have completely different goals and expectations for your work. It keeps you laser-focused on your own achievements and what you need to get done to satisfy yourself. 

Beyond that, writing can be a stressful process. Writers have to be prepared to experience some disappointments in the form of rejection and criticism. One way to offset this, however, is to preserve your optimism by allowing yourself to recognize when you have done a good job. Often, writers will meet a deadline or finish their novel with the mindset of, ‘now that I’m done with that, it’s on to the next goal’, without giving themselves time for enjoyment. But at the same time, a single bad review or minor misstep will have writers feeling dejected for a few days. By forcing yourself to acknowledge and celebrate the small wins in your writing life, you are setting a better mindset and practicing self-love. 

If you’re still struggling with breaking your writing goals down into bite-sized bits, here are some suggestions offered by Rowan University’s Writing Arts students and staff. 

“How do you measure your success as a writer?” 

  • “Anytime I manage to write 1,000 words in one day, I can feel pretty accomplished.” 
Setting realistic word-count goals is one way to give yourself structure and a sense of accomplishment! 

  • “Knowing that my work has value because I want to share it with others.” 
Wanting to show off your progress with other people is a great way to gauge how passionate you are about your current work in progress. 

  • “Meeting minimal goals. Having others read it and feel transported.” 
Having readers respond well to your work is a vague statement, but giving it a concrete description like feeling transported helps you see your success at work!

  • “Having the courage to try new things.” 
Feeling courageous with your writing is such an important skill to develop. Never stop experimenting! 
​


  • "If my audience reacts to my work as I’d hoped or understands what I’m trying to say, that’s a win!"
Sharing work with others is a great way to stay motivated and remind yourself of the ultimate goal of writing, which is to put it out into the world.

  • “Have I made my best attempt at capturing an experience/idea/feeling that I want to share?” 
Trying your best is a great way to ensure that you don’t push yourself too harshly to reach an unrealistic goal. 

  • “Having at least one person that it resonates with.” 
Your work only has to impact one person to make it meaningful (and that person can be yourself). 

  • “By how happy my piece makes me. If I laugh or am impressed, that proves that I am still moving forward.” 
One of the best ways to measure your success is by taking a step back and evaluating how much you are enjoying the process! 

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  • Home
  • Programs
    • Creative Writing Minor
    • WA Major
    • Minors >
      • Publishing and Writing for the Public
      • New Media Minor
      • Technical & Professional Writing Minor
      • Writing Arts Minor
    • Certificates of Undergraduate Study >
      • CUGS in Creative Writing
      • CUGS in Publishing and Writing for the Public
      • CUGS in Technical and Professional Writing
      • CUGS in Writing Studies for Educators
      • CUGS in Professional Communication
      • CUGS in Writing for the Environment
    • 4+1 (B.A.+M.A.) Program
    • Degree in 3
    • Graduate Programs
  • Advising
  • WA Major
    • Writing Arts Journey
    • Required Courses >
      • General Education >
        • Science and Mathematics
        • Social and Behavioral Sciences
        • Literature, History, Humanities, and Language
      • Introduction to Writing Arts >
        • History & Materiality of Writing
        • Issues in Writing
        • Technologies & the Future of Writing
      • Methods Choice >
        • Communication Theory
        • How Writers Read
        • Tutoring Writing
      • Creative Choice >
        • Creative Writing I
        • Writing Children's Stories
      • The Writer's Mind
      • Writing, Research & Technology
      • Literacy Studies >
        • Situating Writing
        • Writing With Technologies
      • Senior Seminar: Methods of Analysis and Evaluation of Writing
      • Portfolio Seminar
      • Free Electives
    • Elements of Language >
      • American English Grammar
      • Editing for Publication
      • Introduction to Anthropological Linguistics
      • Linguistics
      • Rhetorics of Style
      • Semantics
    • Concentrations >
      • Creative Writing >
        • Creative Writing I
        • Creative Writing II
        • Film Scenario Writing
        • Fundamentals of Playwriting
        • Magazine Article Writing
        • Professions in Writing Arts
        • The Publishing Industry
        • Screenwriting I: Writing the Short
        • Screenwriting II: Writing the Feature
        • Tutoring Writing
        • Teaching the Writer's Workshop >
          • Publishing & Writing for the Public >
            • Applied Media Aesthetics: Sight, Sound and Story
            • Editing the Literary Journal
            • Environmental Writing & Rhetoric
            • Fiction to Film
            • Introduction to New Media
            • Media Law
            • Online Journalism I
            • Participatory Media
            • The Publishing Industry
            • Publication Layout & Design
            • Photojournalism
            • Professions in Writing Arts
            • Rhetorical Theory
            • Self Publishing
            • Writing for Popular Culture
            • Writing for the Workplace
            • Internship
            • Research Practicum
        • Writing Children's Stories
        • Writing Comedy
        • Writing Creative Nonfiction
        • Writing Fiction
        • Writing Genre Fiction
        • Writing Poetry
        • Writing the Young Adult Novel
        • Internship
        • Research Practicum
      • Technical & Professional Writing >
        • Developing Health and Scientific Literacy
        • Introduction to Technical Writing
        • Medical Writing and Rhetoric
        • Professions in Writing Arts
        • The Publishing Industry
        • Scientific Writing and Rhetoric
        • Tutoring Writing
        • Writing to Bear Witness
        • Writing for Nonprofits
        • Writing for the Workplace
        • Internship
        • Research Practicum
    • WA Learning Community >
      • Publishers
  • Internships
    • Internal Internships
    • External Internships
  • Careers
  • Faculty
    • Faculty Resources >
      • Best Practices in Online Learning
      • Syllabus Requirements
      • HyFlex/Remote Learning
      • Canvas Support >
        • Writing Comedy
      • Accessibility in Online Courses
      • Racial Equity Online
      • Supporting Developmental Writers Remotely
      • Building an Online Classroom Community
    • Acknowledgements
  • Blogs
    • Writer's Insider Blog >
      • Spring 2022 >
        • Writing Diverse Characters
      • Fall 2021
      • Spring 2021
      • Fall 2020
      • Spring 2020
      • Fall 2019
      • Spring 2019 >
        • An Interview with Devon James & Rachel Barton
        • Confession Travel Writer
        • Self-Publishing: A Change in Perspective
        • CCCA Career Fair: Having Your Future in Mind
        • Alumni Success: Entering the Working World
        • Behind the Scenes of Rowan's Hiring Process
        • Writing Comedy
      • Fall 2018 >
        • Singularity Press: Rowan's New Start Up
        • Writing Arts Club
        • How Can We Evaluate Creative Writing?
        • More Inclusive Events for Technical Writers
        • Guest Speaker Manuela Soares
        • Glassworks Reading
        • Spotlight: Taylor Henry, Recently Published Rowan Alum
      • Spring 2018 >
        • Publishing and Writing for the Public: A Reconstructed Concentration
        • What You Think You Know About Technical and Professional Writing is Wrong
        • The Toni Libro Medallion Award Winner: Myriah Stubee
        • An Interview with a Publisher
        • Excellence in Writing Arts Medallion Winner: Sara Skipp
        • The College of Communcation and Creative Arts 6th Annual Student Awards and Showcase Ceremony
        • Rowan Alum, Marissa Cohen, On Self Publishing and Advocacy
      • Fall 2017 >
        • Upcoming Classes in the Writing Arts Department
        • The Writer's Journey Blog by Earl Garcia
        • Rewriting The Department's Social Media Platforms
        • Rowan University Writing Arts Club Reinvents Mission
        • Glassworks Launches Issue Fifteen
        • For Futuristic Consideration: An Exploration of Careers in Writing
      • Spring 2017 >
        • Technical Communication: An Overview
        • A More Inclusive Future for Technical Writers
        • Easing the Tension: Breaking Down Technical and Professional Writing
        • Growing the Technical and Professional Writing Concentration
      • Fall 2016
      • Spring 2016
      • Winter 2015
      • Fall 2015 >
        • 2014 and Prior >
          • Archive
    • The Bulletin Board
    • RU Writing? Podcast
  • Creative Writing
    • CW Faculty Publications
    • CW Course Offerings
  • Writing Center
  • Alumni
    • Undergraduate
    • Graduate
  • Awards
    • 2022 Emerging Writers Scholarship
    • Denise Gess Literary Awards
    • Excellence in Writing Arts Medallion Award
    • AnToinette Libro Graduate Medallion Award
    • Past Awards >
      • 2008 Hollybush Writing Competition
      • Write Rowan, Right Now! Contest
  • Student Groups
    • Writing Arts Club
    • Avant Literary Magazine
    • The Whit Newspaper
    • Her Campus Rowan
    • Odyssey at Rowan
    • Singularity Press
  • Events
  • ECCCA
    • RU Deptartment of Writing Arts - Home
    • News & Announcements
    • Rowan University - Home
    • Ric Edelman College of Communication & Creative Arts at Rowan University - Home
    • Student Groups
  • About Us
    • Our Vision and Mission
    • Land Acknowledgement
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