I overheard a conversation recently, where a group of young people were chatting (I suspect) without much thought. We were on a bus driving past a marina where a fairly full stable of yachts were docked — including quite a few multi-million dollar models on display. I am not a boat expert, in fact I get quite seasick. But I customarily eavesdrop, being a writer and all.
Anyway, this young blonde kid in his twenties (let’s call him Xavier, he looked like a Xavier) remarks, “you know you’ve made it when you can dock your yacht here.” Hmm, I thought, ok. But then another, older guy (who we will call Nick) had also been eavesdropping. He sits up and says, “So, that’s making it, huh?” Xavier turns to him, clearly not expecting to be overheard, let alone questioned. “What?” he asks. Nick lazily slings his arm over the back of the chair, cocks an eyebrow and says, “That’s ‘making it’ to you? A yacht at the marina? Sounds expensive.”
I almost peed myself laughing. But it made me realise that “making it” is extremely personal. The average writer will make no more than $1 from their writing. But that doesn’t mean that making $1 or less is a failure. Or that making $2 or even $2000 is success. It depends entirely on your own definition of “making it”. Whether that is becoming a published writer, getting paid, winning a competition, getting an agent, or becoming a better (unpublished, unpaid) writer. I suggest that next time you’re comparing yourself to another writer, just remember Xavier and Nick.
If you’re struggling to find your own definition, check out my article that goes into a little more detail by clicking here.