I’ve spent the last several months with my head deep in a dictionary, editing THE WHIZBANG WORDBOOK, so excuse me if I’m a little definition-sensitive these days. But hear me out. This is important stuff.
How many of you have done this—set arbitrary goals that signal, in your mind, that you’ve become a success?
If I get a literary agent, then I’m a success.
If I get one book deal, then I’m a success.
And then you hit those goals, and suddenly, that definition of success gets tossed out the window.
No, one book deal isn’t successful! Two book deals would be!
And then you get those two deals. But again, it’s not enough to be deemed a success in your eyes.
So you compile an entire list of criteria for success.
A lead title!
A starred review!
Two starred reviews! Three! Four!
An Indies NEXT selection!
A Junior Library Guild selection!
A New York Times bestseller!
A Caldecott!!!!
The bar of success keeps inching higher. You are forever chasing it, feeling like a failure for not being successful!
But I’m here to tell you, YOU ARE A SUCCESS.
OK, I’m not telling you this just because *I* think you’re a success and I want to be all warm and fuzzy.
Let’s look at the WORD.
Notice that “success” is part of “succession”:
And that the meaning of succession is someone or something that follows another.
The Latin root of both words is succedere, which means to “come after or follow after.”
So all those goals you’ve lined up? And the ones you’ve already hit? They follow one after another after another and they’re the original definition of success—to continue to reach those goals and thus, form new ones.
You cannot say you’re not successful if you have conquered at least one goal on your list. You are.
The real meaning of being successful is forming goals, reaching them, and ascending to a new level, with loftier goals. As long as you are striving, you are succeeding.
Success is not stagnant. Success is always moving forward.
So FOREVER ONWARD, writers!
Here’s to being a SUCCESS—many times over!
63 comments
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May 29, 2019 at 12:45 pm
Joyce Schriebman
This is GOOD. 🙂
May 29, 2019 at 12:46 pm
Lauri Meyers
Thank you Tara for helping us keep our chins up!
May 29, 2019 at 12:52 pm
Deb Sullivan
So inspiring..thanks for the much needed reminder 🙂
May 29, 2019 at 12:52 pm
Stephanie Lucianovic ⛈️ (@grubreport)
I needed to hear this today, Tara. Thank you. Two book deals in and I’m already looking ahead and asking “But why haven’t I …” or “When will I …”? Especially during BEA.
It doesn’t help that picture books take FOREVER to produce long after the text writing is over, so while you twiddle your thumbs waiting for that pub date, you are definitely looking at “what’s next?” And this can mean you’re writing something new and defining your success by whether that sells or not.
Or sells at auction.
Or has a pre-emptive offer.
I think one of the biggest pieces of this “success” journey is that you get addicted to the jolts of excitement that come with each “success,” so you are always chasing those jolts. It’s so hard just to sit there with yourself and be content.
May 29, 2019 at 12:53 pm
Marsha Diane Arnold
Fabulous post, Whizbang Lady. 🙂
May 29, 2019 at 12:55 pm
Daryl Gottier
Thanks I needed that!
May 29, 2019 at 1:11 pm
Wendy
Love you, Tara. ❤
May 29, 2019 at 1:11 pm
lmconnors
This is a wonderfully inspiring post. Thank you Tara!
May 29, 2019 at 1:19 pm
Sarah SarahH
Very nice, Tara. This is a post for the ages!
Here’s to your continued success!
May 29, 2019 at 1:33 pm
lindaschueler
Love this! Thanks so much!
May 29, 2019 at 1:36 pm
Sherri Jones Rivers
Thanks, Tara. I just came up with a type of acrostic for success as is has many different meanings:
Sharing knowledge
Upholding others
Choosing joy
Cultivating imagination
Eliminating negativity
Showing respect
Sharpening skills.
May 29, 2019 at 1:37 pm
Tara Lazar
Nice! You need a poster of that!
May 29, 2019 at 1:38 pm
Sherri Jones Rivers
Thanks, Tara, coming from you—BIG COMPLIMENT!
May 29, 2019 at 2:09 pm
kjerstenhayes
Love this post Tara. It’s so relevant to anyone at any stage of the game. And it’s also relevant to how our self doubts can be self defeating. Thanks!
May 29, 2019 at 2:13 pm
Deb Lund
Word play AND encouragement. See? This is why I adore you! 😘
May 29, 2019 at 2:14 pm
Erin Byal
Loved this! I appreciate the reminder!
May 29, 2019 at 2:16 pm
mariagianferrari
Hear-hear, Tara!! ❤ ❤
May 29, 2019 at 2:20 pm
kathydoherty1
Tara, you are my favorite cheerleader! Thank you! xo
May 29, 2019 at 2:32 pm
Linda M.
I feel the hug in this!
May 29, 2019 at 2:53 pm
Genevieve Petrillo
I like that thought. Striving is succeeding. I’ll take it. I am a success… Woot!
May 29, 2019 at 3:04 pm
marsha e wright
Wooo…wooo! Needed to read your words today as I wait and wait and wait to hear from four publishers about my submissions. We are successes for latching onto the merry-go-round of writing for children.
After my first submission, a good friend said to me, “Wow! You submitted a picture book. That’s awesome!” Since I was working on three more stories to submit, I didn’t feel the celebration. Thanks to you, Tara, I do!
On my What’s-It board, I display a “Daily Extra” note: “27: The number of publishing companies that rejected the manuscript of Dr. Seuss’s first book for children, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street.”
I am content (for now). LOL
May 29, 2019 at 3:15 pm
Marileta Robinson
Perfect reminder, Tara.
May 29, 2019 at 3:18 pm
Rona Shirdan
Thank you for the positive message!
May 29, 2019 at 3:27 pm
ciaraoneal
I need to remember this! Thanks!
May 29, 2019 at 3:27 pm
Kathy Halsey
Such wise words! Thank you, Tara Lazar.
May 29, 2019 at 3:31 pm
katrinamoorebooks
So true! Thanks for the uplifting post, Tara!
May 29, 2019 at 4:06 pm
Sensibility and Sense
Thanks so much, Tara! All this trying to measure up to an ever-changing standard can be exhausting! Nice reminder that setting goals and reaching them and showing up every day is the very definition of “success.”
May 29, 2019 at 4:23 pm
Hannah Bithiah
Very motivating!
May 29, 2019 at 4:40 pm
Christine Pinto
Thanks so much, Tara! You rock! You are totally a success in my book for inspiring all of us. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
May 29, 2019 at 5:20 pm
Nora L'Heureux
Thank you Tara. This was well timed and much needed.
May 29, 2019 at 6:10 pm
Judy Sobanski (@jkspburg)
As the saying goes, “There’s no elevator to success…you have to take the stairs.” But really, each stair IS a success on your way to the next goal…whatever that may be! Forever onward!
May 29, 2019 at 6:40 pm
Lydia Lukidis
I love this! Let’s enjoy where we are, now 🙂
May 29, 2019 at 6:44 pm
Rebecca
Tara, you rock at success and are an inspiration to us all!
May 29, 2019 at 7:11 pm
Rita
Thank you, Tara, for giving proper perspective to this difficult writing journey. I’m going to re-read this post as necessary. 🙂
May 29, 2019 at 7:11 pm
Gabi Snyder
I needed this reminder today. Thanks, Tara!
May 29, 2019 at 7:37 pm
Writer on the run
Thanks Tara! Needed to hear this at this point!
May 29, 2019 at 8:48 pm
Rinda Beach
This puts everything in perspective. Thank you!
May 29, 2019 at 10:27 pm
seschipper
As usual,Tara, you provide “uplifting” reminders to continue this writing journey! It’s an incredible adventure!! 🙂
May 30, 2019 at 12:08 am
tiffanydickinson
I Love This! So, “simply”, moving forward is success. You made my day.
May 30, 2019 at 12:18 am
tiffanydickinson
Reblogged this on Tiffany Dickinson and commented:
Hello – I’ve been busily writing, but slooow to blog again. This little article really lifted me.
If you are moving forward, then you are a success.
Cheers!
May 30, 2019 at 4:13 am
Sylvia Grech
Loved this post! Thank you so much Tara!
May 30, 2019 at 5:06 am
58chilihed13
Thanks for this reminder, have spent way too much time lately at that window!
May 30, 2019 at 5:31 am
Suzanne Lewis
Great perspective and encouragement, Tara. Thank you!
May 30, 2019 at 7:50 am
sarahheturadny
My SUCCESS is that I am a waaaaay better writer this year than I was this time last year!
May 30, 2019 at 8:29 am
kcareywrites
I LOVE this post! It’s true. First, I just wanted a story some grandchild someday could read. Then, I just wanted to be published in a magazine. Then, I wanted the book – and I keep moving the bar! And forgetting the succession of success that got me to my new goal! Thanks the reminder!
May 30, 2019 at 9:57 am
Arlene Schenker
Thanks for the encouragement, Tara!
May 30, 2019 at 10:25 am
June Sengpiehl
What an encouragement to read this post. Thank you for writing it..
May 30, 2019 at 10:56 am
Darcee Freier
Thanks for your refreshing and encouraging post, Tara!
May 30, 2019 at 11:02 am
Dawn Prochovnic
Thanks, Tara! (…and I read this article from you, right before stumbling upon this related article that appeared in the NYT a couple of days ago): https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/28/smarter-living/you-accomplished-something-great-so-now-what.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share
May 30, 2019 at 12:14 pm
Rebecca Van Slyke
I love this, Tara! I think of this whole writing thing as a journey that we’re all on. We’re on different places, but going in the same direction.
And we help each other on the way. 🙂
May 30, 2019 at 12:17 pm
Tara Lazar
Yes, the process should make you happy. The goals aren’t necessarily in your control, but moving in that direction is within your grasp!
May 30, 2019 at 4:07 pm
BrookeVS
I love this! Thank you for that perspective, really helps put a spin on the process and what we deem to be successful or not.
May 30, 2019 at 8:59 pm
Penny Parker Klostermann
This is a wonderful post, Tara! Thanks for the encouragement and an explanation that pretty much redefines success in my mind!
June 1, 2019 at 8:54 pm
marty
Great post. Thanks, Tara!
June 2, 2019 at 8:03 am
Jim Chaize
Thanks, Tara. It’s helpful to hear I AM A SUCCESS even if some of my goals are unmet.
June 3, 2019 at 8:26 am
Shannon Anderson
So true, Tara! I’m guilty of raising the bar on a regular basis. Thanks for the pep talk!
June 3, 2019 at 11:02 am
nicolesalterbraun
Thanks, I needed this. Not thinking of quitting anytime soon, but ya, I definitely don’t think of myself as a success!
June 3, 2019 at 1:17 pm
michaelsussman310115541
Love this, Tara. So true!
June 3, 2019 at 3:47 pm
Jon Cooper | ebbu Founder and CEO
Thanks for sharing!
June 3, 2019 at 4:58 pm
Carol Gordon Ekster
If we could revel in each small step in this #kidlit journey – we’d feel successful and happy. Thanks for always sharing honestly. I know we all appreciate you! Your blog alone is a success!
June 6, 2019 at 9:24 pm
Sensitive and Extraordinary Kids
I needed this so desperately this week. Thank you thank you thank you, Tara.
June 11, 2019 at 4:25 pm
LeeAnn Rizzuti
Thanks for the pep talk, Tara. It was nice to be reminded not to get so focused on what hasn’t happened yet and forget what has.
July 16, 2019 at 11:12 pm
Stryde
I think an aspect to success has to also do with overcoming obstacles. If your goal is laziness, being lazy doesn’t make you a success. But I do agree that it is a constant stream of goals that you steadily row through.