Because It's There

by Gary Fearon, Creative Director

Over 5,000 people have attempted to scale it, and only 1/8 of them have succeeded. Mountain climbers who like a good challenge consider Mt. Everest—the pinnacle of the earth—the ultimate goal.

Achieving our writing goals is like scaling a mountain. A strong determination, the proper tools, and a capability for the craft are essential to begin the climb.  There'll be obstacles on the way up, and moments when you think you just can't do it.  But those who make it to the top of Everest don't let difficulties keep them down.  They envision the pinnacle of the mountain and focus on how magnificent the view will be from 5 1/2 miles above sea level.

What is your writing goal?  If you're just starting out, maybe you simply want to write a book and get it published.  If you're already a published author, maybe your goal is to have a New York Times Bestseller.  If you've already had several bestsellers, maybe you just long for a week off without having to write anything.

I had an interesting conversation with an author this week, one who's been published regularly for years and has enjoyed success by any writer's standard. Even so, they harbor a certain reluctance to claim their success; to own it.  Whether it's humility, disbelief, or a fear of jinxing a good thing, it is hard to say "I've arrived" when you still have mountains to climb.

Indeed, this is a sentiment echoed by most of the authors we speak with.  Even though they became "professionals" when they sold their first article or book, the real goal in their hearts is an ambiguous, uncharted one that they won't even realize they've reached until they get there. And when they do, they'll still keep going.

A true writer writes because they love what they do. They make loyal friends along the way, supporting and mentoring other writers freely.  When they achieve "success," that's not a stopping point.  They thank their lucky stars—and their muse—and keep reaching higher, just from the sheer love of writing.  They do it for the art, not for the accolades. 

When George Mallory set out to be the first to climb Mt. Everest, he was asked why. His famous answer, "Because it's there," is the same reason many of us write. It's just something we must do. It requires no explanation, nor a measurable achievement to make it a valid pursuit.  It's a challenge; an adventure; a gauntlet we have no choice but to pick up.

May you always find joy in your journey.

The Successful Road

by Susan Reichert, Editor-in-Chief

Experience has taught us that success is not an occurrence so much as a process. Regardless of where you are on the journey to becoming successful as a writer, there are always writers ahead of you and writers behind you as well as on each side of you. You are never alone.

As you progress forward on this road, do not fail to turn around and give attention to those who are behind you—the ones who have not come as far as you.

Funny thing about mentoring someone, during that process you will find you have learned a lot too. Someone told me the act of mentoring is neither completely gratuitous nor completely out of self-interest. Rather, it propagates the success process through others, creating a chain of professionalism, which strengthens with each new link, added.

No successful trait we possess is lost by sharing our knowledge with others, matter of fact, very few things are as rewarding as watching someone else become successful and know you had a hand in it.

Generously sharing knowledge with other writers is beneficial to you. It strengthens your foundation and it expands into the world layers of other successful people. Self-made? Not really; there are always people who helped along the way.

Someone said if you help enough people get what they want, you in turn would get what you want. Never refuse a writer who asks for help; they just may be that one person sent to help you achieve your own success.

So while you are on your journey take time to look around and see who you might can help along their journey. The trip is so much more enjoyable this way.

The Gift of Time

by Susan Reichert, Editor-in-Chief

If you have been on the receiving side of giving, you know the wonderful feeling that accompanies the gift.

During this season, we seem to be more giving of ourselves than the rest of the year. We somehow come up with presents for those we love but I can’t help but wonder if perhaps we could make a special effort to help those not just less fortunate, but those who are working to become authors. 

Is there someone you met at a conference that wanted to talk to you about how you got to where you are? Maybe because of your schedule you didn’t have the time to answer their questions and spend time with them. Hopefully, if you are lucky, they gave you their name and email. If they did, could you now find the time in your schedule to reach out to them, answer their questions and even mentor them?

There is no better feeling on earth than when we help someone and do so with our time. That is really the most precious gift we have to offer. Money you can make, time you can’t; it is already set.