As a writer, you can go for decades without every recieving an acceptance letter. You might submit to contests, agents, editors, publishers and everyone else you can think of and still never get that first acceptance. If you keep at it, you may finally rake in that first golden ticket.

So, if you don’t get a yes right away, or even if you do, when do you look at yourself and say “I have arrived, I am a real writer.” And how much does that acceptance letter have to do with that point in your career mindset? Is it everything? Is it really that golden ticket to the chocolate factory (aka New York)?

Now that I’m e-pubbed I look at myself and think I’m not just a writer anymore, I’m an author. I’m still not sure what that says about me as a person and a writer. It’s all too new right now. For others, I’m sure there’s not much of a distinction between the two: writer and author. For me, there is. I’m just wired weird.

So, when is it safe to say “I have arrived” in this business? Is it when you first sell anywhere? Only to New York? After you first book is released and you have something tangible for all your hard work? What do you think?

6 Responses to “I have arrived”

1. Shelli Stevens Says:
   August 28th, 2006 at 2:54 pm

   *sigh* I had a comment,and blogger ate it. This sucks. Okay…

   I think standards are different for everyone. I think it could vary from self-publishing, to making the NYT Best Seller list. For me I think it’ll be when I sell to NY. I feel like I’m halfway in the door, but not completely where I want to be yet.

2. Lyric Says:
   August 29th, 2006 at 3:19 am

   I agree with Shelli. I feel validated that I’m not just writing gibberish, but I’ll know I’ve finally arrived when I sell to NY.

3. Amanda Brice Says:
   August 29th, 2006 at 5:58 pm

   Damnnit…blogger keeps eating my answer.

   But I’m with shelli and lyric. I love being e-pubbed, but I’m just in short story for now. I won’t feel like I’ve arrived until I’m in full-length at a minimum, and probably not until I’m in NY, but that’s partially because I write in genres and to a market that doesn’t tend to read e-books.

4. Loribelle Hunt Says:
   August 30th, 2006 at 1:34 am

   I haven’t really thought about this. I do feel like a professional writer though (and make no distinction between writer/author ;)). Yes I’d like to sell to NY and another epublisher or two, but I don’t feel like any less of a writer because I haven’t yet. I don’t feel any sense of security though. It’s a fickle business. I won’t feel safe until I hit the NYT list.

5. Karen Erickson Says:
   August 30th, 2006 at 4:17 pm

   I agree with the comments. I feel like I’m a professional writer, but my golden ticket is NY. The epublishing business is booming though, so I’m scoffing at it. It’s big biz. And there’s so much talent out there…..

6. Sara Dennis Says:
   August 30th, 2006 at 8:30 pm

   Yep, sign me up with the ‘validated but not *quite* there’ camp.

   NY will be There, for me, but I get closer all the time.