Michelle started this one, with the topic:
This is the month in creating writing goals and making big accomplishments. What is your greatest accomplishment -- in writing, your life or perhaps something incidental that had a big effect on you?
Be sure to check out Sandra's post, who is the link in the chain before me, and Kate, whose post will come tomorrow.
Now, to my greatest accomplishment. Others have written about real life things, like parenthood or marriage, and those are certainly worthwhile accomplishments, but I'm going to keep my post writing related, although I am proud to be a father, and to have somehow survived my teenage years.
I think my greatest accomplishment when it comes to writing, is simply getting to type "the end." At least so far. Hopefully in the long run that won't seem like such a big deal, but for now, just finishing a novel, even a horrible, convoluted first draft of a novel, seems like a pretty big deal. It took a lot of patience and perseverance to get there, and it's something most people will never be able to say they've done.
Writers are a unique breed of individual, and even if you never get published, finishing a novel is no small task.
What's your greatest accomplishment?
I'd have to agree with you there! Typing the end is pretty much as satisfying as siging a contract!
ReplyDeleteOutside of children and surviving parenthood, typing the ends is the best. But for me, it's really revising/rewriting and then writing the end!
ReplyDeleteThe End is a big deal!
ReplyDeleteOne published book was my big achievement. (Where it's gone from there has been wild, but it's still that moment that matters most.)
And in the real world, finding someone who would spend her life with me was monumental.
I remember when I finished my first manuscript, as happy as I was, I couldn't share those feelings. I wanted to share it with someone who understood what it meant and what it actually took to get their.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!
That is a big deal. Especially when you feel like you've finished or are close to finishing those revisions too.
ReplyDeleteWriting The End to any story is fantastic achievement always!!
ReplyDeleteI guess my greatest writerly achievement is starting the first sentence of the first draft.
Take care
x
I've heard that only five, three, or even one percent of people who start a novel ever finish it. That's less than the ten percent that finish the Appalachian Trail.
ReplyDeleteSo yeah, to make that journey to the end, especially when you don't know exactly how to get there, is a huge accomplishment.
I have always heard that as advice to writers: no matter how good or bad you think your first book is, finish it as the experience will your future projects better.
ReplyDeleteI think my greatest achievement thus far has been giving up tv for writing. Since then I've finished two books, am revising a third, and starting a new one. That's what 2 years of drastically reducing my television habits has done for me.
ReplyDeleteGreat achievement for a writer.I have to admit, I never thought I would do it. If I make it through NaNo this will be number three for me.
ReplyDeleteNext, getting one of them published.
As important as that is, still can't beat surviving my kids and them surviving me.
No small feat that I've been married for as many years as I have and that this one man puts up with all of my crazies. My Daddy thought that would never happen.
Finally the greatest achievement will probably be 'Eduring to the End".
Finishing a story is always a great accomplishment!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to write The End. And knowing what it takes to get there makes my appreciation of someone who has already accomplished that even higher.
ReplyDeleteMy greatest accomplishment, as far as writing goes, is having a few short pieces actually published.
ReplyDeleteIt is no small feat to type "The End". You should totally be proud of yourself! That's a huge accomplishment.
ReplyDeleteI'm so with you! That's the best feeling for a writer--writing THE END at the end of a manuscript.
ReplyDeleteI'd have to agree, thus far, at least. But finding an agent & publisher, if that ever happens, will be my next greatest accomplishments. They seem even tougher than writing THE END.
ReplyDelete"The End" should always feel good to the writer, something that we should stop and savor before taking on the next big feats.
ReplyDeleteI love this because it focuses on internal accomplishments. Its easy to measure accomplishments in the terms of the world but, I would argue, more important, to measure them in our own terms! Congratulations on reaching THE END!
ReplyDeleteI haven't gotten there yet, but typing "the end" will be huge for me.
ReplyDeleteFinishing the damned thing was the best feeling, still is.
ReplyDeleteDude, you have so many success milestones in front of you, you have no idea. Reaching the end is just one of the first accomplishments out there. I'm looking forward to the day when someone walks up to you and says, "Hey, Matt. Thank you for writing this story. I appreciate what you've done here, more than you can ever possibly know."
ReplyDeleteWhen that moment comes, and yes it is a when, not an if moment for you, you'll probably be at a loss for words. Quite a quandary for one whose art revolves around words, right?
Jeffrey Beesler says it all, Matt. I also predict that you have many more stories in you, and many more THE ENDs left to write.
ReplyDeleteMy greatest accomplishment in the writing world is, through all the many downs and the few ups, not giving up.
Writing "the end" is so huge. I always type it in at the end just to see those words.
ReplyDeletei've written my fair share of novels, novellas and short stories, and i can say it never gets boring, writing "The End". I hope it never does
ReplyDeleteI am in full agreement, typing the end never gets old. :)
ReplyDeleteIt IS a big accomplishment (the writing of a novel).
Have a lovely and writerly week, Matt.
Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving, in case we don't 'see' each other around by Thursday. :)
ReplyDeleteGood question. In my writing life, I'm probably most proud of my refusal to be tied down by my fears and worries. Taking that next step is HARD, but I'm getting better! :)
ReplyDeleteLife: having and raising my two boys.
ReplyDeleteWriting: holding my ARC in my hands.
Ahh, good one. Hmm... well, I guess if we're keeping this writing-related, I hear what you're saying. I've had plenty of folks tell me they can't believe I've written a whole book... so I guess for me it's getting someone with some level of influence to believe in me enough to pitch my sh!t--LOL! :D So I guess Step 2 can be my biggest accomplishment for now. Then 3, 4, 5...
ReplyDeleteHey, Happy Thanksgiving, my friend! Have a great one~ :o) <3
Ah. The End. I've been wondering when I'll ever really feel good enough about the product to write those words. Is it every really "done"?
ReplyDeleteMy great writing accomplishment is getting to the point when I think I'm ready to query. I'm almost there with my current wip. My other one is knowing not just any agent will do, and turning down representation because I decided my novel wasn't quite there yet (there were other factors too of course).
ReplyDeleteFinishing a novel is a pretty big deal. I think revising a novel is a big deal too. Each revision feels that much closer to being publishable.
ReplyDeleteHmmm... that's a hard question. I feel like I can't call my son my greatest accomplishment, because I feel like that somehow discredits his role in being an awesome human being or something.
ReplyDeleteSo, if I stick to writing, I'll say for me it's not just finishing, but editing (a million times) and querying and daring to dream that I can be published, especially when so many people think writing for a living is unrealistic.
I completely agree with you. I was thinking on my way to work today, how accomplished I'll feel when I'm done. Even how each step of the way, each chapter I have finished has given me a great sense of accomplishment. I can't imagine how I'll feel when I'm actually done. I can't wait.
ReplyDeleteTOTALLY AGREE!
ReplyDeleteWriting a novel is a big deal. Thanks for putting this in perspective for me. After having done it five times, I've started to hanker for the next big achievement: publishing! But it's good to remember that just completing a novel is a very big accomplishment and takes a degree of self discipline and perseverance. Thanks, Matt!
ReplyDelete