How to Measure Author Success Without Numbers
It’s a trap most authors fall into: measuring your success by watching your numbers. And don’t get me wrong, we should review our metrics, and we need money to pay the bills, but is that your purpose for being an author?
Likely the answer is no.
Remember why you began writing. Was it because you always loved reading and you wanted to create worlds like your favorite authors? Was it in response to a need you saw? A retelling of a story you lived through?
Have you accomplished that? Are you taking steps toward those goals?
Rework Your Goals
A goal is just a goal, not a deadline. Now, as authors, we need deadlines, and they should be taken seriously. Somewhere in the midst of writing, publishing, and marketing, we can lose sight of that–that goals are just goals.
Instead of quantifying your goals, use the words “more or less.” For example, if one of your goals is to “write 3,000 words a day,” when you’re barely maintaining a 500-word limit, change your goal to “write more.” Making this mindset shift takes pressure off and allows your brain the creative freedom it needs to write.
Track Your Compliments
Instead of measuring your success by how many sales you’ve made, or how many 5-star reviews you’ve received, keep track of how many people reached out to tell you how much they enjoyed your book. Stop thinking about readers as sales and start thinking about readers as people.
Make a folder and keep screenshots of all of the kind words and when imposter syndrome starts to kick in, read over them. Remember why you’re an author.
Create More Sustainably
To help with author success, I’ve created a digital course on the basics of author branding.
Coming October 1, the Solar Society paid Substack subscribers) will have access to monthly workshops, a subscriber chat, and a discount on design services. October’s workshop is Typography: How to Choose Fonts to Build Your Brand. But if you don’t want to wait, digital courses are also coming to the website on October 1. These are self-paced and more detailed than the Substack workshops will be.
So what’s in it for you right now? Join the Solar Society before September 30, and lock in the lifetime price of $5 (half off!). But that’s not all. I’m giving away one branding audit to everyone who joins the Solar Society before October 1. Each month of membership is another entry into this giveaway.
Branding Audit - $75 Value
A 30-minute call (optional)
Identifying the first impression
Identifying three areas of improvement
Identifying three areas of long-term growth
