I'm a word lover. So are you, I think. I love the nuances of meaning and the subtle connotations. I love word origins and derivations. I love the way they sound rolling off my tongue and the way they look written on the page. I love to string them together to make something magical. I'm guessing you love that too.So, why then, am I so caught up in numbers so often?
Numbers like blog comments, Facebook likes, page views and followers. Numbers like sales ranks and reviews and ratings, and now the worse yet, Amazon's author ranking.
I feel like I'm living in a Max Lucado storybook where we all get numbers stamped onto our foreheads so we can be sure and now exactly where we stand in comparison to everyone else. I don't even know why these numbers mean so much to me, but it sure is easy to get caught up in them.
I don't like it. I don't like the way it makes me feel.
My self-worth is not defined by an Amazon ranking or the number of comments on a blog post.
My success as a writer is not defined by how many books I've sold. (Maybe in some ways it is, but not in the ways that I am going to use to determine my success.)
I'm finished with those numbers. I am who I am. I've done what I've done. And I think I have a lot to feel good about. So do you.
I'm not paying attention to those nasty numbers anymore. Let's surround ourselves with beautiful words instead.
9 comments:
I love this, Angie. It can be so easy to look at numbers and get discouraged--thanks for the positive outlook on focusing on beautiful words instead. :)
Amen! Ban the numbers! :)
Amen from me too!!
You are an awesome writer and the ladies is Las Vegas loved that you took the time to come down and share your talents with them. We really enjoyed the book review and all your thoughts and ideas in writing your booK "Defenders Of The Covenant" Awesome!!!
Good way to deal with it! I've vowed this several times, but sometimes I get sucked back in. It's so hard not to, it seems. Some authors don't seem to suffer as much as others. Maybe it's the type of personality, I'm not sure. Either way, I hope you aren't plagued by it ever again! We are all so much more than numbers. :)
Numbers and statistics can be useful in determining trends--what works and what doesn't, for example.
But they can also become a distraction and remove the focus of what's important, as I believe you're suggesting, Angie.
Thanks, all. I think the thing that gives me the most trouble is that I have no control over the numbers, so stressing about them does more harm than good. Appreciate all your thoughts.
Good thoughts! Good attitude! I have to fight that myself, so I understand.
I completely empathize with this post. It's so easy to get lost in the numbers of things. But you are amazing, Angie. In and out. <3
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