My goal in writing is recognition through publication. I’m not looking for a career; I’ve had a job. Book writing is a pastime for me, and a traditionally published novel is my goal. Acknowledgment is more of a personal thing. Recognition is not for glory, but for my gratification of working a book into an achievement.
Recognition comes in the form of money, also. More money would be helpful but not necessary. We are not rich by a long shot, but we live a middle-class life in retirement. I have savings, a little investment, and we have a decent livable retirement income. I planned for it. That’s why more money isn’t essential, and I have no desire to rake in millions of dollars.
I have published two short stories in an ezine called Literally Stories. One story published there that I am proud of is titled The Hiring of May Witherspoon, published in March of 2018 and also posted to my blog, Tom’s Musings. I did not receive any money for this story, and the first rights to it have long since reverted to me. The thrill of learning that this ezine, Literally Stories, would publish my story, even on an online ezine, served as the payoff – my recognition!
A book lasts forever, even if it goes out of print. It will have an ISBN that lasts forever. It’s important to me that I leave something permanent. Houses and land change hands, but publication is historical, and once an author puts his name on a book, it stays. The words belong to the author forever, whether damning or eulogizing. But the author carries on in his work.
Recognition is earning respect from others in the business. It would be a huge honor for a publisher to choose my work. An even more significant honor is to receive recognition from other writers in my genre. So, publishing will be a thrill for me, and I am working toward that end.
