Celebrating 100
Milestones, and how we measure success.
A few days ago, someone subscribed to my newsletter. (Welcome, new reader!)
What made this particular subscriber worth noting?
This person took Booked in Brooklyn to 100 subscribers!
I originally wrote, “this was my 100th subscriber,” but that’s not entirely accurate. I’ve had more than 100 people subscribe, in the years since I started this newsletter (including pre-Substack). Often, subscribers will join, stick around for a couple weeks, and then unsubscribe.
And that’s totally fine! I myself have subscribed to things, only to later decide they aren’t for me. We are so flooded with content and information, all the time. It can be overwhelming. If you need to winnow down what’s landing in your inbox, I get that.
But I do want to take a moment to acknowledge how good it felt to get that email from Substack that I’d finally broken into triple-digits.
I enjoy writing this newsletter. I like sharing recommendations of books and other things I’ve loved. I relish talking about the craft of writing. I love digging deep into the creative process. More than once, writing one of my weekly posts has helped me organize my thoughts on a certain topic. In other words, I’m writing these emails for you…but I’m also writing them for me.
There are a lot of writing- and book-related Substacks out there, and I wouldn’t say I’ve been relentlessly looking for a way to stand out from the crowd. My strategy so far has been to write about things that interest me. If you’re still here, I’m assuming they interest you, too.
With all of that said, do numbers matter?
When I’ve got a new book release on the horizon…yes, I suppose numbers do matter. Depending on who you ask, they matter quite a bit. So, it’s exciting to see a bit of growth in this space at a time when I’m between book contracts and busy laying the groundwork for what’s next in my author career.
But if this week’s headline inspires one of you to unsubscribe out of pure spite, dropping me down below 100 again, that won’t be the end of the world. I’ll still be here, writing. I’ll keep on keeping on.
Which is why what I’m thinking about this week, in a broader sense, is:
How do we measure success?
In publishing, it can feel like the goalposts are always moving.
When you’re an aspiring author, success is finishing your book. Then, it’s securing a literary agent, followed by that coveted first book deal.
Once your book is out there, success is more closely linked to sales. Are you only a success if you hit the bestseller list? Well, those lists are curated, meaning that even truly excellent sales numbers might not be enough to land you a spot in the top 10. Regardless, the numbers that equal success for one book aren’t the same as the numbers another book needs to succeed, at least in the publisher’s eyes.
Is success earning more money from each subsequent book deal? There’s no guarantee that will happen. Nor is it a given you’ll actually get a next book deal, so perhaps that’s success: continued opportunities to share your writing with the world.
Or maybe success is when your publisher is invested enough in your book to send you places to promote it. Except…getting sent out on book tours is increasingly rare. So perhaps you’ve achieved success when publishers submit you to festivals and events, even if you’re paying your own travel costs. Or maybe success is having enough name recognition to be able to submit yourself for events and signings, and be accepted. Oh, and does success at one of those events look like a line of people waiting to have their books personalized? What if you don’t have as many people in line as your table-mate? What if only two or three people show up to meet you? Is a meaningful conversation with one avid reader enough to tip you into the “success” category?
I could go on and on (and on), but you get the gist: in book publishing, there’s an awful lot you can’t control. I don’t think it’s a great idea to pin your success solely on metrics that are outside your control.
Since my first book released in 2015, I’ve experienced just about every twist and turn and loop-the-loop on the publishing roller coaster. I’ve had books sell well…and other books “underperform.” I’ve been sent to book festivals, all expenses paid; I’ve pitched myself to events and paid my own way; and I’ve had applications be rejected or ignored. At festivals, I’ve had decent signing lines and sold out of books. I’ve also sat for hours at a table behind stacks of unsold books, hoping for someone, anyone, to be interested in me and my work. I’ve done panels and events where there were fewer audience members than speakers onstage, and I’ve done storytimes and school visits for crowded rooms of enthralled kids. I’ve had readers write to tell me how my books meant to them…and I’ve put out work I’m proud of only to receive metaphorical crickets in return.
I’m still writing.
That’s what I can control, and at this moment, that’s what I consider success: I have stories I want to tell, and I am continuing to tell them. Beyond that, I’m enjoying writing. The two books I have in the pipeline (one middle-grade light fantasy, one adult romance) are both projects I genuinely love. I am happy when I am spending time in those documents—in those worlds.
Yes, there is success in having eight published books out there with my name on the cover. I don’t want to downplay that accomplishment, because I am proud of each and every one of those books. But there is also success in the work itself. There’s success in sticking with it, in honing my craft, and in continuing to find joy in writing.
To circle back to this week’s Substack milestone: if you are one of my 100 subscribers, thank you for subscribing! I appreciate you, and I am really happy you’re here.
~Kathryn
Happy 100!
Have you ever thought of turning your Subtacks (and earlier newsletters) into a book someday? They are a combination of thoughtful ideas, wise advice and sometimes bits and pieces which reveal your personality. They are enjoyable reading.