We need to talk about something that's been on my mind, and probably yours too if you're grinding away in the indie author world.

Success.

Not the version TikTok wants to sell you. Not the "viral book launch" fantasy. Not the BookTok dream where your novel magically gets picked up because the algorithm smiled on you that day.

I'm talking about your definition of success. The one that actually matters. The one that keeps you writing when the algorithm goes quiet.

https://youtu.be/kXlPF7t3UGk 

The Algorithm Is Not Your Measure

Let's get real for a second. Social media algorithms have hijacked our definition of success. We've started measuring our worth as authors by likes, follows, views, and shares. And I get it, I really do. When you pour your heart into a post and it flops, it stings. When your launch week is crickets, it's devastating.

But here's what I've learned the hard way: the algorithm doesn't care about your book's impact. It doesn't measure the reader who stayed up until 3 AM because they couldn't put your book down. It doesn't count the message from someone who said your words changed their perspective. It doesn't track the person who finally felt seen because of your story.

The algorithm measures engagement. That's it. And engagement is not the same as impact.

Success as Impact, Not Numbers

I've shifted how I think about success, and it's been game-changing. Instead of obsessing over how many people see my content, I focus on how my work resonates with the people it reaches.

One reader telling me they needed my book? That's success.

A message from someone who felt validated by my character's experience? That's success.

Building a small but loyal community of readers who actually engage with my work? That's success.

Here's the thing about impact, it's personal, measurable, and meaningful in ways that follower counts will never be. You can have 10,000 followers and feel invisible, or you can have 100 true readers who champion your work everywhere they go. Which one sounds more fulfilling?

The Success Defining Tool: Ask Yourself the Right Questions

I've developed what I call the Success Defining Tool, basically, a set of questions that help you figure out what success actually means to you. Not what it means to your favorite author-influencer. Not what the publishing industry says it should be. What it means to you.

Here are the questions I use:

What does a successful writing career look like for me?

Get specific. Do you want to write full-time? Supplement your income? Leave a legacy? Impact a specific community? There's no wrong answer, but you need to know yours.

What impact do I want my books to have?

Are you writing to entertain, educate, validate, challenge, comfort, inspire? Understanding your "why" helps you measure success beyond sales numbers.

How do I want to feel about my author journey?

This one's huge. Do you want to feel accomplished? Connected? Creative? Proud? Peaceful? Your emotional experience matters just as much as your measurable achievements.

What metrics actually reflect my goals?

If connection matters most, track reader messages and reviews. If creative growth is your priority, measure completed drafts and skill development. If community-building is your thing, focus on engagement quality over quantity.

What would make me proud to look back on?

Five years from now, what do you want to have accomplished? What legacy are you building? This long-term perspective helps cut through the noise of daily algorithm stress.

Your Success Definition Will Change (And That's Okay)

Here's something nobody tells you: your definition of success isn't static. It evolves as you do.

When I first started, success meant finishing my manuscript. Then it meant getting published. Then it was about hitting certain sales numbers. Now? It's about building meaningful connections with readers and creating a sustainable author business on my own terms.

Your goals will shift. Your priorities will change. What excites you today might not fulfill you tomorrow. And that's completely normal.

The key is to regularly check in with yourself. Every few months, revisit those questions. Adjust your definition. Recalibrate your goals. Give yourself permission to want different things as you grow.

Building Your Own Scorecard

Once you've defined success for yourself, create your own scorecard. Stop letting Amazon rankings or social media analytics be the only metrics that matter.

Track what actually aligns with your goals:

• Reader testimonials and meaningful feedback
• Quality of community engagement, not just quantity
• Books completed or chapters written
• Skills developed and craft improvement
• Partnerships and relationships built
• Personal satisfaction and creative fulfillment
• Financial goals that reflect your actual life needs

When you measure what matters to you, you take back control. You're no longer at the mercy of an algorithm that changes every week or social media trends that come and go.

The Freedom in Defining Your Own Success

There's something incredibly liberating about deciding for yourself what winning looks like. You stop comparing yourself to other authors because you're playing a different game entirely. You stop feeling like a failure when your launch doesn't go viral because viral was never your goal in the first place.

You get to be the CEO of your author brand. You get to decide what matters. You get to measure success in ways that energize you instead of depleting you.

And honestly? That's the only sustainable way forward in this industry. The authors who thrive long-term aren't the ones chasing algorithm trends. They're the ones who figured out what success means to them and built their careers around that vision.

Take Action: Define Your Success Today

Don't wait for external validation to give you permission to feel successful. Start defining it for yourself right now.

Grab a notebook or open a document. Work through those questions I shared. Get honest about what you actually want: not what you think you should want, but what would make this journey fulfilling for you.

Write down your personal definition of success. Make it specific. Make it meaningful. Make it yours.

Then build your author career around that. Not around what's trending. Not around what worked for someone else. Around your vision of what success looks like.

The algorithm doesn't get to define your worth as an author. Your follower count doesn't determine your impact. Your book sales don't measure your value.

You define your success. And that's exactly how it should be.

Connect with Me & Access More Resources

• Want to be a guest? I'm always looking for bold indie voices. Apply to be on The Author's Mic™ here. 
• Ready to Write? Grab my free guide: So You Want to Write a Book to get start ed today.
• Support my books: Pick up your copies of Weight For It and You Sound White directly from the shop. 
• Join the Community: Become a member of the IRS – Indie Reader Society for cozy, no-pressure book chats.
• Visit the Website: Find everything you need at brightheadedpublishing.com.

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