As the rules of publishing changes, so does the very meaning of the word "success". In this video, Teresa explores how you can create your own definition of success, and put yourself on a winning path.
Teresa, our Expert Guide At-Large, is the owner of Teresa Funke & Company and Victory House Press, which offer products, programs, and resources for readers, writers, teachers, and students. She is the award-winning author of six novels for adults and children based on true stories from WWII.
She has had over 100 short stories, articles, and essays published in commercial and literary magazines, newspapers, and anthologies. Two of her essays were listed as Notable Essays by the prestigious Best American Essays series. Teresa is also a nationwide speaker, presenter, and writer’s coach.
Her latest book is Wave Me Good-bye, part of her Home-Front Heroes series. For more information about the book, visit http://teresafunke.com/wavemegoodbye
To learn more about Teresa Funke's coaching and critiquing services for writers of all genres, contact Teresa at teresa@teresafunke.com
6 Responses to “VIDEO: Writing Coach Teresa on The Changing Definition of “Success””
Julie Hedlund
Very inspiring talk Teresa! My definition of success is threefold: 1 – Being able to support myself and my family in an industry and career that I am passionate about and that gives me the flexibility to balance working and motherhood. 2 – Getting my stories into the hands of as many children as possible in whatever form, and 3 – paving a path of inspiration for other writers by sharing my journey and the knowledge I've gained along the way.
Eventually, I would like to be able to earn enough profit on my books/royalties so I could donate a portion of them to causes specific to the theme of the book.
Great conversation starter!
Therese Brinkcate
Wonderful video. Thanks Teresa. I love your definition of art as "producing the best you can" and in my definition of success I produce the best possible childrens books I can, that inspire and bring joy to the children and adults who read them!
Vivian Dickson
Teresa, lovely to hear your video and your ideas on what "success" is. My own idea of success is slightly different from most of the people I have met. to me a person who is successful is someone who has taken their talents, whatever they may be and produced the best result ever. Speaking for myself I think that I am a very successful person. Now nearing 67 years old I have achieved so much in the past 50 years. Successfully running a small country newspaper for 34 years, raising three well adjusted, healthy children, being a good wife and exploring my spirituality, so that I now understand so many things.
The older I get the more I realise how little I actually know, so there goes the ego bit. I have just recently (over the past 12 months) published three children's books. There are some 75 in the series and they were born some 16 years ago. I believe passionately in my books and that they can connect children, in this technology age, with some of the basics of life. I have billed them as "a funny, quirky, informative look at ordinary everyday thing-a-ma-jigs. I am having a lot of fun writing them and I hope to communicate the basics of life to as many children as possible. In my time in newspapers I took great joy in helping the community. With my books I think my "community" has just expanded a great deal. I intend to use any money made to firstly, cover costs and secondly to subscribe to microeconomics to help people in poorer countries raise their standard of living. This will fulfill a need in me and help, in a small way, world wide. Will be interested in hearing some of the ideas which come across in your new project. Cheers Vivian Dickson
Teresa Funke
Yes! That's exactly what I'm talking about! These are awesome defintions of success, and largely because they are within YOUR control. You have set your own definitions and are working hard at your art to achieve them. And note the elements of giving back . . . so many of us writers and artists and entrepreneurs have big hearts. Giving back is a key part of what we do, and the satisfaction we feel from that gives us energy to do more good work!
Please keep the conversation going! The future is in our hands, and we are producing the ideas that will change our world. My new newsletter is going out later today as part of the roll-out for my new That Idea Inside You program. Watch for the new website within two weeks! Ideas will abound!
Judith Lachance-Whitcomb
Thank you for a thought provoking presentation. It has made me think what do I really want from my writing. Overall, I had just thought, "I want to be published." But after viewing the video, I had to ask – is that it? I needed to go deeper – why do I want to be published? It really wasn't for fame, that's never been a big deal for me. It certainly wasn't for financial security because the one thing I've learned during my pursuit of becoming a better writer is that you don't write to get rich. J.K. Rowling did it big as the only writer who became a billionaire but what are the chances of someone else doing what she did?
I think that why want to be published goes back to my career, my avocation. As a teacher for 37 years, a curriculum developer for 6 years, and now a part time instructor working with elementary school interns, I want to connect with kids. I want to journey with them as the world opens up to them. To let them see how exciting things can be beyond (although not exclusive of) the video – Wii – X box – etc. world. I want to help them expand their imaginations, connect with history, meet characters that share in the crazy process of maturation that they are going through. I want to do what Rachel Carson challenged us to do: "“If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in.”
Thanks for helping me touch base with why I really want to write.
Teresa Funke
Hi Judith,
Such a well-stated post, and such a very good reason for writing. So good to see that you are clear on what matters to you! That's truly what it's all about.