As writers, we have a lot of different ways to measure success and failure. More often than not, the first place we look for validation is from external sources.

Were we as successful as that other writer? Did the client hire us for that gig? Did our book launch go as planned? Do our social media followers keep growing and engaging?

If the answer to any of those questions is “yes,” we automatically feel like a success. But what if you still did the work and none of those things happened? Does that mean you failed?

The Hollywood screenwriter and producer Brian Koppelman gives us a helpful way of looking at success and failure. He said, “Failure is a huge part of any writer’s life. So you have to redefine the term so that any day you write is a success.”

There are two big advantages to redefining success this way. First, it puts success totally within your control every single day. If you write that day, it means you were successful.

Second, it puts the focus on daily writing, which is the source of all your other results. If you’re not getting the writing done, nothing else matters anyway.

Don’t let other people or external factors tell you whether you’re successful. Focus on doing the writing so you can feel like a success every single day.