第14章 Success：Fact or Fantasy成功：现实还是幻想

Anonymous

心灵寄语

每个人都期望获得成功，但是到底如何才能算是成功呢？也许，只有当你真正取得世人的一致认同之后，才会发现成功的标准一直在存在于谁的心中。

Success. It"s as alluring as sin， as elusive1 as the Muse. Is it real？Is it a dream or a fantasy？Who or what defines success？Webster"s dictionary defines succeed as“to accomplish what is attempted”and success as“the attainment of wealth， etc.”

As beauty is in the eyes of the beholder， so is success.

As beginning writers， we define success as finishing that first scene， chapter， story or manu. As we grow as writers， our definition of success grows. We begin to think of success in terms of writing something that makes sense， that makes someone smile， laugh or cry；something that touches the reader. When we become published we associate success with sales， reviews， contracts and money.

Success is measured in many ways， in small accomplishments and in large. There is no such thing as a small or moderate amount of success. Success is in and of itself；it just is.

My book Tempered Hearts was electronically published in December 2000. Is that success？I"ve had one short story and one inspirational article in The Romantic Bower Ezine. Is that success？After writing for nineteen years and submitting2 for eight， I"ve actually begun to see a small income. A very slight return for the amount of time and money invested in this fickle3 business called writing. Is that success？

Many people have said to me：“You should be proud， actually writing a book is quite an accomplishment， getting it published is quite another.”And“Ms. Thibodeaux has an outstanding career ahead of her.”My book is getting reviews such as：“Steamier and grittier without decreasing the message”，“A job well done”，“An outstanding story of true love and the obstacles you have to overcome to realize love"s permanence4.”Do these comments make me successful？Though I cringe at5 the thought of being“proud”，I am very pleased and grateful for the success God has granted me thus far.

How do you define success？Is it more successful to write the book of your heart or write for the market？I believe success is in the heart. It is as personal as your relationship with God and with others.

Have you finished that rough draft， first chapter， and difficult scene？You are successful. Have you submitted to an agent or editor， signed that contract， made a few dollars？You are successful. Have you reached that goal， made new ones， are you steadily working toward them？You are successful.

Congratulate yourself. Pat yourself on the back. Toot your own horn. Don"t adhere to anyone"s opinion of success but your own and take the time to enjoy each tiny accomplishment along the way. And remember：A man plans his way but God directs his steps.

佚名

成功，它像犯罪一样诱惑着人们，像缪斯一样难以理解。它是真实存在的吗？难道它只是一场梦或一种幻想吗？成功由谁或是什么来定义的？韦氏字典把成功定义为“实现所尝试做的事情”和“获得财富”等等。

正如每个人对漂亮的定义不同，那么对成功的定义也因人而异。

作为刚开始尝试写作的笔者，我们把成功定义为完成一幕、一章、一个故事或一份手稿。随着笔者的成长，我们对成功的定义也有了变化。我们开始认为成功是写出有意义的，能令人微笑、大笑或哭泣，能感动读者的东西。当我们的书出版了，我们会将成功与销量、评论、合同以及金钱挂钩。

成功可以用许多方法去衡量，它可以是小的成功，也可以是大的成就。成功没有大小，高低之分。成功就是成功本身，它就是它自己。

我的书《平和的心情》在2000年12月出了电子版。那可以算是成功吗？我已经有一篇短故事和一篇鼓舞人心的文章发表在The Romantic Bower Ezine上了。那可以叫成功吗？在写了19年，递交了8次之后，我终于看到了一点儿小小的收入。在这个变化无常的叫做写作的产业中，所投入的时间和金钱得到了这么一些小小的回报。那算是成功吗？

许多人对我说：“你应该感到自豪，实际上写一本书已经很了不起了，能让它出版就更加了不起了，”而且“Thibodeaux女士前途一片光明啊。”有关我的一些书评说道：“在没有降低道德标准的情况下，狂放而刚强”，“书写得很好”，“一部关于真爱以及如何克服阻碍去领悟真爱永恒的杰出作品”。这些评论可以判定我的成功吗？尽管我对“骄傲”这一想法感到害怕，我很高兴也很感激上帝至今为止给予我的成功。

你如何定义成功？是写出自己的内心世界，还是写出那些满足市场需求的书更让你觉得成功呢？我相信成功存在于每个人的内心深处，它就像你跟上帝和你跟他人的关系一样，是个人化的。

你完成初稿的第一章以及比较难写的一幕了吗？那么你是成功的。你向编辑交稿了吗？签合同了吗？挣到一点儿钱没有？那么你是成功的。你达到你的目标了吗？有没有确定新的目标？是否正在稳步向你的目标前进？那么你还是成功的。

请祝贺你自己。拍拍自己的背，吹响你自己的号角，不要附和别人对成功的看法，坚持你自己对成功的理解。找时间庆祝一下成功路上的每个小成就。并且铭记：“每个人都计划自己的未来，但上帝指引他的脚步。”

词汇空间 ocabulary

1.elusive adj. 难以捉摸的；难以找到的；不易记住的

2.submit v. 提交，呈递

3.fickle adj. 变幻无常的

4.permanence n. 永久，持久

5.cringe at 对……畏缩

文化链接 Culture Background

1.缪斯（Muse）

缪斯（希腊语 Μουσαι，Mousai）是希腊神话中九位古老的女神，她们代表通过传统的音乐和舞蹈、即时的和流传的歌所表达出来的传说。她们是海林肯山泉水中的水仙。后来人们将奥林匹斯神希中的阿波罗设立为她们的首领。

2.成功之路

王国维在《人间词话》中说：“古今之成大事业、大学问者，必经过三种之境界：‘昨夜西风凋碧树。独上高楼，望尽天涯路。’此第一境也。‘衣带渐宽终不悔，为伊消得人憔悴。’此第二境也。‘众里寻他千百度。蓦然回首，那人却在，灯火阑珊处。’此第三境也。”第一境写的是预期；第二境写的是勤奋；第三境写的是成功。

妙语拾珠

1.As beauty is in the eyes of the beholder， so is success.

正如每个人对漂亮的定义不同，那么对成功的定义也因人而异。

2.Pat yourself on the back. Toot your own horn. Don"t adhere to anyone"s opinion of success but your own and take the time to enjoy each tiny accomplishment along the way. And remember：A man plans his way but God directs his steps.

拍拍自己的背，吹响你自己的号角，不要附和别人对成功的看法，坚持你自己对成功的理解。找时间庆祝一下成功路上的每个小成就。并且铭记：“每个人都计划自己的未来，但上帝指引他的脚步。”