should writers try for the nyt bestseller's list?

​New York Times Bestseller.

It's a title. That's it. 

It doesn't mean you are more worthy or have a more important writing voice (I don't think, anyway). It doesn't equate to happiness or complete, automatic success. Some would say it's a fool's dream.

Still, it's been my dream since I've realized my first two dreams: To get published and to hit the USA Today Bestseller's list. Both of those dreams felt IMPOSSIBLE. I still pinch myself that both came true.

Hitting the NYT Bestseller's list is, truly, an impossible goal, too, even more than the others, probably. It's something I might spend my life chasing without ever reaching it.

But that's okay. Because I've come to learn that the chase is truly what keeps your heart on fire with passion. Dreams, big, wild dreams, are what helps us make sense of this whole journey. Dreams are what keep us looking up at the stars.

So, I'm entering 2022 with my heart and mind focused on my goal: I'm going to write my best book to date. Will it hit the NYT list? Probably not. Most definitely not. 

Still, I've seen over the past six years of my journey that the definitely nots definitely stand a chance.

I'm off to doing my research for what I'm hoping will be my best book to date. It's a thriller and it dabbles in all sorts of topics I'm loving learning all about.

Until then, I hope you, too, are daring to dream big...and then daring to dream even bigger.

Stay Safe and Be True,

L.A. Detwiler