Instead of "What's Next?" Ask "What's Now?"

Hi friends,

A few weeks ago, I discovered Trevor Noah’s podcast What Now? (only coincidentally related to the title of this post!). In a recent episode on the Olympics, which I can’t stop thinking about, Noah highlights a Twitter post from Simone Biles: “you guys really gotta stop asking athletes what’s next after they win a medal at the Olympics,” followed by “let us soak up the moment we’ve worked our whole lives for.”

In two sentences, Biles does it again—emphasizes the importance of mental health and wellness over constant striving.

As a writer, I’ve spent many years chasing the next win. From the beginning, at every stage, I’ve worked hard toward a goal—to find writers to read my work, to get a story published in a literary magazine, to get into a writing program, write a novel, land an agent, get a novel published—each time thinking, If only I can achieve this, I’ll feel like a real writer.

In so many ways, having my eyes focused on a goal has been a positive, motivating thing. It’s what helps me improve and gain experience. But once I achieve each goal, almost immediately I feel antsy and a bit unsettled. Because there’s always a next one to strive for: a New York Times review, a celebrity book club, a literary award, another book deal! A big lesson I’ve learned is that no matter how much you achieve, there’s always another goal beckoning.

I’ve written about this before, because it’s been top of mind for the past year or so, since the activity around launching my debut novel Endpapers has quieted down. Something I haven’t been quite as transparent about is that since the novel published in February 2023, I’ve received a slow tide of rejections: for another novel, for short stories, for residency, grant, and workshop applications. The reason I share it now is because I’ve encountered enough writers who’ve experienced the same thing, and we all deserve to feel less alone in our anxieties.

Some part of me had believed, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that publishing a novel meant I was on an upward trajectory toward a flourishing writing career, and I had to learn by experience that that’s not often what it looks like. Not that I’m giving up! I still believe I have a flourishing writing career. But as with all the arts and other passions like sports, writing is a calling. The career part is shaped by hard work, resilience, perseverance, and obsession, through ups and downs, acceptances and rejections, good reviews and bad ones. There’s nothing linear about it, and everyone’s journey looks different.

The question What’s next? fuels the belief that our careers—and lives—are supposed to follow a clean upward path. That no matter what we achieve, there’s something bigger and better coming next. And social media has only reinforced this. We want the next dopamine hit, or we compare ourselves too easily to other people in our field.

The reason why Noah’s podcast episode has stuck with me so intensely is because for the past year or so, instead of asking myself What’s next? I’ve been focusing more on What’s now? I’ve been learning to “soak up the moment,” whether I’ve just achieved something I’ve worked hard for or I’m sitting happily in my PJs on the couch with my notebook (and no deadlines!) plumbing the depths of whatever themes or issues have been calling to me.

The result? I’ve never enjoyed writing as much as I do now.

In case it’s helpful, here are some of the questions that help guide me: What about writing, big or small, feels like joy and success right now? What’s challenging me in creative ways and making me grow? What about my current projects feels most fulfilling or urgent? Am I fostering connections with other people? Am I being of service to my community—and beyond?

Focusing on What’s now? doesn’t mean we should no longer have goals. Rather it allows us to enjoy the full experience of doing this thing we love, no matter what’s happening that’s outside our control. It means intentionally spending as much energy on enjoying our whole exciting and messy writing life as we do striving for what’s next.

So this is what I wish for you too. Soak up the moment. Stay present. Be the writer that you are right now. I bet it’s glorious.

Finally, if you’re in or near Ithaca this weekend, please join Meredith Talusan, Melanie Conroy-Goldman, Jack Wang, and me on Sunday at 5:00 p.m. for Story Time for Grownups, at the Downstairs, where you can sit back, enjoy a cocktail or mocktail, and listen to us read aloud from some of our favorite books, as part of the Ithaca Is Books Festival.

Yours,

Jen