Kind of the glass half empty syndrome it seems. For me, I feel rather both ways. I was successful in achieving actual publication. I got to put 3 books out there on the shelves, and then unfortunately, didn't get contracted for another. I feel successful. I've done what many will only ever hope to do. I want to continue getting published however, so I get the "I lost it" feeling that goes along with that. On the other hand, regardless of publication, the simple fact of completing an entire story, of creating lives and places where those lives have things happen to them is an amazing success all on its own. The ladder of success is not always a straight, vertical climb.