Compete With Yourself
"If you continuously compete with others, you become bitter, but if you continuously compete with yourself, you become better." --Anonymous
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John
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Jul 11, 2017 11:15AM
Hey, Aaron. As a author, do you find it difficult NOT to compare your works with the works of others? As a new writer, I find it difficult at times to avoid falling into this trap and despairing.
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John wrote: "Hey, Aaron. As a author, do you find it difficult NOT to compare your works with the works of others? As a new writer, I find it difficult at times to avoid falling into this trap and despairing."Hi John! You're in good company, my friend. I think it's ALWAYS difficult to not compare your works with those of others. I've just finished up my 8th book and I still find myself falling into that same comparison trap every now and again. That said, I don't think it's wrong to compare your works vs. others, it just depends on the context. For instance, George R. R. Martin, Stephen King, and J.K. Rowling are a just a few of my fave authors, but if comparing myself and books to their writing/success is unfair because they're the top dogs and I'm still trying to figure everything out. I look to their books and success as something to aspire to and be thankful their words inspired me. But like Rowling wrote, and to pull a quote from Dumbledore: "It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live."
In short, don't worry about what others are doing. There will always be someone writing faster, releasing more books, someone younger, or more experienced, etc. Comparing yourself to all those factors WILL beat you down because you can't be everything and you can't account for luck if/when it decides to strike. Focus on what you can control -- your writing. ;)
