The Jealously Monster
There have been many things I’ve learned since I’ve published my books. I’ve most certainly become a better writer and I’ve become more comfortable with promoting and talking about my work (though I still could get better at that). Sadly, one thing I’ve learned is that writers are insanely jealous of other writers.
It’s human nature to be jealous and envious of other people. We all wonder why our house isn’t as big as the neighbors, why we can’t get a woman like that, or why he makes more money than me. Yet over the years I’ve grown weary of writers acting this way towards other writers. I’m not one who believes we’re all in some sort of community and have to work together or even get along, but this jealously part bugs me. Writers aren’t loud and boisterous about their jealously, but it’s there nevertheless.
This jealously will often take the form a passive aggressive “joke.” Whenever there’s a quip or snide remark about Stephanie Meyer (Twilight), Dan Brown (The DaVinci Code) or JK Rowling (Harry Potter), I never see it as being funny. Sure, it was funny the first two times I heard it, but after hearing the same joke dozens and dozens of time, much like gum, it has lost its flavor.
Sometimes I want to scream to authors, “WHO CARES WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE DOING???”
I’ve come to a rather early realization in my young career that I don’t care what other writers are doing. I’ve learned a lot time ago that I should only worry about things I can control or influence, and I can’t control or influence other authors. Worrying about the things you can’t control will do nothing but stress you out. And this life is entirely too short for that.
I love writing! I will always love writing and I will always write because I have this need to get the crazy stories out of my head. While I do treat it as a business, I am primarily motivated by heart and art, not head and cash.
Now I know that I will (probably) never make it big. Most people will never know who I am or about any of my works. And that’s fine…I guess. Since I have come to accept what I am, I don’t feel the need to hate on other writers. Since I’m human, I will always feel jealous of what other people are doing. I just won’t let it affect me. Otherwise, I may turn into something I don’t like.
Marc Johnson
