A Little Competition Between Writers Never Hurts

I’m not talking about competition between writers that are big name authors who seem to have their careers presented to them on a silver platter. I’m talking about hardworking beginners who are finally digging their toes into the ground and getting some traction. And you can’t help but feel a little twang of competitive energy when you face that.

Lately, whenever I see an acquaintance or friend who has a career that’s starting to roll, I get an interesting flux of emotions.

Here’s a same of a few emotions that come to play:

I’m super happy for them. They have been writing for forever and they deserve recognition.
I’m jealous. There is no getting around that.
I’m angry at myself for struggling so hard and so long with start of draft after draft and feeling like I’m not getting anywhere.
I’m invigorated to get to work on my own stories. Get them out there.
I’m discouraged by how little progress I’ve seemed to make on my own stories. I see the bits of research I still need to do…
…and I get caught in the rabbit-hole of research/writing prep/character work that stills needs to be done before I feel I know what I am writing. Until I happen upon seeing another friend’s book…
And the whole cycle happens again.

Some of you who have struggled with depression will clearly recognize the never-ending loop above. I m invigorated by other authors being productive and seeing success. But I lack the confidence in my work to finish and deliver a manuscript to beta readers.

Source: Army Athletics Javelin Thrower at The Inter Corps Athletics Competition at Tidworth, Wiltshire

The issue is, I don’t need all the reactions that I am having. I only need:

Happiness for them.
Invigoration to write for me.

That’s all I need. I kind of keep chanting that to myself but I need to move forward and keep writing.

Does anyone else have some jealousy when they see friends doing well (that you’ll admit to experiencing)? What gets you motivated to succeed?

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