Author Envy #IWSG

The IWSG question of the month: Do you ever get Author envy?

My answer is yes, of course. But I want to add that not all envy is bad. Here's why:

When we look at the success of other authors, not only can envy come for a ride, but with it a desire to analyze how that author found success. In many ways, envy can become a drive to improve the way we write, the way we market. It may bring with it the crucial questions we need to ask ourselves: What does it take to become successful? What is success to me?

I once met a writer who thought his path to success was through writing novels. He tried this route for many years until he forced himself to stop and wonder why he found no satisfaction. That's when he asked the difficult questions and discovered the truth. He was a short story writer at heart. When he shifted his goals, he found not only satisfaction but success.

Everything I read inspires me in some way. When I read something exceptional, my analytical brain switches on and I ask myself what exactly is it that engaged me with the story? How has the writer tugged my emotional strings so perfectly? How can I improve my work so it touches readers in a similar way? When I read published work that I perceive as not as great yet seems to have found success, I remind myself  to stop delaying, stop striving for perfection and just get my stories out there. There's an audience for everyone. I just have to find mine.

Envy is only bad when you let it stop you from moving forward, when you fool yourself into thinking you'll never be good enough and give up. Keep improving, keep reading, keep writing and get your work out there.

What does success mean to you? Does envy drive you forward or hold you back? 

This post was written for the IWSG. Every first Wednesday of the month, members post on their blogs about their writing insecurities or offer some encouragement to others. If you are new to the IWSG or want to learn more, then please go HERE.

 

 

Please note I'm actually away at the moment, visiting family. When I get back, I'll do the rounds across the blogsphere to say hi. Until then, stay safe and keep writing!

The Definition of Success as a Writer #IWSG

Before I started writing, I had big dreams and believed success meant achieving a household name status. Something equal to JK Rowlings or Tolkien.

Before I'd finished a single manuscript, I adjusted my outlook and decided success meant getting published by one of the Big Six. 

After finishing that first manuscript, I packaged it up and sent it off to countless publishers (I had no clue at the time…clearly). Turned out, I needed an agent. So I sent off countless queries…and more. I began to think that success meant getting an agent and everything else would fall into line. 

Ah, the positivity of youth.

I ended up getting short stories published, a novelette, articles, anthologies and even a book of Christian devotionals. Over time, my definition of success shifted again. 

That first short story I got published was a massive achievement. The first time I opened a bound book containing one of my stories was incredible. The first time someone actually paid me for a story was just as awesome. Success became finishing a piece and sending it out. It became seeing my words in print. It became reading the great reviews from strangers. It became getting fan mail. 

Then I decided to take the publishing reigns myself. A scary leap. My first book, Wielder’s Prize, was a monumental achievement because of the steep learning curve. It was years in the making and to this day, I’m super proud of it. 

Since then, I published Wielder’s Curse and then Wielder’s Fire. I released the boxed ebook set, Wielder’s Storm Trilogy. Then I released Well of Ash, my fantasy novella. I’m proud of every book and see each one as another rung in the success ladder. I have to pinch myself to believe I actually achieved all that. 

And then recently, I took another scary step and got back the rights to my Christian Devotional, Cling to God. I’ve been working hard on it and will be releasing its new and shiny self on November 3rd. Eek. 

If you’d like to help with its cover reveal and/or its launch, please leave a comment. 

What is your definition of success?

This post was written for the IWSG. Every first Wednesday of the month, members post on their blogs about their writing insecurities or offer some encouragement to others. If you are new to the IWSG or want to learn more, then please go HERE. 

 

Ways to Become an Insecure Writer

Start Querying:

• Don't write anything while waiting for a response.
• Check your email every five minutes.
• Question everything you've written in the manuscript, the query letter and everything else you've written over the expanse of your entire life.
• Take the first form letter rejection to mean your work is no good and must be tweaked, or better yet, tossed.

Read only the bad reviews:

• Read those bad reviews just before going to bed at night. 
• And again first thing after waking up in the morning.
• Check every five minutes for the number of sales, likes, and reviews. If they haven't gone up since the last time you checked, then that means you're a failure.
• Ignore the good reviews, because really, what do those reviewers know?

Compare your work to others:

• Compare your first draft to a polished classic.
• Strive to write like your favourite authors, even if it means sacrificing your own voice and story.
• Expect your work to become an overnight success, just like the Greats.

Measure your success by others:

• Choose the big names like J K Rowling or Stephen King.
• Or choose one of those authors who claim they got an agent on their first manuscript, which took them only a month to write, during a snow storm, using nothing but crayons on tissue paper.

Keep yourself in isolation:

• Don't join supportive writing groups, such as The Insecure Writers' Support Group. Those kinds of groups will only give you encouragement and before you know it, you'll no longer be insecure.

Can you think of other ways to become an insecure writer? Which way works best for you?

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If you haven't guessed already, this post was written for the Insecure Writers' Support Group, founded by Alex J Cavanaugh. Members of this group post on the first Wednesday of every month. I'm posting a tad early because I like to be a rebel.

#IWSG


T F Walsh tagged me last week in a LOOK challenge where I'm supposed to post a portion of my WIP containing the word look. Continuing the rebel theme, I've instead written a classy sentence for this challenge: Bob looked lonesome as he looked out from the lookout overlooking Look Bay.
Feel free to improve on that sentence.


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How to Write Like You Can't Fail

Scarlett tagged me with 11 questions a couple of weeks ago and one of the questions she asked resonated with me: What would you dare to do if you knew you could not fail? When I read the question, my first answer was writing. Of course, I immediately wanted to slap myself because I am writing. The problem is that I don't always approach it as if I couldn't fail. And that's a mistake. So I spent some time thinking about ways to write like I can't fail.

Believe in yourself. To stop those hesitations and second-guesses you need to believe in yourself and accept not only your calling as a writer, but accept who you are as well. Only you can write your story. The moment you stop trying to be like everyone else, your writing will shine.

Accept help. Writing isn't as solitary as many may think. You might be the only one who can write your story, but many can help you improve that story. The best writers have the best editors behind them. They also have great critique partners, fabulous beta readers, and fantastic writers' support groups.

Learn the craft. Every profession requires training of some sort, so too with writing. Sure, anyone can type out a few sentences and call themselves a writer, but to do it well you'll need to master the nuances of language.

Know you can't please everyone. Accept that not everyone will like your work. It doesn't mean it's not worthy. Rejections happen. Bad reviews happen. They don't make you a failure as a writer.

No matter what, don't give up. Writing takes time to master. In many ways it's a lot like life because you'll never stop learning, never stop improving, as long as you keep moving forward. 

When the fear of failure strikes, how do you get over it?

This post was written for the Insecure Writers' Support Group.

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I was also tagged by Nutschell with 11 questions, one of which asked what my favourite writing book is. It is The Art of War for Writers by James Scott Bell. It's a fabulous book with lots of tips and tricks and wisdom on the art of writing. I definitely recommend it.

Thank you to Melissa Maygrove for the ABC Awesome Blog Award. Please visit her blog and say hi from me.

The Beatitudes of Writing

Happy are those writers who work hard and don’t give up.

Happy are those writers who strive to do their best.

Happy are those writers who are well stocked with coffee and chocolate (or a favourite beverage and treat).

Happy are those writers who have found balance in their work, friend and family life.

Happy are those writers who find the confidence to pour themselves onto the page.

Happy are those writers who understand the importance of exercise and find a place for it in their schedule.

Happy are those writers who push themselves to truly make a difference with their writing.

Happy are those writers who don’t let social media take over.

Happy are those writers who have found the support of other writers.

What makes you a happy writer?

The Measure of Success

Anyone else noticed the year has strapped on rocket boosters and is screaming past at an alarming speed? Eek. A short post to end February:

What is success?

Success is… when we’ve sold millions of copies of our books and our names are known worldwide.

Success is… when our names are printed larger than the titles of our books.

Success is… when our books are turned into movies.

Success is… when we’ve sold more than five novels.

Success is… when we’ve overcome the second novel syndrome.

Success is… when we’ve sold our first novel without going insane.

Success is… when we’ve completed a finished manuscript and we’re ready to query.

Success is… when we’ve finished the first draft.

Success is… when we’ve come up with an idea worthy enough to turn into a novel.

Success is… when we’ve decided to become writers and first put pen to paper (or fingers to the keyboard).

Though we won’t all reach every goal, that doesn’t mean we can’t all become successful writers. As long as we keep writing, we’re already successful writers.

Do you have a personal goal you want to reach that will be your measure of success?

note: photo of the dungeon steps at Warwick Castle, England. (couldn't find any other useable pics of ladders or stairs) Such a cool place.