Tuesday's Inspiration - Jealousy #MFRWauthor

Once again we look at the voices in your head and come upon one that really isn't a good one for you to feel. Jealousy. This voice makes you feel like what you are doing has no value. Look at how Writer A and Writer B are doing. Why can't you do the same? They must have some kind of trick. Surely they aren't better writers than you. How did A or B manage to hit a "best seller list" when you are struggling to gain readers? Slowly your confidence tanks.

How can you overcome this? You could be supportive of writer A or B and this might help for awhile but that nagging voice keeps crying "This should be me."

What I do is constantly remind myself that I write what I like to read. I enjoy writing and if other people are more successful, sure it hurts for a moment but I will continue writing the best as I can. There are some people who begin making nasty remarks about the successful writer. I never want to become one of them. My advice is to keep writing and enjoying what you are writing. Remember the person you must show your own success is you.

Tuesday's Inspiration - Janet's thoughts on a Quote by Judith Krantz

First it's sort of my own inspiration. I have an interview about developing characters up here. http://sheilaclaydon.com/2012/11/05/casting-couch/

Now to the quote. " Don't allow yourself to be intimidated by the work of other authors." Judith Krantz.

 This really made me think especially since I've let this happen a time or two. Sometimes a book I read is so good I wish I'd written it. Envy is an important ingredient in this feeling. After a while I laugh at myself because the book and author I've been so envious of isn't one I could have or even would have written. Having passed this roadblock, I then am able to look at why I felt this way and ask questions. Many times what I've really envied is some element of the novel like the character development, the descriptive passages or some other element. Then I can sit back and see if I can change some of my current work to I've learned. Sometimes I can and other times not.

After envy, there's jealousy. I've been bitten by that bug. Probably you have too. My book is similar to one written by writer X. Why did hers get more play than mine? This kind of thinking isn't good for a writer's soul, not to mention production. But looking back at my story doesn't help. It's been published and has sold. There's nothing I can do. Reaching this point can be hard. So what I do is start an analysis comparing two similar stories and seeing what I could have done to make my story fly. That can be brought to the next WIP.

How about you? Do you let the work of others intimidate you and keep you from doing the best you can? If so you could stop reading or you could look at this stories and add depth to your own writing.

Inspiration - Bird By Bird - Jealousy

Jealousy -- According to Ann Lamott, it's a natural part of being a writer. I agree and I've suffered it many times. Thses days I'm usually able to get over it quicker. Happens when one sees another writer have the success you crave. Also happens when this person throws their successes in your face. That is the worst and often one has to take a time out from that person and that friendship. Finding a sympathetic listener is also good.

She spends a lot of words talking about how she felt and I know I've shared her thoughts. "Get over it." that is the hard part but it is possible. Think of the pressure such success lands on the author's shoulders after a big success. Sure you want that too. Or do you. I'm not sure I do any more, yet there are those dreams of best selling, award winning that occur. I don't think any author can stop thinking about that but one can's put their whole career on aiming for that goal. One learns with time to do the best they can at the moment.

I do advise every author to read Bird by Bird and see how the book can inspire them. This finished the second segment of the book and next week I'll see if the third part inspires me. I'm sure it will.