I'm not that competitive. I really don't enjoy a "good" fight despite the fact I hold a 4th Degree Black Belt rank in martial arts. I don't have to beat the pants off someone in order to feel good about myself. But when it comes to my writing, I feel like I'm in some sort of MEGA race to get published. Like someone slapped a big number on my back and I'm suddenly in this mad dash to make my mark on the writing world.
The thought of clawing my way to the top of the writer heap, leaving bodies in my wake, simply doesn't appeal to me. Maybe for others, but not me. Like someone told me yesterday...I'm too nice.
But the fact that I'm not extremely competitive doesn't stop me from feeling the stress of the imagined competition for the title "author". In fact, that thought will keep me up late at night and sometimes invade my dreams while I wonder if my work will ever be good enough. Do you ever feel like this?
So I've decided in 2012 maybe I need to prepare for my place in this "race" to publication. Maybe some cool shades will help me stand out in the crowd at any writer's conference I might be able to attend. Hey, it worked for Wil Smith, why not me?
Next, I will have to find myself a snazzy looking running outfit as I race to those agent tables.
Finally, I will buy a new pair of running shoes for all those trips to the library to make copies of manuscripts to mail out to publishing companies.
Maybe I will just disguise myself entirely and just hope for the best.
Then again, maybe I don't need to prepare for this silly "race" at all. Maybe I just need to go at my own pace. Slow but steady. Learning as I go. Gathering friendships along the way that will last my lifetime. Encouraging others on their own journey so I can have twice the fun. Yeah, THAT sounds like the type of competition I would be good at. Maybe even first place good.
And as far as being stressed out goes, I think this says it all...
Bring on the chocolate!
I feel this way, almost every day Donna. I too am told I'm too nice. I'm not sure I'm complemented or not, be either way, I'm sticking with it! lol. Lovely post it made me smile, especially the outfits!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jennifer! I was thinking the only way I could change those stressed feelings is if I made fun of them. Hope it worked for you as well! Thanks for stopping by, come back any time!
DeleteYes, it does feel like a race. I was in such a rush...or, at least, I thought it should happen quickly for me. Instead it took a few years. Try to enjoy this time because you are truly free to create without the pressure of publication. Your skills will improve and get you moving in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the words of wisdom, Tara. I have 1 MG novel, 2/3rd YA novel, poems and PB stories under my belt at this point. I'm writing every day and learning as much as I can before I attempt to "edit". I'm such a novice at all this that it doesn't make sense to me to start to "revise" my work when I'm not even sure how to do it properly. And YOU have given me such inspiration with the PiBoIdMo challenge that the ideas just keep coming and I NOW have a NEW race...just to write them down before I forget them! ;0) Thanks for stopping by. Come back any time!
DeleteThe quote says it all - just keep going! (But that snazzy running outfit can't hurt :))
ReplyDeleteYeah, right! Although I would be partial to purple...lol...thanks for stopping by, Susanna!
DeleteI feel myself racing too. But, I am learning that patience is the key. I know my manuscripts become better with time. I know my ideas work better when I let them rest. But, I want to be published so badly. It seems like this writing thing is a balancing art between urgency and patience. Just enough urgency to keep creating -- just enough patience to make it good.
ReplyDelete"Just enough urgency to keep creating -- just enough patience to make it good."
DeleteI really like that! I think part of the reason why new writers have that sense of urgency to become published authors is that they need a visual "validation" that all that effort matters. At least I think that may be part of why I want to be published. Add to that the fact that I feel I have something valuable to add to the writing world and there is the incentive to keep going...
Thanks, Eric, for stopping by! Come back any time! And if you are interested in winning some cool writer reference books, check out my New Years Contest... http://donasdays.blogspot.com/2011/12/new-yeara-new-easy-contest.html
I think I feel the same way Donna, needing that visual confirmation, but I am usually a procastinator, so at first it did feel as though it was a bit of a race. I have now slowed down again as I have had to realise that we are not all in the same situation and I can't be expected to keep up. Work, life etc does that to you I guess!.... Thanks for this reflective post and I soooooo love the pics, they made me laugh. Thankyou Donna.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Diane! I have realized that I can only write my best work when I slow down and pay attention to what I'm doing. Writing these blog posts for example generally take about an hour each, so if I rush them, I don't feel like I have given my best effort.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this, Donna! I often feel like I am in a race, too. Especially for those of us who started this journey late in life, we somehow feel a need to make up for lost time. But the fact of the matter is that none of the time is lost...its just simply helping us grow and learn more from the journey step by step. Thanks for that reminder.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed the post, Marcie! Thanks for stopping by...come back any time!
DeleteThis is good. The thing is, the race is mainly a self-created race, rather than being something laid on from outside. I've found it so amazing to get to know other writers and find how supportive they are, rather than being competitive. I'm sure that isn't the case with everyone who is writing, but it's been true enough for me to feel upheld and encouraged, rather than defeated by the competition.
ReplyDeleteI have to admit that when I started this writing thing all those years ago, I thought it would be easier than this, and I thought I'd have been published by now!
I honestly think, Beth, that I will be shocked if I ever get anything published. Not because I don't believe in my skill as a writer, but because I wonder if anyone will ever give me a chance? But I do love, love, LOVE this writing community that is so warm and welcoming and supportive. I'm not sure I would be growing as a writer if I didn't have them as part of my life right now...
DeleteCome over and read Hilde's take on the same issues. http://thepenandinkblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/excuses.html
ReplyDeleteI love the picture you used.
Thanks for stopping by! I'm not sure which person wrote this, but I will hop over and check it out! Feel free to come back any time!
DeleteAnother great post Donna! Luckily, there is plenty of time for all of us to "get there" and even more room for nice in this fabulous kidlit community. Love the photos!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Julie, for stopping by! Wouldn't it be boring if there was only a small handful of ELITE writers to choose from? Have a great day!
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