Writer Self-Sabotage
Comparing Yourself To Other Writers
It’s winding down towards the evening, and you’re exhausted from all the tasks you’ve tackled throughout the day. The kids are asleep, or if there are no little humans, replace with pets or stuffed dolls, or whatever.
The house is… well, meh, and it’ll have to do until tomorrow. It’s been a long day, and you’re ready to wind down.
Wanting to get an early start on your writing project tomorrow, you open your Google Docs or Word or Scrivener file to check your word count.
1,267 words! That’s more than yesterday and last week combined! In fact, it’s your best word count for the entire month!
Feeling proud, you give yourself a pat on the back, close your document, and head to bed. However, just as you’re about to doze off, a notification on your phone demands your attention at eleven-thirty-six in the evening.
It’s @Author_WordSlayer4Lyfe on Instagram, sharing about her WIP. 63,999 words in a day! How is that even possible? She’s a beast!
Your mind drifts back to your own word count, a measly 1,267 words. The number keeps replaying in your head, and you suddenly feel the urge to write more. Maybe you can push yourself to type at least another 2,000 words before bed if you really go for it.
With determination, you crack open your laptop, open your WIP, and dive into a frenzy of all-night madness. You work tirelessly until 3 AM, striving to achieve your new goal of 3,267 words.
Exhausted from the overkill, you know it’s time to get some rest.
But as you lay in bed, you think of your writer friend on Instagram and how effortlessly she produced 63,999 words in one day. You start doubting yourself and feeling discouraged. Slowly, you begin to give up on your WIP, taking a 3-month break that eventually stretches into six months, drifting further away from your writing project.
Did I capture some of the familiar struggles you face or have faced before?
The pitfalls of comparing yourself to others and experiencing writer self-sabotage can be challenging.
Many writers can relate to this emotional roller coaster. Writer self-sabotage can take various forms, and one common way is through comparison with other writers.
Why do we feel the need to look to someone else’s work as validation for our own? Why Do we make a habit of comparing word counts, published works, and even our schedules to other writers?
We do this because we are not yet content with our own writing. Somewhere along the way, we’ve lost our confidence as a writer (or may have never had any, to begin with), and we look to other writers as a model of what we hope to be. Hope to gain.
How Comparison Can Be Detrimental To Your Progress As A Writer
When we compare ourselves to other writers, we subconsciously tell ourselves that we are dissatisfied with our own work, leading to a drift away from making progress and veering off course.
Comparing your work to other writers will inevitably slow you down. If you fixate on another writer’s accomplishments, how can you move forward with your own?
So many factors come into play when you measure yourself against other writers, and it is unhealthy for your progress and development.
Every writer is unique, possessing their own distinct style and skill set.
The 63,999 words that one writer accomplishes in a day may take another writer six months to even come close to achieving.
Avoid getting too caught up in numbers and stats. It’s tempting, I know, as I learned this the hard way.
I remember a few years ago, promising myself that I would take my writing seriously again (for the twentieth time!). Encouragement poured in from family, friends, and even teachers, who all urged me to write a book. “You’re an excellent writer,” they would say, or “You have such a way with words.” These compliments were enjoyable to hear, and I started contemplating writing a book just to please others. However, I soon realized that I didn’t want to write it, not at that time, anyway. And what happened? I made an attempt at novel writing but never followed through with finishing it. I got discouraged because it had been years since I wrote anything longer than a to-do list, and I felt like I had lost my way as a writer
If I waited for perfection, I would never write a word. — Margaret Atwood
During that time, I found myself doing more reading, and I became engrossed in the works of authors who were releasing multiple books in a single year. It intimidated me deeply. How could I ever live up to their level of productivity? How could I even begin to compare myself to them? Writing one book every year seemed like an impossible feat for me.
As a result, feelings of incompetence washed over me, and I decided to abandon writing altogether for years. I foolishly measured myself against seasoned authors who had been honing their craft for decades, leaving me feeling like an inexperienced novice trying to match their accomplishments.
But did I ever recover from this tragic writer’s block? Yes, it took years for me to realize that it was okay to be exactly where I was in my writing journey. I had to learn that my path was unique, separate from anyone else’s, and I could find contentment in embracing who I am as a writer. So, how did I overcome this hurdle? I started to prioritize my own writing.
I took the time to understand my writing style and cultivate a distinct voice (which I’m still discovering and appreciating), established a writing routine, defined my writing process (which evolves from time to time), and ventured into storytelling in genres that were unfamiliar to me.
Additionally, I delved into numerous writing craft books to refine my skills as a writer.
As I devoted more focus and effort to my own writing, I gradually became less preoccupied with others’ work, and the tendency to compare diminished. Now, I’ve reached a point where I respect the writer I’m becoming and relish the process of discovering what makes me unique as a writer. Embracing this journey has been truly liberating.
3 Healthy Ways to Draw Inspiration From Other Writers
If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time to write (or the tools) to write. Simple as that. — Stephen King
Read other writers/author’s work
There’s nothing wrong with reading other writers’ and authors’ material; in fact, it’s encouraged that you do so. Reading not only strengthens your skill set as a writer but also provides a wealth of inspiration for your own work.
Exploring various genres and understanding how different writers use their unique voices is highly beneficial. Studying other authors can teach you a great deal.
Take some time to read your favorite author’s work, but approach it from the perspective of a writer rather than just a reader. When you read as a writer, you open yourself up to explore the author’s work critically, going beyond the surface of the story to discover its inner workings. By doing this, you can discern what makes the story great (or not so great). You can pick up on the author’s style and voice, and also grasp the structure of the story from its beginning to its end.
Critique for other writers
Another healthy way to draw inspiration from other writers is by engaging in critique. This method follows the same approach as the previous suggestion; however, the key difference here is that the writer is aware of your intentions, and they have agreed to allow you to critique their work. This process becomes particularly valuable when you engage in critique swaps with other writers, as you can receive feedback on your own writing in return for providing feedback on theirs.
Join a writing community or support group
The writing community is filled with some of the most positive and supportive people I know! Joining a club or support group for writers is an excellent way to receive feedback on your work, learn about the writing craft, network, communicate, vent, and make friends! Writers are eager for strong, healthy support systems, so if you can find an inviting writing community to be a part of, you will gain a lifetime of support!
Writing is undoubtedly difficult. It’s challenging, frustrating, embarrassing, and can evoke a wide range of emotions, perhaps even a few other choice words I wouldn’t dare express. Long story short, writing is hard, and for some, it ranks among the most daunting tasks in life. Pouring your heart and soul onto paper, exposing what’s been locked up in your mind, makes it a vulnerable predicament. No wonder so many writers yearn to be prolific! Writers truly value their readers’ understanding and appreciation of their creative visions.
Never compromise your journey by comparing your capabilities as a writer to what others are doing. This habit will only hinder your progress in the long run and fill your mind with negativity, and who needs any of that, especially now?
If you find yourself on the brink of comparison, pause and have a pep talk with yourself. Ask yourself why you write. Is it to craft beautiful stories that transport readers to new worlds, providing them with pleasure in your meticulously designed creations? Or is it to succumb to feelings of inadequacy about your writing?
If your passion lies in creating dynamic characters and intriguing fictional places, or inspirational memoirs that resonate deeply, comparing yourself to others’ passions and goals will not help you achieve your own!
You are a writer. Believe in your abilities and own your craft. Focus on building self-respect as a writer, and you won’t feel the need to compare yourself to what others are doing.
You’ve got this!
Keep writing! ;)
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