realization
I have to remind myself that writers do not compete with other writers. There's no "win" or "lose," and it's not a race to see who gets published first, or who gets the better contract, or anything like that, because that's not the important stuff. Writers only compete with themselves, pushing themselves. What is important is "is my new book better than my previous one, or am I just coasting? Am I moving forward or standing still?" Because it does not matter who gets there first. Because writer B got published it does not mean that writer B is better than writer A. It just means that publisher X wants the book that B is selling because it fits the genre they want to market. B and A are not competing for the same job. B does not take A's "place." A's place is elsewhere. A's book is not a cog.
What the others do matters not at all. The problem is the audience insists on putting labels on things, and comparing apples and octopi, and writers tend to buy into that when told it often enough. And that is a distraction. Which is something I know a lot about right now.
The only one who can defeat me, is me. And I'm not going to lose to anyone, especially myself.
Just thought I'd put that out there.
What the others do matters not at all. The problem is the audience insists on putting labels on things, and comparing apples and octopi, and writers tend to buy into that when told it often enough. And that is a distraction. Which is something I know a lot about right now.
The only one who can defeat me, is me. And I'm not going to lose to anyone, especially myself.
Just thought I'd put that out there.