Comparisionitis in writers can ruin your writing career.

Do you ever find yourself locked in the snare of comparing your writing journey to other writers? You wonder how one author can write three books in a year and how another author can go to the top of Amazon the moment they publish.

The worst is when these thoughts and feeling about these authors start to make you feel crappy. You start doubting yourself, your writing, and your ability to be an author. How is this helpful? How are you going to continue to grow your writing life when you are too busy focusing on others and what they are doing? I have news for you, it’s not helpful at all.

In this episode, I talk about the damaging effects of comparisonitis and how it fuels self-doubt, particularly in the solitary world of writing.

More than just identifying the problem, I share three ways to stop this self-sabotaging habit, turn your focus inward, and foster personal growth.

here are three reasons not to compare yourself to other writers. 

1. It’s not fair to compare! The moment you notice you are doing it, stop yourself right away. Comparing yourself to others is not fair. It’s not fair to you and it’s not fair to them. You don’t know their journey, their struggles, or how long they have been around. Most often we are finding people when they are on the rise, when they have been around for years. There are so many variables that the comparison is never accurate.
2. Only compare yourself to yourself. Look at your yesterday vs your today. Are you moving forward? Are you continuing on despite the ups and downs? This is not about judging yourself or overanalyzing yourself. Instead, this is about noticing the big and small things are changing. How are you developing as an author or business person? This is all about appreciation because every day that you continue to write and hone your craft, you’re making strides forward.  Remember, never forget your why either.

3. Gratitude instead of attitude. find contentment in your own journey. Be ok where you are right now. It might not be pretty, but we all start at the beginning, we all start at nothing. You will grow. Appreciate your milestones, and appreciate your small and tiny wins. When you are in appreciation mode, you are open to receiving.

Comparisonitis is more destructive than constructive and it can ruin your writing career!

Learn how to appreciate your unique journey and recognition of your milestones. This can lead to a healthier mindset and a more rewarding writing process.

Remember, your journey is yours alone, and your main goal is to write.

So again remind yourself you are good enough. If you do that, that will make so much difference. And again put those blinders on, because the only journey you’re on is your own and the only purpose for you being here and having that journey is to write.

 

Links Mentioned

Pen Notes
Episode 01

Full podcast transcription at Buzzsprout