Last month, one of my Tuesday tip emails prompted a reader to contact me. She asked if I’d ever written about jealousy. She was referring to the jealousy we might feel when we look at the success of other writers in comparison to our own.
When I discovered I’d never touched on the topic, I decided it was time.
The Comparison Trap
I can’t stress enough how unproductive and self-defeating comparing ourselves is. I struggled with this issue a lot during my childhood (having a twin sister made it easy) and on into adulthood.
If you find yourself doing this, stop and ask “What is the truth about this situation?”
That writer with 30 published books started in the same place you did—unpublished.
But forget about the other writer.
What is the truth about you?
First, are you doing the work God has given you? If yes, then rejoice. If not, ask yourself “What’s stopping me?” Journal your answers. Do this as often as you need to.
Second, you have skills, experiences, and knowledge unique to you that you bring to your story. Give a “boy meets girl and they fall in love” plot to 100 writers, and you’ll get 100 very different stories.
If you’ve gotten stuck in comparison, make the choice right now to stop. Don’t beat yourself up about doing it. Instead, give yourself grace—we’ve all been there.
Take those “should I quit,” “that author writes so much better than I do,” “will I ever get published” thoughts captive and replace them with “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13 NLT).
“For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ” (1 Cor. 10:5 ESV).
You are a writer. God called you to write and He will see you through to the finished book.