Do you ever lose hope of success, critical or financial? Do you ever feel a twinge of envy or jealousy for what other writers have achieved. Let’s be brutally honest.
Brenda starting off the week.
I've learned in this writing journey that envying what others have accomplished is a futile pastime. Like everything in life, there will always be others who swim faster, make more money, own a swankier car ... sell more books. It would be easy to look at what I've achieved and compare it to what other well known authors have accomplished and become demoralized, but I choose not to go this route.
The crime-writing community is overall a supportive, generous group. Those that have 'made it' (although this is a moving target) almost to a person reach back and give others a hand up. This could be giving a book endorsement, business advice, agent referrals, words of encouragement, all freely and willingly given. I've personally been the recipient of all these gifts from such best-selling authors as Ann Cleeves, Rick Mofina, Louise Penny, Ann Hillerman, Vicki Delany, Mary Jane Maffini, Barbara Fradkin, Tim Wynn-Jones -- the list goes on.
I'm not envious of other writers' success so much as in a bit of awe at how much they've accomplished through hard work, talent, and luck, because I believe everyone would admit that right place, right time always comes into play. Now, I will also admit to be jealous of these 'lucky' twists of fate that push a writer from mid- to high-level. I can give a few examples. Ann Cleeves speaks of a tv producer (forgive me if I have their exact profession wrong) who picked up one of her books out of a discount bin on her way to a holiday destination and went on to make the books into a highly successful tv series. Another author in my community met Ian Rankin in a bar after her unpublished, shortlisted book took her to Britain. The book lost, but Ian gave her the name of his agent and this led to its publication with a major publisher. Who can't but help be envious of stories such as these?
Okay, since we've been asked to be brutally honest, there is one achievement that turns me a shade of green. Coming first in one of those major award categories. My books have been shortlisted several times but never won. And it's not the coming first in and of itself that I covet, but more the boost to book sales, event invitations and reviews. I believe most authors would tell you they feel much the same.
You know when I started writing and trying to get published, some 24 books ago, I thought that having one book published would be phenomenal. When the first offer came all those years ago, I believed I was the luckiest person alive. Once in the business though, it becomes evident that there are levels of success, right down to which publisher or agent you acquire to which reviewers select your book. Having written in the middle grade, adult literacy, and mainstream adult categories, I can also attest to different hierarchies in each. Literary literature is another kettle of fish altogether, seemingly garnering the most respect and prestige.
In Canada, the rule of thumb for a best-seller is 5,000 books. This amount of sales would likely get you dropped by one of the big five publishers. Once person's success is another's failure if we go by this yardstick. The irony is that one could be envious of a writer who's also struggling to stay published. Envy is a wasted emotion for the most part. Much better to keep your head down, write for the joy of it, pen the best book you can, and keep striving to improve - both with your writing and in business. Enjoy and appreciate your own journey and let the rest (including those elusive awards) happen as they will.
As for financial success, I believe all writers have the right to be envious of better salaries. Most make less than $10,000, which doesn't amount to much per hour for all the work. I've held jobs that have paid a lot more for less effort and rejection. I have great empathy for the screenwriters on strike for a more fair wage. So many people gain enjoyment from their work and everyone's work in the arts; it's time all creators, and not just an elite handful, receive just compensation and respect.
Website: www.brendachapman.ca
Twitter: brendaAchapman
Facebook & Instagram: BrendaChapmanAuthor
2 comments:
Your attitude is what we all need, Brenda. I learned decades ago that jealousy and envy are not worth the energy it takes to keep them going! There are so many ways to define success and so many, as you say, examples of luck and timing, that there's no sense in comparing ourselves with others. Our success is in writing well, attracting readers,and in the process itself.
Thanks Susan - I totally agree!
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