Have you ever read a book that blew you away with just how good it was, and then looked at your own novel only to be discouraged by how bad it is? Or looked at someone’s world building or characters and pushed your own out of sight because they just don’t measure up? I don’t know about you, but I have felt this way all too often. And it begs the questions: Why do we always compare our work so unfavourably?
I think the first issue is that we’re too familiar with our own writing to be able to judge properly. We stare at our own books for so long, searching for the flaw, and seeking out problems on purpose. Mostly to fix them of course, but it does train our brains to look only for the weaknesses in our work, rather than considering it as a whole. As a consequence, it becomes difficult to see our creations in any sort of positive light.
Another factor is where your book is in its journey. It could be in its first draft, while you’re comparing it to someone else’s sixth draft, or even a published novel. You can’t compare your own work in progress with those that have been finished and polished to perfection.
Even when sharing a look at their novel during the drafting or editing stages, people very rarely show you all the warts and moles. It’s like watching a highlight reel while you’re slogging through the trenches of day to day hard grind writing. No one’s creation process is that perfect. It’s just that people can control what you see so that their books look amazing.
Or maybe you’re comparing your beginning writing, your very first book, with those of people who have been doing this literally for years. Yes, maybe your writing doesn’t measure up to theirs, but that doesn’t mean that yours isn’t going to be good. They have been writing and improving for far longer than you even been thinking about writing a novel. You’re not meant to be there yet. There is this fantastic tweet from author Mary Robinette Kowal that says:
Me, talking a writer down from imposter syndrome: How long have you been writing?
Them: Three years.
Me: And how old are you?
Them: 28.
Me: Okay. So you’re a level 28 human and a level 3 writer. How good were you as a level 3 human?
Them: Ooooooooh.— Mary Robinette Kowal (@MaryRobinette) January 24, 2018
I think that sums up the writing journey so perfectly. You’re at an early stage in your work. It’s ok if you’re still learning. Judge your writing off where you are instead of comparing yourself to people who have been at it a lot longer. If I kept comparing my books to those of Tolkien, Stephen King or Marissa Meyer, I probably would have quit years ago. But reading books by other people can show you how good you can be one day if you put in the time.
And finally, every writer is different. Personally, I love books that make you really think, I love beautiful, poetic, unique descriptions, I like to be made to think. However, this isn’t always how I like to write. Compare the books I write to the books I enjoy reading and my books will come off badly. Because how can you compare a slower paced book with poetic prose and deep themes to a fast paced, sparsely written, action adventure?
Comparing your book to what anyone else is writing is doing your own writing a grave disservice. No, your book might not appear as good as that other person’s. But that’s because it isn’t that book. You aren’t that writer. What you create is different and unique and uniquely yours. There is no comparison. Don’t compare your draft to someone else’s finished product. Don’t compare your journey to anyone else’s. Your work has just as much potential as anyone else’s to be absolutely amazing. So keep going and don’t worry. You don’t need to compare your work to that of other people. You just need to be better than you were yesterday,
