My critique partner and I use a shared Dropbox folder for
sending chapters back and forth. Whenever I open her next file to critique,
which is usually the morning after she uploaded it, a little popup tells me how
long since the file was last edited. Counting backward that number of hours, I
am often stunned to find she was still working on her chapter as late as 2:00
a.m.!
For a fleeting moment, I wonder, Am I such a slacker?
I mean, this lady is not only a multi-published historical romance novelist but
also a crazy-busy wife, mother, homeschooler, and part-time private school
teacher. How does she do it???
As for me? In order to function at all, I require a
semi-regular routine and eight hours of sleep every night. My writing week runs
Monday-Friday, typically 10:00 a.m. to no later than 5:30 or 6:00 p.m. We’ve
had a (mostly) empty nest for the last quarter-century, and my husband has been
fully retired for about 10 years, so he’s taken over most of the grocery
shopping, cooking, and laundry. I’ve got it easy, right? So why am I not
churning out the books faster?
Oh, the comparison trap! It’ll lure you in every time.
- “My best writer friend already has
three book contracts—but I can’t even get a request!”
- “Why can’t I write books as fast
as Author X?”
- “I know my book is better than
Author Y’s, but her novel keeps winning awards!”
- “Why isn’t my novel getting 5-star
reviews like Author Z’s?”
The only way to keep this kind of thinking from derailing
your writing is to refuse to play the game. Instead, focus on your own
strengths and set achievable, measurable goals. Do you write best early in the
morning? Make morning writing time a priority. If you can only write late at
night when the rest of the household is asleep, do it. Are you most creative
doing 1,000-word sprints? Go for it. If it takes you all day to squeak out 500
words, that’s okay, too. Plotter, pantser, or somewhere in between? Experiment
until you find what best helps you get the story down.
You may need to stick with the generally accepted “rules”
regarding plot, structure, characterization, dialogue, etc. But in other
aspects of the writing life, feel free to find your own way. Above all, trust
the God who gave you the talent and desire to write stories for Him, and always
follow His lead.
When tempted to compare yourself with other writers, where
are you most vulnerable? What helps you resist?
Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work
you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with
yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others.—Galatians 6:4, The Message
~~~~~~
Native Texan Myra Johnson
is a three-time Maggie Awards finalist, two-time finalist for the prestigious
ACFW Carol Awards, winner of Christian Retailing’s Best for historical fiction,
and winner in the Inspirational category of the National Excellence in Romance
Fiction Awards. After a five-year sojourn in Oklahoma, then eight years in the
beautiful Carolinas, Myra and her husband are thrilled to be home once again in
the Lone Star State enjoying wildflowers, Tex-Mex, and real Texas barbecue!
Myra’s latest release, The
Soft Whisper of Roses (Christian contemporary women’s fiction), is available now in both ebook and paperback. She is currently at work on her next contemporary romance for Harlequin Love Inspired, book 2 in the Ranchers of Gabriel Bend series. Watch for book 1, The
Rancher’s Family Secret, coming January 2021.
Find Myra online:
www.myrajohnson.com
Facebook
Twitter :
@MyraJohnson
Amazon
BookBub
