Comparisons

The second Creative Writing Course began last night, with a new group of students eager to write and be inspired. The first class was such a great experience for me that I had some trepidation going into this one, wondering if the magic would be there again. It was. One of the students said she loves just being with writers, and I couldn't agree more. We all speak the same language, recognizing how important it is to nourish the artist inside of us who is afraid to come out into the light in case we are embarrassed. Being with a group of people willing to share their writing is like a tall glass of ice water on a really hot day. Refreshing and restoring.

At one point one of the students talked about how easy it is to compare ourselves unfavourably to others, so that we feel unsatisfied even though we've had some success. When your short story gets printed in a small magazine, someone else gets a contract for their novel to be published on a large print run. Comparisons happen in any industry or situation. Envy is the enemy that steals our joy and pride. We must routinely fight our enemies. It's important to rejoice in our successes and not compare ourselves to our peers. We are all walking our own path with our individual challenges and triumphs, at exactly the moments we are meant to experience them. Someone else's success should not diminish our own. There is room for everyone in this world to make their mark in their own corner of influence, and beyond it. Jealousy will only hold us back.

This advice is easier to give than to take. To struggle with this issue is to recognize our humanity. The positive side of good work is that it inspires us to be better. Watching a great movie makes me want to write better, when it doesn't devastate by lengthening the space between my writing and greatness. Reading a wonderful book pushes us to arrange our words differently to improve the craft of writing. Focusing on what is in our control will make us better on a word by word basis. Little by little our skills improve. We must keep writing. Our voice is unique to us and the world will be poorer if we don't contribute what we have to say. This is true for anyone, regardless of your area of interest and passion. Don't give up. Persevere in what you love until you see the success you are wishing for. Walk your own road with confidence, choosing to be inspired by the greats instead of defeated by them. As I tell my children, the only way to get good at something is to practice it, over and over again, and to never give up.