You know that feeling you have when your best friend gets asked out by the cutest guy in school, the one you’ve been in love with since second grade?
Or gets picked for the promotion, or the cool project, or is awarded the teacher of the year award, and you’ve been doing exactly the same thing, working just as hard…or harder than your friend?
I remember watching, my heart sinking, as my son struggled year after year to inch his way ahead of a friend/competitor in track. He’d always lost just by a hair.
Even though they were both half a track ahead of everyone else.
And the worst part was, my son worked harder than his friend, giving every morsel of talent he possessed.
It just wasn’t fair.
This past year, we’ve had quite a few MBT/Novel.Academy authors who’ve inked new deals, first time deals or won accolades.
My best friend got a starred review from Booklist. And made the NYT for 7 weeks.
I love it.
But when those happy accomplishments pass you by, it’s hard not to say… really, what’s wrong with me?
Why am I not getting published? Winning awards? Landing on the NYT?
And of course you’re truly thrilled for your friend. But even while you’re cheering, the negative voices inside say…you’ll never be enough.
OR…
You could remind yourself that publishing is not magic…it’s hard work. And that there are seasons for your career, including the season where you simply do the work, no accolades, no awards. You just keep running.
Keep believing.
And you don’t criticize yourself for not attaining what your friend attained. Yes, you look at your work and ask…can I write better? If so, give yourself some goals. (This self-evaluation is not a bad thing, if you don’t let negative voices shout the loudest!)
But, if you are putting in the time, learning the craft and writing, then you are doing everything right.
By the way, when you’re writing your story and you’re looking for a way to motivate your character through Act 2, try adding this moment in for your hero. A scene at the beginning of ACT 2 where he sees a friend achieve what he wants. My guess is he’ll dig a little deeper, fight a little harder.
I’ve learned that the good will you give others will come back to bless you, someday.
And, if you’re a person of faith, you get to add in the ingredient that there is a plan for your good, even if you have to wait for it.
Waiting doesn’t mean you sit on the sofa with the remote. Waiting means training so you are ready for that moment when it’s your turn to ink the deal.
With my son’s hard work, he eventually went to the State track championship in two events.
This week, I found out my latest book had earned a Publisher’s Weekly starred review.
Awesome.
But even more awesome, now I get to turn around and cheer those running with me.
No, life isn’t fair. But maybe that’s okay. Because it requires us to dig deep, self-evaluate and keep training. Stick with it, and your time will come.
Train well. Write well. Win well.
Your story matters.
Go! Write Something Brilliant!
Susie May
P.S. Sometimes you just need some storycrafting advise to get yourself started. We have a FREE Starter Kit for Aspiring Novelists!
And, if you need help plotting your novel, try The Story Equation. “The Story Equation is pure genius.” — Randy Ingermanson, author of Writing Fiction for Dummies