GENREALITY

‘ The angry man will defeat himself in battle as well as in life. ‘ -Samurai Maxim

I remember years ago (Ok, maybe a decade or so) when NO FEAR t-shirts were a huge thing.  Everywhere I looked I saw people with these weird saying on their t-shirts. Some were funny, some were stupid, but some were very inspirational, to me anyway.  The thing is, I still remember what mine said. I could only afford one of them, as with most trends they were expensive.  Mine said, “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.”

At the time I was into martial arts, and being a big 5’4 female, the saying appealed to me.  Now, as a writer who took some time off, parted ways with her agent, and lost touch with her editors, I’m finding myself drawn to the old adages that fired me up and kept me motivated when I was training full time.  With writing my height doesn’t matter. But how fast and how agile I am does. Maybe not physically, but mentally.

It’s too easy in this industry to let yourself get caught up in wanting what other people have. To look at another authors cover and wish it were yours, to hear them rave about their editor (or agent, or publisher) and wish they were yours. I’ve been jealous in the past when friends win contests, or get a higher advance than me, and I’m sure I’ll be jealous again in the future. But never do I wish them ill will over these things. Never do I deliberately get on a website or blog and trash their books, or them, because I wish I had what they have. Not only is that bad bad etiquette that can be harmful to your career, but it’s harmful to your creativity and your own psychological stability.  By doing that you’re only  defeating yourself.

It’s easy to say negativity breeds negativity, but it’s easy because it’s true.

If you want to be successful as a writer, you have to learn to focus on what you are doing, not what otehrs are doing. And if it seems like others are getting the things you want, then work harder – and not at taking them down, but at bringing yourself up.  If you look at Nora Roberts name on the best sellers list every week and get angry because you want it to be your name there, that’s fine.  But don’t run around bashing her in hopes of hurting her career. (No, this isn’t somethingI’ve seen happen, it’s just an example) Instead of using your anger in a negative way by sniping at a big dog, harness that energy and focus on your own work.  Fight for what you want by writing a story that will stand out, one that will grab readers and not let them go.

Remember that it’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the fight in the dog.  And as long as your fighting to to better yourself and your work, to pull yourself up and not someone else down,  you’ll continue to grow and improve and move onward and upward.

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