Do you ever feel like "everyone else" is further ahead than you are?

Maybe you're getting into writing for the first time, or getting back into writing after many years. You're starting to explore ideas, trying your hand at writing exercises and prompts ... and it seems like you're surrounded by people who've written whole novels.

Or maybe you've just launched your blog and you're really excited to start getting your writing out there into the world ... but all the other bloggers you know have published dozens or even hundreds of posts.

It can feel especially tough when you started out at roughly the same point as someone else and they blazed ahead of you! I was getting my first novel (Lycopolis) out there at roughly the same time Joanna Penn and Steff Green were publishing their first novels. 

Now they're bestselling authors with dozens of books to their names ... and I have three novels and a novella published, with a pretty negligible number of sales.

So I absolutely understand this feeling. Whatever stage you're at, you might be keenly aware of the gulf between where you are and where you want to be. It may even feel like you're behind in some way.

But here are a few things to remember:

You Can Only Go Forward From Where You Are

You're not "behind" ... you're exactly where you are! There will be people who haven't yet got as far as you and people who are further ahead of you. That's the case for every writer out there. (Even bestselling authors!)

Whatever you do at this point, you'll be making forward progress: getting words down on the page, figuring out what does and doesn't work for you, perhaps even trying new types of writing.

Writing Isn't a Race

I write, first and foremost, because I love to. Writing makes me feel like myself. If I didn't write at all, something huge would be missing from my life.

Writing isn't a race or competition to speed ahead as fast as possible. There's no prize for getting the most books out there (or even making the most money).

There's Something Wonderful About Every Stage of Writing

I have a list of encouraging thoughts that I try to remind myself of each day, and one of those is: There is lots to embrace and enjoy in this season.

That applies to writing, as well as to the rest of life. Whatever stage you're at as a writer, there's something to enjoy. If you're just getting started, you have lots of creative freedom and flexibility, and perhaps less pressure than (say) an author who needs to race to get their next book out or who has to deliver a piece to their editor by a certain deadline.

You Don't Know the Full Reality of Other Writers' Lives

When you look at another writer who's "ahead" of you, it's easy to focus on everything they have that you don't, like lots of published books, or a huge blog, or a thriving freelance career.

But that success may have come at a price, or even cost them some regrets. It's also possible they've had some hidden advantages, like a big family inheritance, or a high-earning spouse, that you don't have.

You Don't Know What Your Experience Will Lead To

During 2006–2008, I spent 2 years working in tech support and software testing for a tiny IT company. It would be so easy to see this as a "waste" of two valuable years when I could have been building my writing career ... but in fact this job gave me the skills and confidence to create the Aliventures blog.

Whatever you've been doing over the past months, years, or decades is valuable. You might not yet be able to see the full value of it, but it does have meaning and it may well bear unexpected fruit.

I completely understand how frustrating it can feel when it seems like other writers are ahead of you. But don't let your frustrations or disappointment get in the way of actually writing.

Give writing a real place in your life. And go further than that: find other writers to connect with at all different levels:

• Those who are further along than you can be an incredible resource, sharing lessons they've learned along the way.
• Those at the same level as you can easily commiserate and support you. They truly understand the challenges you're facing right now.
• Those who aren't yet at your level need your help! By sharing what you've learned, you can give them the boost up that you wish you'd had.

Happy writing,

Ali

P.S. If you missed last week's blog post, you can find it here:

Annual Writing Goal Progress in Q2, 2024 (Plus What's New on Aliventures)

... and don't forget your discount code (SUMMERSALE24) if you're buying anything in the summer sale. 

If you accidentally buy something without using the code, email me at ali@aliventures.com and I'll sort out a 50% refund for you.