Caroline Starr Rose

picture book and middle-grade author

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Jumpstart Your Writing in the New Year Part II

11 Comments

Play with words
I find first drafts terrifying. One way I ease in is to tell myself I’m simply experimenting with language. Give yourself permission to approach writing playfully, whether you’re working on a “real” piece or simply collecting words that pique your interest. Enjoy the rhythm of words, poke at meaning, stretch old metaphors into something new. Your writing will benefit from it.

Avoid the comparison game
This is probably one of the hardest bits of advice to follow but one of the most beneficial to your writerly well being. There are so many ways to get sucked into comparing, from measuring the number of blog followers you have against a friend’s to tracking the amount of time it took others to secure agents. It’s easy to think once you’ve “arrived” with a book deal, these worries fall away, but they don’t: there will be friends with bigger deals, with more push from their publishers, or better reviews and general buzz. Envy finds us at every level.

Choose to see your writing journey as yours alone. It’s not something anyone can do for you; there’s no way your experience will mirror another’s. Just like we all have something unique to contribute to the literary world, we all will go through different struggles and triumphs.

The only thing you will get out of the comparison game is disappointment.

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Filed Under: the writing life

Comments

  1. Irene Latham says

    January 4, 2013 at 1:41 pm

    So strange how there is no room for ego when one is a writer… yet an ego is also required! Embracing envy and moving through it could be the toughest part of the whole process. I want to be better at that.

    Reply
    • Caroline Starr Rose says

      January 4, 2013 at 2:57 pm

      Well said. It’s this strange balancing act. Every time I compare I either feel defeated or get a big head. Neither benefit me.

      Reply
  2. Beth Kephart says

    January 4, 2013 at 2:02 pm

    yes.

    Reply
    • Caroline Starr Rose says

      January 4, 2013 at 2:57 pm

      You’ve taught me a lot of this, you know. xo

      Reply
  3. Margaret Simon says

    January 4, 2013 at 2:18 pm

    My new year”s resolution is the one little attitude of acceptance. I need to accept that I have a voice that is my own, not to be compared to any other. However, I will continue to seek advice from writers I admire, like you. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Caroline Starr Rose says

      January 4, 2013 at 2:58 pm

      Yes. You are already ahead of the game.

      Reply
  4. Kristin Rae says

    January 4, 2013 at 8:15 pm

    Good reminder not to compare ourselves to others! I do this way too much…

    Reply
    • Caroline Starr Rose says

      January 5, 2013 at 2:22 pm

      It never helps to do it, but it’s so easy to do.

      Reply
  5. Rebecca says

    January 5, 2013 at 3:19 am

    If I am excited about a project, a first draft is the most exciting thing in the world! Though, admittedly, it can be a little scary sometimes. I try to simply enjoy the process and not worry about what will come of it.

    You’re right about comparisons. Sometimes I will be so blown away by what I am reading that I wonder if I’ll ever measure up. Other times I catch myself thinking, “my book is so much better than this.” Both are dangerous attitudes. I need to remember to write and be myself!

    Reply
  6. Caroline Starr Rose says

    January 5, 2013 at 2:25 pm

    Both are dangerous attitudes. I need to remember to write and be myself!

    Wise words.

    Reply
  7. Mia says

    January 5, 2013 at 5:42 pm

    Good advice on not doing the comparison game for writing as well as for blogging or anything for that matter. Great advice in general to start off the New Year. I am guilty of that for blogging and I am going to try to stop.

    Reply

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