Next question, how jealous are you of others?

Novelist in Paradise · Aug 3, 2006

In the ego thread, Maestro said "Ego is not my problem. Jealousy is. I am insanely jealousy/envious of writers with enormous talent and success! Worse, writers with no talent but success. Argh, injustice!"

Is this true of you? I think there's some of this in everybody. I'm in a position where others are jealous of me, and me, I can indeed get jealous of others who got even better breaks/got luckier/are better writers. I don't like this--it's like acid reflux disease. This is why I make a real effort to be as supportive as I can be, and why you won't catch me badmouthing any writer, published or not.

Except for James Joyce and ULYSSES. But I'm trying there, I really am, maybe I will have to re-read it again for penance. (I love Joyce's short stories)

Dpsi4 · Aug 3, 2006

Why couldn't I come up with this thread idea first? I hate you! Waaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!!!!

And to answer your question, I'm not jealous at all.

Shadow_Ferret · Aug 3, 2006

I guess there's a little jealousy involved. Mostly envy though. When I read other's writings, even here in the "Share your work" area, I think to myself, "Why can't I write that well?"

Penguin Queen · Aug 3, 2006

Not so much jealousy (although I suppose it is, really) than getting intensely depressed & a bit huffy when insanely young poeple (in their twenties, say) write something totally brilliant and get a three-book deal.

cree · Aug 3, 2006

I am one of those people who doesn't get jealous, or impressed by success without being impressed by the reason for the success. I see other "good" writers as kin who are in the inner circle of my protectiveness. We may not like each other or each others' work, but we share the bond of this writing thing, so that counts for a lot.
However, I clearly have an ego because I consider myself a good writer, so maybe while jealousy isn't my problem, my own big fat head is....

LOL. I have never gotten jealous of another writer's work, not once. I don't want to be 'the only best" in an industry that prospers because there are many greats: it would be like going to every art museum in New York and only seeing the work of one artist.

brianm · Aug 3, 2006

Jealousy, like envy, is a waste of time. When I read something wonderful it motivates me to study my writing and find ways to improve it.

Soccer Mom · Aug 3, 2006

I'm not jealous when I read something wonderful. I'm just glad someone wrote it. It does irk me a little when I see a celebrity (madonna) of some type get a book deal or when I read a best seller (DVC) that I don't think is particularly interesting. But I try not to dwell on it. Like Brian said. It isn't productive. I think the celebrity thing actually bugs me the most. Madonna claims to have written the books because "there aren't any good books out there for children."

yeah, take that Margret Wise Brown, Maurice Sendak, Sandra Boyton, Olivier Dunrea, and Eric Carle. Y'all mean nothing. I--on the other hand--make out with pop divas on national television. I'm much more qualified to enlighten the children than your pitiful attempts at fiction.

Aaaarg.

Okay. I'm better now. Rant over. Move along. Nothing to see here.

Snitchcat · Aug 3, 2006

Hmm.... I'm not actually jealous, or even envious. I do admire, but respect that they put in the effort and got published. Perhaps they could be seen as a challenge: "I'm here, on this shelf. Where are you?" (^_^)

DeborahM · Aug 3, 2006

Penguin Queen said:
Not so much jealousy (although I suppose it is, really) than getting intensely depressed ...when insanely young poeple (in their twenties, say) write something totally brilliant and get a three-book deal.

Amen to that! I had always wanted to write, but it took something tragic in my life to make me take to the keyboard and from that point on I haven't stopped writing.

I'm not jealous when I read something wonderful. I'm just glad someone wrote it. It does irk me a little when I see a celebrity (madonna) of some type get a book deal or when I read a best seller (DVC) that I don't think is particularly interesting. But I try not to dwell on it. Like Brian said. It isn't productive. I think the celebrity thing actually bugs me the most. Madonna claims to have written the books because "there aren't any good books out there for children."

Soccar Mom - You'll be glad to hear Madonna confessed on a late night show, I forget which it was, that she hired a writer to write those books under her name.

NightWynde · Aug 3, 2006

I don't get jealous on either end of the spectrum.

If it's a good book I'm like "Dang! Maybe I'll be able to write like that someday."

If it's a crappy book, I think, "Well, hell, if this can get published, then I definitely have a shot."

Either way, it's all good.

Jamesaritchie · Aug 3, 2006

jealous

I suspect envious is the right word here, but I don't think I suffer from it. No consciously, at least. Just doesn't make any sense, and I can't see where it would help me in any way.

The success of others has nothing to do with the course of my life. Be happy for them.

Mac H. · Aug 4, 2006

brianm said:
Jealousy, like envy, is a waste of time.

You just have to learn to multi-task.

I can be Jealous, Envious & wash the floor simultaneously.

Since it doesn't take up any extra time, I don't see the harm in indulging it just a little ..

Mac.

Novelist in Paradise · Aug 4, 2006

brianm said:
When I read something wonderful it motivates me to study my writing and find ways to improve it.

When I'm writing and struggling, and then read something wonderful, I plagiarize.

Um, need I say I'm just kidding?

I do agree with Brianm, reading great writing is not only inspiring but a necessary part of writing great reading (or even just plain writing).

Do you read when you're writing in serious writing mode? I tend to read non-fiction, or genre far remembered from what I'm doing.

expatbrat · Aug 4, 2006

Mountain biking is a fantastic teacher of how life works. If you look at the rock you want to avoid, you will hit it. Your wheels generally go wherever you focus your attention. Successful MTB bikers look at the line (path, direction) they want to take.

Isn't jealousy a little like looking at what you don't want?

NightWynde · Aug 4, 2006

Novelist in Paradise said:
Do you read when you're writing in serious writing mode? I tend to read non-fiction, or genre far remembered from what I'm doing.

Since I have my own style (as I'm sure everyone does), I don't worry about what I'm reading when I'm in writing mode. Most of the time I read something different genre-wise or even non-fiction, but that's only because that's the way I always read--ie, whatever I can get my hands on.

That being said, I've just started a short story anthology called Christmas Ghosts even though I've got two ghost tales in the works. It's more to do with "I found it for cheap at a garage sale and I've been meaning to read it for a while" as opposed to anything else.

KTC · Aug 4, 2006

I don't know how to be jealous. I just don't care. I'm not trying to be funny. I'm not looking for more or less, just whatever comes my way. If somebody else is motivated enough to get to a higher point than I, then so be it. Whatever. I will never be accused of being motivated. I've seen sub-standard writing published before. I don't feel jealous about it. The person who wrote it obviously went through the grueling process of getting it published. They paid their dues. I have manuscripts in my closet. I'm too lazy to send them out...so I have no right to be jealous of anybody who does.

Snitchcat · Aug 4, 2006

Novelist in Paradise said:
Do you read when you're writing in serious writing mode? I tend to read non-fiction, or genre far remembered from what I'm doing.

I'm always reading something -- non-fic, fic, manga and subtitles (

).

Nateskate · Aug 4, 2006

I think there are fleeting moments I'd prefer to have been in other's shoes; but I'm hopeful my story(s) will find a place. I don't want to "be them". In fact, I don't want their books. I have a sequential dream of how things will go. It's just such a fight getting there.

I'm not sure this is jealousy- I'm somewhat frustrated in that I can't seem to get things right in the first pass. I expend a considerable amount of time and effort in trying to get it right. The stories come easy. The writing has been difficult.

Marlys · Aug 4, 2006

Yet all experience is an arch wherethrough
gleams that untraveled world, whose margin fades
for ever and for ever when I move. -- Tennyson, Ulysses

No point in getting envious--no matter where you are in your writing career, there's always going to be someone who's doing better than you are, and the margin is going to keep fading into the distance as you reach each new goal.

Unagented writers could waste time resenting the agented; e-published authors, print; small press people, large press; moderately-successful, best-selling authors; best-sellers, the megastars.

Or you could shrug it off and write another book.

Can't Catch A Break · Aug 4, 2006

I'm frustrated when I see the likes of Paris Hilton and Superhead receive heaps od praise. And all for what?! Excuse me if I haven't screwed every man in creation and I don't have a sex tape to boost my profile. It's craziness that talent isn't rewarded more often.

Jealousy comes into play when I see another writer engage in such beauftiful prose.

I am genuinely happy for the struggling writers who have not only broken through but shattered the glass ceiling.

MajorDrums · Aug 4, 2006

i get envious at other writers' will to keep going. i can easily get discouraged and stop writing for months. tons of self-doubt, i suppose.

did madonna really get a ghost writer for those awful children's books? she seems like one of those ppl where the more you discover about them, the less depth there is.

Mike Coombes · Aug 4, 2006

I find it impossible to be jealous of those I know who have achieved success, because for the most part I've been there with them during writing, editing, the hunt for agent, etc and to be jealous of the achievement would be to ignore the hard work and determination behind it.

Soccer Mom · Aug 4, 2006

DeborahM said:
Soccar Mom - You'll be glad to hear Madonna confessed on a late night show, I forget which it was, that she hired a writer to write those books under her name.

That actually makes me feel a little better. Some writer actually got work out of the deal. I guess my issue is with people like that who aren't interested in "being a writer." If that makes any sense. It's one thing to have a non-fiction book in you. A lot of people are interested in celebrities and non-fiction celebrity books that do well fund a lot of things for the first time authors. I don't appreciate people like Madonna who come out and slam legitimate writers and then pretend to be one themselves. It isn't so much envy as an annoyance.

With that said, I'm glad a ghost writer got the work and pay (if not the recognition.)

On another note: Don't we all love finding a new writer? There is something very satisfying about picking up a just published first book and discovering that it is wonderful. For some reason, it always cheers me up to see that good new writers are emerging all the time. People can and do get published simply by writing compelling stories.

Mike Coombes · Aug 4, 2006

Marlys said:
No point in getting envious--

Not entirely true, Marlys. I'm envious of the guy on your cover.

StoryG27 · Aug 4, 2006

I think jealousy is a fairly normal human emotion. I'll read some brilliant story, woven so wonderfully that it keeps me as a willing prisoner until the last page has been turned and the last word has been read, and I think, "I wish I could write like that." So that is a little jealousy there, but it isn't anything that gets out of hand. The only time I feel the 'monster' of jealousy is when I think I write better than someone else who catches a lucky break, one that I feel I deserve. I know, that sounds terrible to admit, but it has happened once or twice. I still am happy for the person, but I have to admit, it stings a little and I can tend to be jealous for a few weeks, then it passes.

Next question, how jealous are you of others?

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