Hi.
If you’re a writer, then you’re my competitor. If you’re a Fantasy writer, then you’re my sworn enemy. Kind of. In a way, at least.
See, we’re all competing for readers and, without those readers, we don’t amount to much. Unless, of course, you’re content with only friends and family reading your work. That’s perfectly fine, but it doesn’t go far enough for those of us who want to break into the professional arena. Thus, competition.
This doesn’t mean that I want other people’s work to suck. In fact, I want to compete against the best. It’s not very worthwhile if I can’t.
So how does this relate to athletes?
Let’s take a look at football players. They don’t step onto the turf thinking they’re going to lose. Indeed, they spend weeks, months, and sometimes entire years in preparation for one single game. And, in the very depths of their hearts, they believe they will win. If they don’t believe that, then their opponents will smash their teeth into the grass. That’s not fun, and a losing team doesn’t have very many fans. Insert more not-fun here.
We authors need to believe that we’re the baddest mofo on the turf. We need to believe that our years of practice and training will allow us to insert grass into our opponent’s teeth. Is this a little arrogant? Hell yes it is. Is it required? Hell yes.
Now, we writers are a fickle, somewhat emo lot. We doubt ourselves, wonder if what we’re writing is worth a steaming pile of poo, and otherwise mock ourselves. Mock mock mock.
“It’s sooooooo hard to be badass!”
“I don’t wanna be an arrogant prick!”
“Hekp, hekp,
Fuck it. If any writer wants to be the best, they need to be the best. Now, I’m not saying that those aforementioned doubts aren’t natural. They are. I’m telling you to find a way to combat it. Get a punching bag and smack the shit out of it every day before your writing hours. Jog or run. Or just scream into a pillow, maybe tear it a bit, and fling those feathers everywhere. Rarwrwrwrw! On that same note, cuddle a teddybear if that’s what it takes. Make that bear your cuddlebitch.
Find a way to convince yourself that you’re a badass, and go with it. Then write.
See, I want to compete against the best. I want my work to go against the people who put their heart and soul into it, people who believe, at the very center of what they are, that the world had better watch out.
Bring it!
And finally, due to the sheer awesomeness of this post, I shall raise my minion count to 20. I haven’t raised it lately, so it’s time.
6 Comments(+Add)
Ha! This might be the best post I’ve read in quite some time! I agree with everything you say here!
I use running as my way to clear my head and get back into my game; pound away the worries and frustruation. It really does help!
The doubt is always there, waiting for me, but at least I’ve taught it to shut the f*ck up and go sit in the corner. Duct tape helps too. ha
I have no idea what a minion count is but you definitely deserved those points.
Awesome post!
@L.M. – Hah, I’m glad you enjoyed the post
. Running, eh? I just listen to really loud music and headbang. Well, that and scream, “Rawrwrwrwwrww” at the top of my lungs. Yeah. I’m a lion.
@Ellie – Hmm, how to describe minions. They’re these little things that run around and do your bidding. See, you point at something and say, “Do my bidding, minion!” And tada, the dishes are clean! You should really look at getting one or two hundred.
Sadly, they’re not very good writers. I told them to write this post, and they messed up the very first sentence. I fixed the “your/you’re” problem.
Hahahahah @ cuddlebitch. A true wordsmith you are indeed.
Just the post I needed! Yes, we are a fickle somewhat emo lot but we create worlds and it’s a big job. BTW where do you get your minions from? Minionmart or the guy that sells them at the road side stand
From one fantasy writer to another, this is one of the best blogs I have read. Therefore, I say this: Bring it!! ^_^” Sorry, I couldn’t resist ~_^