The Jealousy Food Chain

There seems to be a food chain of jealousy in publishing. Someone just starting a WIP might be irritated when their critique partner announces they just finished a first draft; so-and-so is freaking out about a full request and you only got a partial; if one more person announces they signed with an agent you're going to throw something; the agented writer cringes when another book deal is announced and they're still on sub; the person with a one-book deal wonders why this other person got a two-book deal, with a bigger publishing house; everyone is jealous of the seven figure deal that's buzzing all over Twitter; this author over here really wishes their cover could have been as amazing as so-and-so's cover; the author that has to keep their day job may envy the full-time writer who cranks out more than one book a year and is constantly on tour like a rock star; we see yet another movie or TV series being made out of a fantasy or paranormal and think WHY CAN'T I WRITE A BOOK LIKE THAT?; those authors with movie deals might be jealous over another movie's casting, as they have zero control over this, or glare at the (few) people with theme parks/thrill rides based on their books/comics etc ... that's really as far as my brain can see this going. If you land a theme park set in the world of your imagination, YOU HAVE ARRIVED! ;)

*UPDATE - of course, as KM mentioned in the comments, we are also VERY happy for everyone's good news. It should be more encouraging than discouraging that dreams DO come true!

I think it's probably common to wish you were in a different place, no matter WHERE you are yourself. Unless you're J.K. Rowling, there's always someone ahead of you (and I'll bet even she admires someone else--you never know). For some reason, we get it into our heads that we need to rush rush rush. "But I want to be a NYT Bestseller NOW!" "I want that seven-figure deal NOW!"

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But we can't let that jealousy rob us of our individual experience. Sure, we can look to the future and have hopes and goals, but we can't be so blinded by it we miss what's right in front of us. Everyone ahead of you was right where you are at one point, they just happened to go through it first. I'm learning to look at them as proof that these goals can actually be accomplished, and work my rear off to get there. Channel that desire to be where they are into making it happen, and don't give up and start whining about it all. It's WORK. Hard work. You have to love it.

As I'm waiting and waiting for my first book to make it onto a shelf next year, I've found myself wishing time would just HURRY UP ALREADY so I can realize that dream. But... why would I wish my life to speed up? I have plenty to enjoy at this stage, as well as a lot of work before I'm READY to be any farther along.

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It's not easy being green (with envy)

The publishing world is jam-packed with things to be jealous about.

Oh, they got an agent! How great! 
Translation: omg why don't i have an agent? oh yeah, i'm still on my first draft. i suck.


Oh, they sold their book to a publisher! I can't wait to read their book!
Translation: omg i'm so far from that. what am i doing? i suck!


Oh, that's such a pretty cover! It will look fab on my bookshelf!
Translation: omg they lucked out on that. there's no way my cover will end up that cool. i suck!

Oh, they're having a launch party! I can't wait to meet them!
Translation: omg am i ever going to have a launch party? i suck!!!


Oh, they got a movie deal! Can't wait for that to come out!
Translation: omg i suck so bad. 


Seriously, it's exhausting being excited for everyone ahead of you, isn't it? It really is exciting to hear people are making their dream come true, but when you have the same dream, that little envy worm curls itself up inside your ear and tells you lies. It tells you that you can't make your dreams come true. That you'll never get an agent, you'll never sell your book, and even if you do you'll get a crap cover and no one will want it!

This new year presents a clean slate, envy free and full of possibilities! It's up to us to put in the work to make our dreams come true. Let's not waste our energy being jealous of everyone else. Let's channel that into making it happen for ourselves. 


What are you going to make happen in 2012??