After reading a
few books: adult fiction, young adult, middle grade as well as picture books, I
have been afflicted with a strong bout of Writer Envy. Everything in these
books, from plots to characters, from writing styles to themes, from settings
to the various subplots, had me gasping in awe.
Even in my wildest dreams, I
would never have been able to conceive of such plots, create such complex
worlds and plot twists. The ease with which some of these writers write, is
awe-inspiring. I am constantly amazed at the number of books/series some
writers bring out one after another. I wonder how do they do it? Whew! Just
thinking of this gives my brain a strenuous workout.
I am super envious
of writers who write Sci-fi Space Opera (are you listening Alex Cavanaugh), of
writers who write historical fiction (Mark Noce that would be you), writers who
write murder mysteries (Patricia Stoltey, you are one of them) and writers who
write amazing flash fiction (Patrick Stahl, take a bow) and when I read the
introductions Michael Di Gesu writes, I am completely speechless.
I feel my stories
are so simple when I compare them to the greats. Though I write the first
drafts fast, it takes me a long time to revise and polish the manuscripts. Sometimes
I struggle to work on the book I am writing.
Instead of
succumbing to jealousy, I strive to emulate these writers by writing more,
trying to add different elements into my stories, getting more feedback from my
Crit Partners and working harder at my craft. Every time I read amazing books I
go over my own books and search for ways to improve them.
Do you like me
suffer from bouts of Writer Envy? Does your jaw drop at the themes few writers
tackle? Do you feel a pang of envy when you see books after books written by
these writers occupying the shelves?
P.S. Let’s all
hope that our books may give some budding writer in the very distant future a
case of Writer Envy. That would really make it worthwhile.
