Comparison kills joy. This is as true in the publishing world as it is in daily life. If you compare your work to that of other writers, you might lose the enthusiasm and dedication it takes to complete a project. Watching what so-and-so is doing, in the hopes of emulating their success will only stifle your own creativity.
In publishing, it is never a good idea to try and follow in another writer's footsteps. This is because it is an industry looking for originality and unique talent. Imitations just don't sell, yet some people will even go so far as to send a direct emulation of an author's work to the same publisher! Not only are you stifling your own creativity in trying to repeat someone else's success, you are actively inviting rejection.
A writer's life is ever moving forward. My own writing has moved from poetry, to content provider for home study courses, to Wicca books, to magical features and music, to columns, to mainstream self-help and psychotherapy work. It won't stop there either and my work continues to evolve as I set about achieving more of my writing goals.
It's lovely that people have been so inspired by my published work that they try to follow in my footsteps, but this is an industry where it pays to forge your own path, for the only way you will get published is by developing your own authentic authorial voice.
Some would-be writers might wait until their target author has moved on and quickly try to slip into the space left behind, but again, there is probably a good reason why that author moved on in the first place, and it may be that the space just isn't available anymore. Shrinking markets, new publishing trends and so on, can all have an impact on your submission or suggestion of becoming a new contributor.
In addition, if you focus too much on emulating the success of one author, you will forever be playing catch up. As authors move on to new outlets, markets and genres, you will struggle to keep up and hamper your chances of even getting started. Just as you decide to approach their publishing house, they move into features writing; as you start approaching their magazine editors, they move on again, into music, or fiction, or screen writing. It's like trying to keep up with the Jones's - its expensive, time consuming, and ultimately a fruitless pursuit which leaves you feeling unsatisfied, while the Jones's have moved onto a new purchase and are far too busy enjoying it to even notice your homage! Its a pointless task.
As authors we need to move our work forward, in order to keep enjoying it and to maintain enthusiasm for it. I have a new sense of achievement now when I write my psychotherapy work. It is a subject that I enjoy putting into my own style of writing and it draws on all my previous years of experience in writing and publishing.
I get the biggest thrill when a psychotherapy commission comes in! It is just like when I had my first book published, or when I was invited to be a columnist, or to compose an album. It's the best feeling, but it does depend on moving forwards in one's career, for the longer you write in one genre, the more mundane it becomes to you. The buzz wears off. Switching genres, from MBS to mainstream self-help and psychotherapy, is the biggest writing buzz I've had in years and I'm loving it!
It is still early days and the platform needs building, but I now get paid to write about psychotherapy, as an expert who is trained in the field. No-one can say that is down to luck... it's down to a four year diploma and clinical practice, not to mention twenty-odd years publishing experience!
Lead, don't follow. Be inspired, but don't jump on band wagons. Blaze your own trail and develop your authentic voice as a writer. Then go out there and forge your own path. Good luck.
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