When I am doing good and honest work on something that is meaningful to me, it’s much easier to drown out the voices (both internal and external) that tell me I still need more, more, more. To wit: when I was drawing and writing my forthcoming graphic memoir (
Thank you so much for saying these things. Yes to being between projects and feeling unmoored—part of my process early in a project is noticing what’s around and that can often lead to wanting things because if I own it … somehow the writing gets done. ???? 😆
And also professional jealousy. We don’t talk about this enough, and it’s so layered and conflicted. Excited for a colleague’s success while sad that some elements of one’s own success are “lesser,” ugh.
Your remedy being the page does hold up for me, too. What can I do now about my books, how can I put energy into creating new work. Vs how can I acquire something shiny.
Growing up, my parents always told us to “watch the doughnut, not the hole”! I instilled the same homily in my daughter and now send it out to you. I’ve always been a glass-half-full gal and maybe this was the cause 🤷🏼♀️ On the other hand, I think ‘want’ is what motivates me to go after those things/traits I envy in other people!
Thank you so much for saying these things. Yes to being between projects and feeling unmoored—part of my process early in a project is noticing what’s around and that can often lead to wanting things because if I own it … somehow the writing gets done. ???? 😆
And also professional jealousy. We don’t talk about this enough, and it’s so layered and conflicted. Excited for a colleague’s success while sad that some elements of one’s own success are “lesser,” ugh.
Your remedy being the page does hold up for me, too. What can I do now about my books, how can I put energy into creating new work. Vs how can I acquire something shiny.
Thank you; I very much needed to read this today.
Growing up, my parents always told us to “watch the doughnut, not the hole”! I instilled the same homily in my daughter and now send it out to you. I’ve always been a glass-half-full gal and maybe this was the cause 🤷🏼♀️ On the other hand, I think ‘want’ is what motivates me to go after those things/traits I envy in other people!
Thanks for the pre-order reminder- I can’t wait to read your book. Thanks for your realness in sharing these hard feelings ❤️
Oof. I can definitely relate to those feelings of jealousy. Thankls for being vulnerable enough to share this very real thing that happens to us.