I have this love/hate relationship with Twitter. Recently connected with the #WritingCommunity, my number of followers and interactions has grown exponentially. (So has the amount of time I spend aimlessly scrolling through my feed, but that’s another story for another time.)
I love being able to connect with other writers, especially those who are in the trenches like me, and give or receive a little boost or friendly nod as needed to get through the workday. Inevitably, I also come across the occasional announcement of somebody signing with an agent or landing a book deal. Thrilled for them. Admittedly disappointed for me.
The logical part of my brain knows there are enough agents, publishers and readers out there for all of us writers who are willing to stay the course. The emotional, self-doubting part of my brain wonders whether I’ll ever get there and feels more than a touch envious of those who’ve cleared that next hurdle toward publication. I feel quite stuck in the starting blocks. This is when I hate Twitter.
I got off social media long enough to have a heart-to-heart with my husband. We were having a debate about parenting styles – why his relationship with our daughters oftentimes seems so seamless and comfortable, and why I frequently end up screaming at them like a deranged ostrich. Our conversation veered toward the concept of success and what it means to succeed. My lightbulb moment came when I realized there is more than one pathway to success. And his methods, though wonderful, are best suited to him and his interactions with our girls. Different parent, different tactics. Both striving for success.
This brought me back to Twitter and my feelings of self-doubt, those which inevitably come when I start to compare myself to others. Foolish, really. The success of these writers is wonderful all on its own. It says nothing at all about me – good or bad. Their path is not my path. Further, success is not a limited commodity.
Sharing this revelation with my #WritingCommunity brought a wonderful response. Apparently many other people needed to hear this message as well; I got dozens of “likes” and some re-tweets. Warm, fuzzy feelings all around. Did I mention that I love Twitter?