Comments on: Celebrating Jealousy

By: Tricia

Tricia — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 18:24:02 +0000

Wow. Now where the heck did I stash that notebook I kept, full of scribbles and scratches of new “Ramona the Pest” adventures, created with the intention to mail in to the author of the books I was devouring when I was just 11 years old! I remember that I won a city-wide story writing contest when I was in grade 7. I still have the trophy on my shelf in my home office. It’s neglected and covered with dust and not even facing the right way around, but, I did keep it. But why? I remember how my pride at winning this little known award was immediately destroyed within seconds by everyone with even a hint of coolness at my school. The award after all, was given out at a school assembly on the same day they handed out the fitness awards – I proudly got a “silver badge” in that – which soon after getting it, (I disgustingly learned) was stolen from under my seat during the short trip I took up to the stage to get my writing award. After the assembly I was mocked because the trophy had a dog on top of it “Must be because you’re a real DOG to look at” I got told by Mike W. the coolest guy in school who was obviously(?) headed for a bold career as literary critic. Okay. Writing isn’t cool. Got it!

Now I’m 47, reading your blog, I wonder… was I an early bloomer? I can think back with quite a bit of clarity and remember conversations … often uncomfortable ones with my childless (not by choice) aunt who was also a painter and a linguist.

Every time we met throughout my teen and early adult years before she died, she would ask me, such questions as: “Have you kept up with your writing?”; “What’s your next project?”; or the inevitable “Why haven’t you considered a career in writing”? I would always squirm and make something up because I never wanted to disappoint her, all the while wondering what on earth she saw in ME to assume so much. After all, it was a complete fluke that I even won the award. Clearly nobody in the long list of so called “experts” who had to review my work to get it to the final cut to even get sent IN to receive the award knew they were dealing with a real amateur and nobody, right?

Well, here’s to blooming later than expected. Even with that shimmering glimpse of a head start I NOW truly – and with some serious jealousy pointed towards my own younger self – wish I’d taken better advantage of. Better late than never. Right Aunt Dodie?

By: Claire

Claire — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:45:24 +0000

Heather, you are an inspiration. And I agree–it’s never too late unless we’re talking ballet or the Olympics. Otherwise just get going.

Lynn, I think I have never been complimented for cussing before, but I will certainly take it! I’ve heard people complain that cuss-words are cheats and to use them is to demonstrate a poor imagination but I disagree. They can be cheats but so can any word. Why not make use of all our tools? Anyway, in my case I will never shake these words entirely because I grew up with a father in construction who proved every day how delicious it is to be profane.

By: Lynn Ross

Lynn Ross — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 20:07:00 +0000

I love your humor. And I love the way you swear. Everyone–or at least everyone I know–does it. But it takes real talent to do it right: the right words, the right places, the right balance. I’m not much on cooking, but I suspect that cuss words in print is rather like gourmet cooking: exactly the right ingredients, blended in at the right time in the process, and allowed to cook for just exactly the right amount of time.

By: Heather Sharfeddin

Heather Sharfeddin — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:31:58 +0000

Claire, I didn’t take my first writing course until I was 29. I thought I wanted to be an illustrator. I just didn’t realize at the time that meant illustrating with words not pictures. It’s never too late.

By: Claire

Claire — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:44:59 +0000

Thanks Beth. I think the trick is to use the jealousy as a reminder of what we want, then discard it in favor of just getting to work. For me the work is the cure-all, even when my writing isn’t going well.

I think we can both be assured that every writer struggles with this stuff. Good luck sticking to the keyboard!

By: Beth Copeland

Beth Copeland — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:07:49 +0000

Thank you for such an honest examination of your feelings, Claire. I’ve struggled with jealousy my whole life — from being envious of my sisters to being resentful when other writers are more prolific and successful. At times my fear of failure is almost paralyzing, and I find it difficult to even read because reading the work of more successful writers makes me wish that I had written something so brilliant. It helps to know that other writers struggle with these negative feelings, too.