Susan Taylor Brown posts about the jealous writer. Her thoughts more or less echo mine on the matter. Feeling a twinge of jealousy when someone else succeeds is human and acceptable and not something we need deny, at least to ourselves, so long as it doesn’t get in the way of feeling–and expressing–genuine delight when our peers succeed.
Every success story is a reminder that success can happen, to others and to ourselves.
Though defining success is a tricksy business. If one wants to stay sane, ultimately the point–and the payoff–becomes the work, and the joy we take in it.
Which is why I really like the Marge Piercy poem Susan links to, “For the Young Who Want To.”
The real writer is one
who really writes. Talent
is an invention like phlogiston
after the fact of fire.
Work is its own cure. You have to
like it better than being loved.
Susan also posts a desert rain haiku here.