That Looks Good

Because my children swam, I got involved in officiating swim meets. Now, I continue doing it for jollies. As I observe young swimmers, I have always been bothered by the breaststroke rubber neck. The breaststroke is a very regulated cyclical stroke, and turning your head is about the only maverick movement you can make that that is legal. But it’s terrible for your race. It ruins your stride and slows you down. Yet, inexperienced swimmers often couldn’t resist the urge to see how close everyone else is. There’s a lesson in here about life. Particularly, it speaks to my writing lately.

When I concluded the last book of my series, I was elated, celebrating the achievement of long years of hard work. For a minute–only as long as it took me to realize how much farther along other authors around me are. My four books suddenly seemed paltry compared to their eight, or twenty-six, or thirty-two. Just like that, all my joy evaporated, and I stiffened to the stress of playing catch-up. Every new piece I learned about the publishing process showed me how far behind I was and sent me into an ever-accelerating spiral of panic. Finally, after a meltdown of abject misery, I saw my futility. I have to swim my own race. Every jerk of my head away from the goal saps my energy and muddles my focus. It jeopardizes my ability to finish well.

Double Advice

Thursdays are good days, because I get to listen to new episodes of two of my favorite podcasts. Today the back-to-back episodes spoke volumes to my gaze-wandering dilemma. On Jordan Raynor’s Mere Christians podcast, he interviewed author and Food Network personality Aarti Sequeira. With illustrations from her own career, she encouraged listeners not to look around and be envious of the achievements of others, fearing that we will lose out. God gave us our work and that is what we have to pursue, nothing else. She reminded us that God is always writing a better story of our lives than we are writing for ourselves. We can trust Him. What an apt word for me.

Next, I listened to the author Larry Correia talk about his publishing journey on Thomas Umstaddt Jr’s Novel Marketing Podcast. Besides the inspiration of his self-publishing success in defiance of the traditional gatekeepers’ dismissal, he spoke of being true to yourself as an author, not changing our story to appease others. The vision has to be our own, and the way to achieve it is also unique. Not all writing advice applies to every author. We have to find our own way and walk–or swim–it.

With these timely encouragements, I can take a deep breath and be renewed in my efforts. That’s another thing I don’t get enough of when I agonize–air. There’s no point in looking around. I’m only going where my sights are set. So I should keep my eyes on God and inhale the oxygen of His strength. Then, I’ll finish my race in my own best time.