Smashing through the boundaries

I've heard countless people say, "I want to be the next J. K. Rowling" or "I want to be the next Stephen King" or John Grisham or . . . (fill in the blank)

What's wrong with this?

Simply put: there is only one J. K. Rowling, Stephen King, John Grisham, etc. and they did not create their own success by duplicating the efforts of someone else. They put in the hours. And a great many hours it is too, to write a novel. Most people see the finished product and have no idea what it takes to put one together, from getting the idea to putting it together into a first draft and then the multiple editing sessions.

If one wants to be the best they can be, one has to stop comparing themselves to one who is already published. Everyone's circumstances are different. J. K. Rowling was a single mother who wrote much of her first Harry Potter book in a cafe while her child was sleeping. She didn't do it because her favorite writer did it and thought this was a good idea. She did it because she had to, because she loved to write.

Years ago, I read that Jack London was the first millionaire writer. I thought this was very interesting, and at that moment set a goal of being the first billionaire writer. Now, whether or not she believes it, J. K. Rowling beat me to it. But that doesn't mean I still can't be one because I don't write just to make a huge pile of dough. I'm also not comparing myself to her. My life is different from her's and that's okay. I will be published one day soon . . . in my own time . . . with my own goals, not someone else's.

Instead of telling yourself that you want to be the next (fill in the blank of your favorite writer), be yourself and be the absolute best writer you can be . . . in your own time . . . in your own way. Write today.

Right now . . .