A Journey of Your Own

By Azaria M.J. Durant, Author, Artist, Reviewer; used with permission

One thing that’s taken me a long time to fully realize is that no writer is better than another writer. Just the same as no artist is really better than another artist. I mean, the concept has always been there in my head, but because of my own competitive nature, I've always strived to be the best. But now that I've failed and fallen and am in the process of picking myself back up, I see now that it's arrogant and damaging to look at other writers and artists as your competition.

"But Azaria, how can you say that? Some writers and artists suck, while others create masterpieces in five seconds!"

And? Sure, the quality of the art and the writing may be better from one person, but we're all just at different stages.  Those artists creating masterpieces started making chicken scratch too. How did they get to where they are now? They kept at it. They followed their passion and they focused on the art. And the art is what is important.

Each piece of art and each story is saying something that the artist desperately wants to say and to be heard. Just because it isn't as good as JRR Tolkien doesn't mean it doesn't deserve to be heard or seen.

And while putting others down is not nice to do, I'm mostly talking about the damage of comparing yourself and putting yourself down because you don't think you'll be as good as so and so. Just remember. You aren't them. You have a journey of your own and it's going to be beautiful.  Keep at it. What you say deserves to be heard.  Don't give up even when you think no one is listening or seeing, because it's not important what others think. What's most important is what you think about your art and yourself. Because at the end of the day, that's what's going to make or break your own personal success.

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“A creative man is motivated by the desire to achieve, not by the desire to beat others.” – Ayn Rand

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