Blogging requires a balanced combination of vision, passion, craft, and energy. Comparison can quickly squelch your energy and derail your passion for writing. Whether you are new to blogging or a seasoned pro, comparison can kill your blogging confidence.
One of the great temptations for writers and bloggers involves the trap of comparison. We constantly see the success of other writers through social media, conferences, and networks. Traffic stats and social media engagement are inescapable even when you try to ignore them. Comparison can creep into your thoughts in many different forms.
For me, one of the greatest challenges in blogging has been learning craft and building a following without falling into the pit of comparison. When I read a great post and see high stats of likes and shares, I often compare my writing and engagement. I can leave the website feeling discouraged rather than benefitting from the great content I’ve just read. When this happens, my thoughts are about me rather than appreciating the gifts and skills of the other person.
Have you struggled with the problem of comparison in your writing?
Three Ways Comparison can kill your blogging confidence:
Comparison Drowns Creativity
Creativity thrives on being different and original. When we compare our content to other writers, it can be easy to try to emulate what works for someone else.
The blogging world is enamored with How-to content and numbered lists. Most of this is aimed at increasing reach, but it can also kill creativity. One look at Pinterest demonstrates this point. Most pins of blog posts now use successful formulas for titles. Success is great, but now too many blog posts look and sound the same. I’ve followed the formulas and written much of this kind of content. This post is a numbered list because it was a clear way to communicate my message.
The artist in me rebels as creativity bows to comparison and the desire to be as successful as others. The key here is balance. Don’t disdain formats that work, but be creative and personable with in the template. Also, write a variety of content that doesn’t adhere to formulaic structure.
Is copying the new creativity? Click To TweetComparison Fuels Discouragement
Comparison fuels discouragement much like throwing gasoline on a fire. It can ignite quickly and be very destructive.
Recently I was thrilled to have a post featured on the popular devotional site, (in)courage. Like it or not, the social media stats are prominently displayed. You can’t not look at them.
My joy deflated as I realized the stats were not anywhere close to the regular bloggers on the site. It was hard not to receive that as a message that my writing wasn’t as good as others. For a short time, I let comparison steal the delight of success in posting on an well-known website. Rather than growing in confidence, I struggled with discouragement because my post didn’t draw the same amount of engagement as others.
Believe me, comparison is a nasty friend.
Comparison Feeds Pride
Comparison is also a fickle friend. When we are on the short end of comparison, we can wallow in “Not Good Enough” thinking. However, if we rate our work or performance higher than others, we can teeter into the “Better Than” territory of pride. Pride can create divisions and puff up egos, as well as spark criticism. Pride can kill confidence from the other direction, prideful thinking is just as destructive to confidence in that it warps a realistic perception of ourselves.
This verse from the message motivates me to avoid comparison:
That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original. Galatians 5:26 MSG
Particularly for new writers beginning the blogging journey, comparison can kill confidence. Choose to celebrate and learn from successful and experience writers, rather than give into comparison. Give yourself permission to grow through the process and develop skill at the pace that is right for you.
We love helping your growing in your writing career.
Thank you Ginger. I try not to compare but it happens. God puts me in my place by reminding me that He gives each of us a specific job and a specific voice. If we were all the same than we would miss out on the honor of being used by Him.
Great point! It happens to me too. I try to catch myself and change my thinking, but emotions often don’t want to cooperate! Thanks for joining the conversation today.