As a writer, it’s very easy to get overwhelmed. We meet all these people online, or maybe even at a writer’s conference, and we realize there is this huge mass of bodies chasing after the same dream.It’s so easy to look at those around us and start to feel heavy, or maybe even hopeless. It’s so easy to start wondering, “How can this ever happen for me, when a million other people are all in the same boat, waiting for the same chance to jump on the overcrowded shore?”
I think we can all safely raise our hands and admit, that yes, similar thoughts have crossed our mind. No matter what stage we’re at on this writing journey, it’s difficult not to compare. It’s easy to read an amazing book and think, “I’ll never be able to do that.” Or to read all these wonderful blogs and think, “How will I ever make it when all these other awesome writers want the same thing?” After all, the space is limited. It’s not like everybody who aspires to write a novel will get published. Heck, it’s not like everybody who’s actually written a novel, or multiple novels, will get published. Even having an agent is no guarantee.
So how do we deal when the giant mass overwhelms us?
In his book, The Art of War for Writers, James Scott Bell offers some of the best advice I’ve ever seen.
He invented a pyramid. It goes like this:
At the bottom level, the one with the most room, is The Wanna Be. We’ve all run into these people. These are the people who say, “I’ve always wanted to write a book” or “I have this great story inside of me.” We all start here. After all, we wouldn’t write a book if we didn’t think we could, or if we didn’t want to.
One level above that, with a little less space, is for those who are learning. These are people who don’t stop at wanna be. These are people who read craft books, agent/editor blogs, go to conferences, and are actually attempting to write this novel they say they want to write.
One level above that, with even less space, is for those who’ve finished a novel. For these people, writing is no longer lip service. They’ve actually put in the work and have pages to prove it.
Above that, with even less space, are those who’ve completed multiple novels. People who haven’t just put in the work once, but have committed to doing it again. And again. And again.
Above that, smaller still, are those who haven’t just written novels, but have gotten them publishedand have actually gotten paid for it.
And above that, at the very top, are those who are multi-published.
The higher the level, the smaller the space. Not because there’s less room and only the really cool people are allowed in, but because the higher you go, the more work that’s involved.
So what’s the point of the pyramid?
First, it shows that we all start at the bottom.Nicholas Sparks, JK Rowling, your critique partner, your mentor, your blogging friends…all of us have started at the bottom. There are lots of people at the bottom. Because, let’s face it, being at the bottom of the pyramid is easy. Any Joe Shmoe off the street can say they want to write a book. Wanne Be’s are everywhere. It takes grit, hard work, and perseverance to step up to the next level.
Second, the pyramid helps us focus on one level at a time.We all start at the bottom, and we all move up one level at a time. Sure, some might move faster through the pyramid than others, but nobody skips a level. It’s a lot less overwhelming for me when I stop staring at the top of the pyramid. It’s a lot less overwhelming when I stop trying to figure out where everybody else is on the pyramid. Everything becomes a lot simpler when I step back and say, “Okay Katie, where are you, and what can you do to get to the next level?”
(First off, Katie, you'll want to quickly remove the previous comment from "lady" who is spamming Christian sites… that series of dots are multiple links to very undesirable sites!)
In my writing I'm at the "multiple novels" level. I have magazine articles published but need to convince myself that it's time to keep working my way up the pyramid and start looking for agent representation. It's a big step.
I'm new here, but I really enjoyed this post. Great job.
I'll be back!
~Lola
Great post, Katie. I'm in the middle layers. I've written eight books, but I'm still learning. I didn't have a clue with the first four! I hope 2010 is my year!
Definitely felt like that this weekend. I've written a novel, so at least I can look at that as progress and I'm half way through another, so I'm almost ready to leap up another level.
Great post.
Oh yes … my hand is raised! 🙂 Fabulous post!
I finished two novels and have another in the works. 🙂 Thanks for helping me see I'm making progress.
Blessings,
Susan
First of all, I got really excited to see the Step Pyramid when I popped over to your post. Yay Egypt!
Second, I'm happy to be halfway up the pyramid. A smidge more than halfway, actually. That makes me feel great!
Fantastic post! I am definitely going to have to get that book. Thanks for helping us keep things in perspective, Katie. I'm bookmarking and printing this post. 🙂
I love this! Thank you for explaining it so well. I may (attempt to) draw a pyramid like this.
I'm there in the middle, in the multiple novel section. Not too bad. Just have to stay focused and not compare or shoot for too high too soon.
And from as many times as I've seen this book referenced of late, it's the next great title on craft. 🙂
Art of War for Writers is a great resource.
What a fantastic post!! I can't wait to get this book. I am a wanna-be who is entering the learning phase. I am about 17,000 words into my first book and 6,000 into a prequel for it. I love reading writing and book blogs to learn about the game. Thanks for sharing your insights! 🙂
I wrote two books before I knew what I was doing, then went back, learned and studied, and wrote a third, fourth and am working on my fifth.
I have no idea whether I'll climb another level, though…I keep hoping and praying!
I love how you said that we all start at the bottom. I think that's one of the main things I forget. Thanks! 🙂
What a great way of looking at things… I should definitely get a copy of this book. It's encouraging to know where I am on the pyramid, especially when I consider that I'm further toward the top than I am toward the bottom. Still, it's good to revisit the learning portion of rung 2 as often as possible!
Hey great minds think alike! Right now I feel like there still building my pyramid, pretty dauntingly slow. But hopefully soon I'll be leaping towards the top. (BTW, keep us updated on your journey! I'd love to hear how things are going! I'm praying big things for you.)
I just found your blog through Karen Amanda Hooper's site. We write about a lot of the same things and I am so glad to have found you!
I'm in the multiple novel stage. Learning, reading craft books, looking forward to entering contests and attending conferences. I just ordered this book. Excited to read it.
Wonderful post as usual Katie! I guess I'm on level one? I've written my first draft and now I'm revising. Hoping to query in September. In the meantime, I keep praying about it. I feel as if God has put this passion in my life for a reason, so I might as well go for it.
Seems like that book is all over the place these days. 🙂 And for good reason, obviously.
I guess I don't really feel like I'm competing with a mass of other writers…because so much of whether a book is picked up by an agent or publisher comes down to subjectivity, moods, and things outside our control. Even if agents/NY doesn't want my book, that doesn't necessarily mean it's not good, or that others are any better. It just means that that particular day, those particular people didn't connect with it – and that's okay. We just keep giving them words until they find something they do connect with, at the right time. 🙂
I'm not published, but have written several novels, so I'm at that stage. Looking to move into the published stage next…
How encouraging. I've pondered the comparison a lot lately, and this helps.
I'm at the level where I've written more than one book, but not published yet. Books, that is. I've published tons of articles and columns.
When I'm tempted to quit scaling that steep pyramid, I sit in Jesus' lap for awhile and read his Book. That makes the scaries go away.
You inspire me, Katie. So young, yet so wise.
Love the idea of the pyramid, and I was surprised that I wasn't at the bottom of it! I was farther up than I realized which makes it easier to start thinking about what I can do to reach the top. Thanks so much for the post!
I keep hearing about this book. Thanks for the encouragement. Level one of the pyramid for me :O)
LOve, Love, Love this book!!! I'm NOT a Wannabe anymore. 🙂 I'm at the stage where I have finished a novel and am about to embark on my second. How exciting is that!?! These stages are slow going for most of us, but going at it slow and steady lets us traverse the climb with all the experience we need to sustain the journey. Awesome post, girl!
Okay, Katie. The book is on THE LIST for March
LOVE that pyramid idea.
This is such a wonderful blog. I love your mix of emotion, information, and just plain fun.
Hmmm. Guess I'm creeping into the multi-published arena. All I can say is that if one isn't careful, top-heaviness can make the pyramid crumble into dust. Sigh. The lessons just keep comin'. And it just don't come easy. Thank God for the guidance of His glorious Spirit.
Blessings,
Patti
Hope you don't mind I mentioned and linked this post on my own blog today. 🙂
Great way of looking at it. I'm proud I'm not at the very bottom anymore. Can't wait to reach the top. 🙂 One foot in front of the other and just keep breathing.
I loved his explanation too. It makes a lot of sense and it seems so much less overwhelming, doesn't it? Hope you enjoy your spring break!
I've written three. Working on the fourth. I want to make it to the top and still have a desire to learn like I did back on rung two.
Bell's book is really good. I loved the point about everyone starting at the bottom. At church yesterday our pastor talked about how Jesus is the ultimate servant. He did things so much in opposition to how this world runs.
With this in mind, I want to make it to the top with a bottom of the pyramid humility.
~ Wendy
This was fantastic Katie!!! I'm at the Wanna be stage… currently 34000 words into my current WIP looking to be in the One published Novel category, I am feeling very proud of myself and I'm happy to see that I am starting to move away from the Wanna be stage!!!
I heard the pyramid concept probably at a conference before, and I LOVE IT! It's all about the baby steps, getting just a little closer and taken that next step.
Thanks for sharing this morning!!
That is so awesome, Kate! I really need to read that book. I'm at the finished multiple books stage. I've written two, though the first one needs to be completely rewritten. I suppose that doesn't matter as long as it gets done. It is neat to look at it as a pyramid and remember that you just have to take one step at a time.
I've definitely felt this way before. I'm at the finished more than one novel part.