I keep comparing myself to other established writers

[Chris Guillory]

Some of us find it hard to read something new when we're at the creating stage for exactly that reason.

That makes sense. That actually may be the course for me.

 

[psychotick]

Hi,

I think a large chunk of this is that you're looking too far ahead. You're not writing what you want to write or read as others have said, you're writing or trying to write what you think other people would want to read. That's always a mistake.

Is your work too dark or too light? Too happy or sad? Too fantastic or mundane? I don't know. You don't know either. And even all those other authors you're comparing yourself to don't know. Because there is no answer. There is no wrong and no right here. It's just your work. It is what it is. And if you try to model your work on what others have written, it won't even be your work. That's an almost certain path to failure.

So write your book however you want to. And consider my basic creed. "I write for me. I publish for others." In short you write it, then you give it to someone else (or several someones) who can tell you it's too dark, too light etc. Writing in the first instance should always be selfish. It should be completely about you. About what you want to write and read. Your story. It's like any artwork, it's about communicating what you want to say. It's not about communicating what you think other people want to hear.

Editing / beta reading etc is where you start the negotiations between what you want to say and what others want to read. And a good edit should always be a battle where you stick to the core of your vision as much as possible, but look for weaknesses through other's eyes.

Cheers, Greg.

 

[tinkerdan]

I would agree with many of the things mentioned above.
Specifically you need to write what you like to write and in the way that is comfortable for you.
I don't really see anything wrong with comparisons because one of the first things that will happen is someone will say that your story reminds them of Dune by Frank Herbert but the style reminds them of Falkner.

The point is that you need to establish your own voice so when you sit down the hardest task will be when you want to break out of your usual mold to create something just a bit different.

There might even be a time when you think; oh hey that looks like something Heinlein might have written[Better fix that.]

The point is you will recognize your own style and react when you move away from it.

The big test will be when you read someone you admire and then go back to your writing. When you can do that without hesitation or influence you've conquered the little bit of a problem that crops up from other peoples writing affecting you.