Lynn Shepherd and Professional Envy

Author Lynn Shepherd created a shit storm when she posited in this article that because J.K. Rowling has had enough success she should stop writing to make room for the rest of us. I remember a few years ago when I was still a member of Romance Writers of America (RWA). Nora Roberts had once again entered the RITA (like an Oscar for romance writers) and won. Several people complained that maybe she should stop entering. I've never been a big fan of dumbing things down. Here's a radical idea: Write something as good as what Nora Roberts writes. Wow. What a revolutionary idea. Yes, I know it isn't as simple as that, but back then it was. Sort of. But, really, times have changed. Amazon isn't going to tell authors to stop writing because they don't have anymore server space. Just not going to happen. And does Lynn Shephard really think that if J.K. Rowling stops writing that will cause a vacuum that other writers can fill? That's not how it works. Well, maybe with traditional publishing, but not with self-publishing. Self-publishing is an ever-expanding universe. And we all can have a place at the table. Do we all, at some point, have professional envy? Of course. It's natural. But we each have to remember, that our journey is different from someone else's. And that airing your professional envy might just be like shooting yourself in the foot. cmr