You’ll often hear writers say authors are not really in competition with one another. At first glance, that can sound naïve. Bookstores have limited shelf space, search engines have limited visibility, and readers only have so much money and attention to give. But readers are rarely satisfied with just one book, one genre, or one author for very long.
When you buy through my links, I may earn money from my affiliate partners. Learn more.
Authors Are Not Really Competitors
However, authors still are not in competition with each other.
Why is that, you may wonder? Easy. The average reader has a voracious appetite. It’s that simple.
The human mind naturally searches for meaning, perspective, emotion, and discovery through words.
Readers literally cannot get enough words in their system.
While some hugely popular books can crowd out the space from lesser known titles, the reader eventually moves on.
Readers Naturally Crave New Ideas
Young and old. They may thirst for different topics or styles but they thirst nonetheless. And once that thirst is quenched, they’ll thirst for something else.
Yes, you may have a favorite book that you’ve re-read time and time again.
But, if you’re truly open about it, you recognize the innate desire to move on.
To move on to something else.
To the next book by the same author.
To a similar book by a different author.
You, the reader, want to explore what is out there.
That’s why authors aren’t in competition with one another.
Readers Connect With Different Voices
A reader’s lifetime contains many, many books that one author, even a handful of authors, can never monopolize.
Even the fastest author’s road to publication can be devoured in days or weeks by the average reader.
Author careers are built learning from and supporting one another over long periods of time.
Many times people come across great writing and feel discouraged. They wonder why they even bother when people could just go read the really good stuff.
Not only is good subjective, there are many unique tastes and interests in the world of reading.
The world’s best fantasy author might do nothing for a non-fiction history lover.
Most readers do not follow only one creator. They build collections of voices, perspectives, and styles that resonate with different parts of their lives.
Don’t overcomplicate things.
If you’ve written something you believe would bring value – education or entertainment – take a leap of faith and Stop Perfecting Every Sentence – Just Share Your Story!
Great Authors Are Usually Great Readers
Authors are often the most voracious readers!
And guess what?
They don’t just re-read themselves!
Ideas, style, pacing, character arcs, plot twists, and formatting can be learned from other great authors.
Authors also tend to share what they know.
If you have a favorite author, don’t be afraid to send them a personal note.
They may just surprise you and write back.
The writing community is tightly connected and there are new friends behind every book.
Why Creative Work Is Not a Zero-Sum Game
If you are an aspiring author, it is easy to look at successful writers and feel discouraged.
You may wonder whether there is still room for your voice, your ideas, or your stories in an already crowded world.
But creative work is rarely as competitive as people assume.
Two mindsets are at play; scarcity and plenty.
Someone with a scarcity mindset thinks there are a limited number of readers and so their work must outshine other books or other authors to win.
The alternative mindset, which is not only better but also factual, is one of plenty.
Readers move from book to book, author to author. Strong, high-quality writing gets attention.
Perhaps not always at first, but eventually.
Weak, low-quality writing stays hidden, no matter how much pushing and shoving one might do to get their book in front of other books.
In fact, one of the best forms of marketing in the world, word-of-mouth, can create incredible demand for a book simply by it being excellent.
Remember, you write for the reader, not to do battle with other writers.
