Who Do Authors Really Compete Against?

 

Are too many authors stooping to play unhealthy, petty mind games when it comes to competing with their fellow authors for the same resources — landing a literary agent, getting published, hitting a best-seller list, scoring big book reviews, getting book award recognition, making it into a major book club, or  garnering a celebrity endorsement?

Competition makes us perform better, which in turn makes others play better, which then continues the cycle of improvement for everyone. Without it, growth happens at slower, uneven paces, and maybe never to the heights that could be reached when competing against others. Ultimately, we compete with ourselves, against our best past and in pursuit of our fantasy future.

Some competition is unhealthy, where it leads us to harmful behaviors, unbearable sacrifices, and maybe even breaking our values if not the law. We find a way to cheat, to bend if not shred rules, to take dangerous risks with our minds, bodies, wealth, or relationships. We threaten losing it all in hopes of gaining something extra.

We measure our bodies, cars, vacations, jobs, education, families and even our pets against others, from strangers to close friends.

The contests range far and come non-stop. Whatever can be measured is competed over, even if you didn’t realize you were participating in someone’s competition.

Does he make more than me? Are her breasts real? How much is their house worth? Can my kids get into elite schools? Is my pure-bred better than their dog? We are always competing and comparing.

The questions, comparisons, and assessments are nonstop, exhaustive, and at times, toxic.

Authors participate in these jealousy games all of the time. But it has to stop. It is not a healthy game to play — nor will it do you any good. Just strive to do your best and accomplish all that you can, regardless of whatever else other authors say or do. Your fate is in your hands — and you are not at the mercy of what others think or do. 

Measure yourself against no one but yourself.

 

Do You Need Book Marketing Help?

Brian Feinblum can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors like you to promote your story, sell your book, and grow your brand. He has over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator! 

 

About Brian Feinblum

This award-winning blog has generated over 5,800,000 page views. With 5,500+ posts over the past 14 years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs  by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.”  Copyright 2026.

 

For the past three decades, Brian Feinblum has helped thousands of authors. He formed his own book publicity firm in 2020. Prior to that, for 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and as the director of publicity at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler.

 

His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully). He was recently interviewed by the IBPA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0BhO9m8jbs

 

He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. He served as a judge for the 2024 IBPA Book Awards.

 

His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida Homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.

 

Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog.

 

You can connect with him at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum/ or https://www.facebook.com/brian.feinblum