I am not a well-known, traditionally published sci-fi author like Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clark, or NK Jemisin. I’m not any of the indie authors I admire like M.R. Forbes, Kate Sheeran Swed, or Jessie Kwak. Neither am I any other sci-fi or fantasy author out there.
Since beginning my self-publishing, indie-author journey in 2014, I’ve put 13 novels into the world thus far. This includes two sci-fi series, including Void Incursionand Forgotten Fodder. Additionally, I’ve written and self-published 2 novels in my incomplete fantasy Source Chronicles series, a standalone Steampunk/fantasy, and the first Steampunk novel of my incomplete Vapor Rogues series.
Before the end of 2024, I’ll start adding three more books to my collection, as my forthcoming Savagespace sci-fi trilogy will be published one book at a time in September, October, and November. This is super exciting since I only published one book last year.
None of my own works compete with one another. My series are not comparable, as they take place in different “universes” of my own creation. Even my two series that portray a “future” for the human race are not connected and can’t be compared.
In addition to not bothering to compare my works to themselves, I can’t compare my writing to that of any other. There are many reasons for this.
Why you can’t usefully compare between authors
There are many reasons not to compare my stuff to anyone else’s. Here are a few examples for your consideration.
Different settings
Star Wars and Star Trek are often compared and contrasted. Some people will defend one against the other until they’re breathless and angry. But this is the equivalent of comparing apples to oranges.
The setting in the future galaxy envisioned by Joel Shepherd in his Spiral Wars series is nothing like that of my Savagespace series. Comparing them, thus, is utterly pointless. Maybe our settings are both thousands of years into the future of humanity. But that’s where any comparison ends.
Different technologies
There are, overall, three primary ideas for faster-than-light tech. Warping space/time, entering an alternate dimension like “hyperspace”, or utilizing wormholes or some similar method of folding space/time to cross parsecs instantly or near-instantly. Some authors use advanced bullets in the future while others use plasma and lasers. The technology is different and beyond compare between authors.
Unique worlds
I love creating aliens. I’ve created different kinds, ranging from humanoid to gaseous beings utilizing encounter suits to deal with other races. In old sci-fi TV and film, most aliens were variations on humanoids because human actors take direction better than dogs, cats, or horses.
CGI opened the way to more fantastic alien beings. Books never had that limitation, and that’s been a trope that you cannot compare between most authors because there are so many variations out there.
Variable styles
I met Chuck Wendig at a writing conference in the Poconos many years ago. The first book of his that I read was his Star Wars series. I found his style very unique to what I’m used to.
No two authors write in the same style. You can’t compare any author at any level to any other because of how vastly different the writing styles are. Phrasing, punctuation, and general pacing are so, so different that you can’t genuinely compare one to another.
What it all comes down to is that there is little to no use comparing one author to another on any level.
You can’t compare any of my series to each other, let alone to others.
Why I don’t compare my writing to that of any other
Comparison is the thief of joy. I’ve written about that here. In summation, when you compare yourself to anyone or anything else, you set yourself up to feel bad, question your choices and decisions, and potentially make you feel awful and consequently suffer.
I can’t and don’t compare my writing to anyone else’s because that way lies madness. What’s more, do I gain anything if I compare the work I do to that of any other? No.
It’s important to acknowledge this: we are not in competition. Sure, I want enough readers to make my books bestsellers and get the attention of Netflix, Amazon, or the like. But that doesn’t put me in competition with any other author out there. I can’t compare what I write to what they write because of how many ways we vary from one another.
I can look at other authors and get ideas and learn from what they write. But I can’t and don’t compare my work to theirs because I am not them just as they are not me.
My craft is ongoing and improving. At least, I strive to improve with every new story, article, and novel I write. The practice is ongoing, and so is the process.
Thanks for reading. As I share my creative journey with you, I conclude with this: How are you inspired to be your own creator – whatever form that takes?
Please take a moment to check out the collection of my published works, which can be found here.
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