The Writer’s Comparison Game

You’re here because you want to become a better writer, convey your message more clearly, and see your name in that prestigious byline. However, one issue goes hand in hand with the all-too-common imposter syndrome which can stop many fitness writers in their tracks.

The comparison game.

Many beginning writers play this game, whether they realize it or not. At the beginning of my own personal training career, I read everything I could. Books, fitness magazines, web articles — you name it, my eyes were on it. The writers knew what they were talking about, using fancy terms and explaining complex exercise topics that I could absorb and put into action.

Then, thoughts would cross my mind about how cool it would be to do that, but I was nowhere near that level. I failed high school English and couldn’t write myself out of a wet paper bag. If I compared myself to the authors I looked up to, and tried to write like them from the get-go, I would’ve been a big failure and never would’ve started this writing thing.

So, how do you turn the comparison game in your favor and snap out of the “it’s all been done before” mentality, tricking yourself into thinking you can’t possibly write like that? Well, hang on to your keyboards, pens, and paper because if that sounds like you, you’re in the right place.

The Comparison Game: The Good, Bad, and The Ugly

Starting as a fitness freelance writer is like strolling into a gym as a newbie. You see experienced meatheads banging out reps easily while you’re just trying to figure out how not to embarrass yourself on the bench. It’s the same with writing — you scroll through social media and see writers landing features and pumping out viral articles.

And yeah, that can be motivating because seeing others do it proves it’s possible. If they can do it, so can you. That fire can push you to work, to keep learning, and to stay in the game when things don’t go as planned. But when you start comparing your first attempts at writing to someone else’s highlight reel, it’s easy to feel like you’ve hit failure before you’ve even warmed up.

The Bad

Reading others’ work is great, but here’s another way to look at it. If you’re constantly looking at what other writers are doing, you’re not focusing on what you need to do. Again, it’s like being in the gym, looking around at the biggest, strongest lifters and thinking, I’ll never be able to do that. You’re not seeing their years of grinding, the reps, the setbacks, and the consistency it took to get there.

You’re only seeing the final product.

When you’re just starting, you’re not supposed to be on the same level as someone with more experience. And yet, when you spend too much time comparing, it’s easy to forget that. Instead of being proud of your progress, whether landing your first paid gig or simply putting your words out there, you start feeling like you’re already behind.

And that’s when things go south.

The Ugly

Letting the comparison game take over will crush your confidence before you ever hit your stride.

You may hesitate to submit pitches to websites because you’re afraid you won’t be good enough. You hold off on launching your blog because you think no one will read it. You convince yourself that you don’t belong in the game because you don’t have a stacked portfolio, a huge following, or industry connections.

And that’s precisely how new writers fail. It’s not because they necessarily lack talent, but because they psych themselves out before ever taking a chance.

The Good

If you want to make it as a freelance writer, stop playing the comparison game and start putting in the work. Here’s how:

Set Your PRs: In the gym, you don’t measure success by someone else’s numbers — you track your progress. Writing is no different. Define success on your own terms. Whether you publish one article a month, send out five pitches a week, or write 300 words daily, focus on your growth.

Control Your Environment: If social media makes you feel like you’re falling behind, reduce the distractions. Unfollow the accounts that trigger self-doubt and only follow those who provide fundamental insights into the grind, not just the highlight reel.

Track Your Wins: Keep a log of your writing milestones. Was the first pitch sent? Did you get a reply? Was the first article published? Celebrate it. Seeing your progress over time reminds you how far you’ve come and keeps you moving forward.

Get to Work: Thinking about writing doesn’t get words on the page — only writing does. Instead of consuming, reading, and procrastinating, sit down and create something. Even if it is messy or imperfect, you need to put in the “reps” to get better.

Respect the Process: Every great writer was once where you are — unpublished and staring at a blank page. That author with the bestselling book? They had a pile of rejected pitches. That freelancer working with major publications? They started with small, unpaid gigs (just like I did). No one skips the grind. You must keep showing up.

Wrapping Up

Writing, like training, is a long-term game. You don’t get strong overnight and you won’t become a top-tier freelancer overnight, either. So stop worrying about what everyone else is doing. Keep your head down, put in the reps, and focus on improving daily. Because the only writer you need to be better than is the one you were yesterday.

Now, go put in the work. If you need support, The Write Spotters are here to help.