Beware of self-indulgence. The romance surrounding the writing profession carries several myths that one must suffer in order to be creative; that one must be cantankerous and objectionable in order to be bright; that ego is paramount over skill; that one can rise to a level from which one can tell the reader to go to hell. These myths, if believed, can ruin you. If you believe you can make a living as a writer, you already have enough ego. - David Brin All writers have egos and most of us long for the day when others will sing our praises - or at the very least, comment favorably on our work. Until we reach that point, it is productive to keep learning, growing and perfecting our skill. To do that, we need the advice, wisdom and support of other writers. I know this. It's also the reason it bothers me to encounter the odd writer who is unwilling to, for lack of better words, come down to earth and join the rest of us. For some, they see writing as a competition. Their lack of support, encouragement, and almost disdain for aspiring writers irks me to no end. I have been writing for years, to some success, although in a different genre than the one I am writing for now. I am always willing to share tips, ideas, leads, and even offer critiques to fellow writers. Do I mean to say that I know everything? - certainly not. What it implies is that I want to support other writers in their quest and will always lend a hand, when and where I can, to help them succeed. Although writing is a solitary task, we as a group, need to support and encourage one another whenever we can. There's no need to view writing as a competition - there are enough hungry readers in all types of genres for all of us. Writing is our life, our passion and something we can't help but do. So, instead of rolling your eyes at the new writer beginning the learning process or viewing them as a potential opponent, open your arms, minds and hearts and welcome them into this great group of people pursing their dreams and doing what they love to do.
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