Quote:
Originally Posted by kennyc
The 7 Writer Types You Should Avoid Becoming
Jeff VanderMeer's advice for writers who get in their own way.
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What I would add as #8 is: Writers that spend too much time navel gazing.
Self-awareness is one thing, but constantly questioning everything you do is a great way to get nowhere.
The problems arise in the extremes. Most of the seven items have aspect that is actually a plus (I think) in a writer. This includes item 7, as noted in my #8 above. Item 1, in a non-extreme version, is simply a writer striving to do better. For Item 2 we need to acknowledge the ego required to think that others might like what we have created. Item 3 is marketing. Item 4, a writer needs to care about their own voice. Item 5, believing too much in luck stops you seeing the work required. Item 6, looking at other writers can helps give us direction and food for thought.
From a writer that spends far too much time navel gazing, all I have ever concluded is that balance is required in all things, but balance is hard to find and leads to more navel gazing.