Writing and Ego - Part One

As writers, we all sail the seas of ego. An author must have an ego to write for public consumption. A weak ego doesn't post anything. A moderate, timid ego struggles to muster the strength to expose itself.

We see the word 'ego' and immediately the mind goes negative. This is a shame. Too many excellent writers cower before the 'egotist' label or the 'who-would-what-to-read-my-material' weakness. Self-esteem plays an important role in whether a writer will expose his work or hide it away.

I was once accused of acting like I was "too good" to join a particular writer's group simply because I told them the group's focus was as a social gathering, not a progressive writers group. This incident sparked some trepidation within me. Was I indeed egotistical? Should I not insist on a group that sets goals and holds each other accountable for producing work?

Eventually I decided that a group not willing to push itself would only serve to hold me back. This decision proved itself to be sound. The group disbanded and the focus group I formed is still going strong three years later. In fact, our group is producing a book of its own and there are five other books coming out of the group on an individual basis.

There is a good side to ego. We must be strong enough within ourselves to put our work our before the public eye. Writers with huge egos (the negative kind) can be quite successful in writing- up to a point. A good portion of writing is networking, or interacting with others. A larger than life ego will turn many people off and close doors that might otherwise have been open.

A writer that owns a quality mix of confidence and humility should do well in the writing industry. Confidence is a key factor in all aspects of writing whether it be the creation of a manuscript or handling the business aspects of writing. If a writer is not confident, should said writer get to the business side of the industry with a manuscript, he will be devoured by a system that is heavily weighted against his success.

Ego plays an important role in propelling a writer forward. The writer must know he or she has talent, have the confidence to place his or her work before critics, and be strong enough to weather the ups and downs of a chaotic industry.

Take a look at your ego. If you've published anything, anywhere, realize somewhere inside you there is a voice that said "I have something to say" and you proceeded to put it out there. Embrace that person. Know that every writer that ever penned a word for public perusal faces the battle of the ego. You must be comfortable in your "voice" when you write. You must know that "voice" has something to say and there is nothing wrong with sharing this desire.

Actively look at your ego and keep it healthy. Don't get too wrapped up in yourself, but even more importantly, do not allow yourself to feel lowly and worthless with respect o your writing. Remember, the over-inflated ego has a much better shot than the wallflower. The over-inflated ego will put their work out there and be in the right place at the right time. The deflated ego gives up.

The writing industry gobbles writers up at alarming rates if you pay attention. To avoid being a casualty, checking in on your ego could save you some real heartache. do whatever it takes to boost your morale and confidence. Make sure you can key your work and not be ashamed of it or overly worried as to whether it's good enough. Marshal your strength, shore up your ego and go for the writing gusto!

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