It was on my mind. A lot. I was stressed leading up to CanCon this year, not just because my schedule was full, and because I was fangirling over the author guest of honour. It was also because I was more than a little worried that he would turn out to be a dick, and then I would be sad. It would've honestly wrecked the whole weekend.
Instead, it turned out that he was quiet and humble, and talked to people like they were peers rather than beneath him.
Not every author is like that. I have observed a few who were a little too self-impressed. Not at this convention, necessarily, but over the course of my life; watching or reading interviews, sitting in on discussions, etc. I think what happens is they are often surrounded by people kissing arse in an effort to gain their favour they tend to forget that they're not actually divinely-ordained royalty.
They begin believing their own myth, in other words.
I would not want that to be me. I mean, I do want people to love what I write. I want them to be enthusiastic about it. It would make my day to have them tell me so.
But never do I want to think that I am special because of it. I am a mere mortal.
It seems silly, but I do worry that I'll be one of those twats that starts to believe in their own myth if ever I make it big. I doubt it. I mean, I can't really imagine it, but you never know. I'm not without my faults.
There are three things that will expose the person you really are: alcohol, money and fame.
Fame has exposed a large number of jerks.
Which is a disappointment, really.
Writers are nothing without their readers. And while, as a reader, I'm forever grateful for the worlds I have access to because of the writers of the world, as a writer, I'm keenly aware that I would be nothing if people didn't read my stuff.
It's a balance.
Some people don't manage it well.
I'm so, so glad that many writers do, and do it well. Being accessible is important. It's really important to the readers for whom your writing means the world.
I hope to make it big one day. I also hope that I don't stop being my goofy self should it happen.
And now I have to go do things.
Ciao!