Nonny wrote about trust. Dayna wrote about acceptance. I’m going to write about insanity. Yes, I’m sure you’re all surprised to find that I’m crazier than a loon. I’ve got my own personal insanity that’s like a comfortable shoe. It’s mine and I probably should throw it out, but I love it.
Writer insanity is a little different. I recognize Writer Insanity in three categories. So far, these are the ones I see around me and inside me.
1. “The I-Suck Writer Insanity”
This insanity may be temporary or permanent depending on the psychosis of the writer in question. Primarily it involves hating ones work and NO ONE, not an editor, an agent, a crit partner or even a reader can break through this mind set. Often leads to whining on the phone for hours or even *gasp* writer’s block. Usually, the writer afflicted with this insanity can be saved by stellar sales….but not always.
2. “The My-Work-Is-Gold-Don’t-Mess-With-it” Writer Insanity
This affliction is much less common among the writers I’ve come in contact with. Of course, this insanity can also be temporary. It manifests itself in critique angst and editor pissyness. Bad reviews (or even reviews that aren’t squeeing over the book) lead to indignation. This is not to be confused with the Faux version of this insanity, which carries all the symptoms but is often hiding the “I Suck” insanity beneath it.
3. The “What Am I Doing Wrong” Writer Insanity.
Often, a writer will begin the process of building a “career” (which involves fighting off outside interference, worrying about bills and/or working an evil day job) and symptoms of this malady will begin to manifest itself. It begins with “meh” sales, or lukewarm reviews. It leads to frantic, insane actions including (but not limited to) wild promotional ideas, flurry of queries and submissions of work not yet critiqued (or finished) and long conversations with writers that resembled whining, complaining and more whining. This insanity is based in the belief that “doing MORE will result in more” when in fact “doing more” leads to less writing.
Just so you know, I’ve done ALL THREE of these (including the Faux version of “My Work Is Gold”) I do find that insanity in another is easier to spot than my own. Luckily, writers need to be a little crazy. Why else would we take the submission/wait/rejection/submission merry-go-round?
Conclusion? A little insanity can be a good thing. But everything in moderation. So, can anyone relate?
Happy Mother’s Day all.
May 13th, 2007 at 2:19 pm
Great descriptions.
I think I have a touch of all three lol!
Happy Mother’s day y’all!
~~Loribelle…still painting.
May 13th, 2007 at 5:42 pm
Poor Lori! Those fumes are getting to her.
And I have no idea what you’re talking about. I am angst and insanity free. I swear. Really.
May 13th, 2007 at 7:17 pm
Riiiiiiiigggghhhht Crystal. You haven’t EVER subbed something to an “agent” that isn’t finished. Never. AND you’ve never gone “What was I thinking!!!” Nope. No insanity there.
*sings* They’re coming to take me away! Oh My!
May 13th, 2007 at 7:30 pm
I think I got several doses of #1-and a triple shot of #3…I havent gotten to #2 yet-but its something to look forward to.
Jen-I love that song! Its our family theme song actually. What does that say about us?
May 13th, 2007 at 7:37 pm
Jen: I have no recollection of such events.
RG: You’ll get there.
May 14th, 2007 at 1:29 am
Oh, I think I’m a little bit of 1 and 3 also. I can’t say I hope I never get to 2…but I would hate for people to believe I’m that conceited.
Lori - Happy Mother’s Day to you as well!
Crystal - WHAT-EVER!!!
Jennifer - I love you. Don’t let Crystal get away with that non-recollection crap.
R.G. - I’m right there with you.
May 14th, 2007 at 7:42 am
LOL Lyric. Crystal is like a certain president we’ve had. “I do not recall”. She tries to deny it all, but I have evidence.
Muhawhawhawhawhawhaaaaaa!
RG–You’re family’s theme song? I guess that beats my family’s song “Crazy” by Patsy Cline.
Insanity #2 only takes one thing. A book that really holds something REALLY personal. Happened when I wrote my best friend a love story. THAT was NOT to be changed damnit!!!!! Luckily, it was a temporary thing. Whew.
I hate to say it, but Crystal is right. You’ll get there. *spit spit* ewwwwww I agreed with Crystal.
May 14th, 2007 at 11:52 am
Evidence? There’s no evidence. And if there were “evidence” of such “alleged” events, I’m certain it would have been destroyed by now.
Lyric: Don’t encourage her.
May 14th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
Crystal, didn’t I tell you that our conversations (especially the threesomes) are being recorded.
It’s not my fault! It’s all Joe’s fault for talking about “bombs” in reference to the post office. Which reminds me of the scene in “Meet The Parents”
“bombady bomb bomb bomb”