I used to think that writers were the most open people; after all we are constantly sharing our thoughts. However, it’s been my experience that writers, and to a large extent creative people, are often the most secretive.
I think a lot of the secrets have to do with insecurity. It’s hard to be a writer. When you first declare it, people give you funny looks, make assumptions like you’re hiding out from the real world, that you’re flaky or not really a worker. Generally there are childhood issues to deal with and society’s reactions so one doesn’t enter the life of a writer easily. Once a writer, you’re often dealt with rejections, criticisms and in some cases, controversy. No, things don’t get easier there.
But it would seem to me, that with so much insecurity from the above, that writers would be more prone to stick to one another, help each other out, dish secrets. But it doesn’t happen. What happens is that writers close up. They don’t want someone else to get a gig, a book deal, a paycheque. The sharing of information? It just doesn’t happen to a large degree.
I’m not a competitive person at all which doesn’t mean I’m lazy and just let things pass me by. I work hard for myself but I don’t judge myself against others because I think that’s a bit ridiculous. After all, my experiences, my life, my goals are so different than others who have different responsibilities, experiences and goals. I don’t worry what others do, I just worry about what I do.
When friends ask me for information, I share it without hesitation because I don’t worry about an idea being stolen, a contact sliding to their side or them obtaining a life that was meant for me. This business is hard and if I can help make it easier for someone else, then maybe someone would do the same for me.
But most writers don’t share contacts, ideas, how to’s. I think there is just a huge fear in most people that if they do share, there won�t be a spot for them. That if they give away information, their little hold on something will be gone. And I think people need to get over that fear. There’s enough for everyone. There really, truly is.
I remember when the talented Krissy Bradfeild mentioned on a mailing list I run that she was starting a travel web site. Instead of being scared and worried about competition since I run a travel web site, I was so thrilled for her. I was so happy to see someone else doing something and was excited for the site’s launch. When she contacted me to see if I would write something, I told her I would without hesitation. When my original idea didn’t pan out (the hotel I was going to write about was not so great), I told her to take any article from my site she wanted; and she did. Worked out great for her, worked out great for me. There’s no fear that she will beat me or become more successful because we’re doing different things. Yes, we’re both doing travel but we’re doing it differently. This doesn’t hurt us, it only helps us. However, most writers would be very scared of this.
Writers on higher levels (lots of book deals, fame, money) become even more paranoid. I’ve noticed that they like to take a lot of information and ideas but will almost never give back. They don’t want you in their circles nor do they want you to have success that could take away from their own. I’ve known a lot of big names who hounded me for information, which I gave out of being friends and helpful, saw that information used to writer their books and change their persona only to have any questions I had rejected. They didn’t want to share back. Took me a long time to understand why.
I believe the more we share, the more good comes out of it. I don’t worry about ideas being ripped off (this has happened and will happen again I’m sure), of someone else getting an article published and not me or that somehow, some information I share can come back to bite me in the ass (this has happened and will happen again I’m sure).
The competitive side to this business is really shocking to me. It continues to shock me because I don’t come above water very often, preferring just to do my own thing and remain oblivious to a lot of the inside gossip and workings. But when I discover it again, I always ask myself, “What are they so worried about?” The answer should be nothing because if you want something, you can get it. No one can take away your dream just because you shared it. In fact, more than likely good things will come.
It’s a shame more people don’t realise that.
