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I've started to notice that there are two basic mentalities when debuting (especially in KidLit):
GBBO and Highlander
GBBO and Highlander
GBBO authors are competing, but mostly against themselves, their expectations, and the environment. They get frustrated by missteps, but the other competitors are peers not enemies.
Highlanders can be the only one. Sometimes there are friends, but they're temporary, to be destroyed if someone else doesn't do it first.
Every conversation with a Highlander feels like a battle. They've always achieved something you haven't and make sure you know it.
Every conversation with a Highlander feels like a battle. They've always achieved something you haven't and make sure you know it.
Books are not a zero-sum game. There's no one winner. There's no time limit on success. There are people who have the deck stacked against them or aren't given the same chances.
It doesn't hurt you to share your knowledge, platform, ear with other authors.
It doesn't hurt you to share your knowledge, platform, ear with other authors.
It doesn't take much to make a huge difference for authors.
I think about that a lot going into my sophomore book. No matter what it feels like I have or don't, I had so much support and kindness from my peers I look for ways to pay it forward.
I think about that a lot going into my sophomore book. No matter what it feels like I have or don't, I had so much support and kindness from my peers I look for ways to pay it forward.
I don't know where exactly I'm going with this, except Highlander syndrome is a slippery slope to rationalizing abusive behavior and most of us can deal with being a lot more intentional about our place in our communities.
After a full night's sleep, I thought of one more thing. I think a lot more of us are GBBO than Highlander, but we're so GBBO interactions with Highlanders make us worry we're the only ones so we stop trying.
I know I did this and am making an intentional effort to stop.
I know I did this and am making an intentional effort to stop.
So, if I seem different, that's a big part of it. (But also, it may be the never ending deadlines...)
