Read on Twitter
1. So, indulge me for a minute while I say something here about a thing my detractors do, and why, and what I think about it. The thing is to avow that I am no Heinlein, or Asimov or Ellison or [Insert Revered White Male Science Fiction Writer Who They Consider a Great Here].
2. Why do they go out of their way to do it? Because it& #39;s very important for those they admire to be "great," for whatever values they consider great, and this is their way of telling themselves (and me, in a distaff fashion) that I will never measure up: I& #39;ll never be "great..."
3. ...no matter how many books I write or sell or how notable I become in the genre or out of it. They are denying to me the thing they consider to be the most important thing, and what they assume I consider important as well. Don& #39;t we all want to be "great"?
4. I think it& #39;d be fine to be "great" but "greatness," however one wants to define it, is not up to me. It& #39;ll be decided by others and will only tangentially have anything to do with what I do. No point seeking it; it seems a task bound for frustration and disappointment.
5. What I *can* work on is being "good." As in: Am I playing fair with my readers and giving them work that& #39;s to the best of my ability? Am I helpful colleague to the people who are helping to put my book out into the world and let people know it exists?
6. Am I useful and supportive to other writers and professionals in my field? Am I proceeding with my career in a decent, ethical manner? Am I modeling the behavior that makes others in my community feel welcome and included? Am I still trying to improve as a person and writer?
7. These are things I *can* control, and that I can work on. And to be clear, I am not always as good as I could be, or would like to be. I& #39;m imperfect and I& #39;m lazy. As I& #39;ve said before, sometimes I have to cosplay as a better version of myself and hope that version takes.
8. Greatness happens or doesn& #39;t, and I may never be considered great, which is fine. I& #39;m happy with my life and my career and I wouldn& #39;t change either for a shot at someone else& #39;s definition of "greatness." Goodness, however, is work that I can do, and should.
9. So I& #39;m not offended when someone says I& #39;m no [Insert their version of a great science fiction writer here]. I& #39;m not! Won& #39;t ever be. I& #39;m me. What I hope to be is not great but good: A good writer, colleague, friend and person. If I can manage that, it& #39;ll be good enough.
10. Thank you for reading, and as always, to reward your attention, here is a picture of a cat.
/end
/end
