Welcome to Biting-Edge, a blog shared by authors and vampire experts, Mario Acevedo and Jeanne Stein. We’ll cover urban fantasy, vampires, pop culture, and all things Joss Whedon. Unlike other fantasy blogs, we don’t insist on body cavity searches (unless you ask politely). Snarkiness is most welcome...though we won't promise not to bite back!

Sunday, July 08, 2012
  The more I know, the less I know
Mario here,

Before I got published, I vowed to never to succumb to firstbook-titis. If you're not careful, what can happen is that the first time you get published you come under the delusion that you've got this writing thing figured out. After all, you've graduated from wanna-be writer to Published Author! You've now got cred.

The symptoms of firstbook-itis include:

I'm sure many of you have been burdened with putting up with the self-important pronouncements of a firstbook-itis sufferer.

Fortunately, I'm way past the firstbook-itis syndrome. The more I write and the more I'm exposed to the publishing biz the less convinced I know much with any certainty. I can read something and tell if it meets an acceptable level of competence. Beyond that, the best I can do is shrug. I've read plenty of manuscripts that didn't jazz me and they went on to garner the attention and money I'm craving. So what did I miss?

So when the firstbook-itis sufferer attempts to browbeat you with their inflated opinion, smile with the knowledge that sooner or later, they'll get a publishing smackdown that should purge their egos.

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Comments:
I'm not confident enough to have ever had firstbook-itis, but I used to know someone who did. Well, 2 someones now that I think of it.

I learn new things all the time and know better than to think I have all the answers. I know a number of unpublished authors who are better writers than me and I make it a point to seek out their advice.

The two firstbook-itis sufferers I know never got a 2nd book published. That says something.
 
Thank you for posting this, Mario! Good and grounding to hear!
 
Karen: Maybe it was karma.
Frank: Heed this advice. Thanks for stopping by.
 
Great reminder about humility and professional focus for us aspiring writers (or aspiring anythings). Getting over the first hurdle in any endeavor feels great, but it's only the beginning.
 
So sadly true...I've even backed off the tough critiquing in my writer's group because I've realized each of us needs to write our own stories in our own way.

And when I read a great novel and realize the writer is breaking those "rules" all over the place and doing it brilliantly, my reluctance to critique is reinforced.

I guess that's why these days I mostly blog about goofing off, nightmares, and the weather. :D
 
Dennis: It's not the heat, but the humility.
Patricia: I don't blog about goofing off. I just goof off.
 
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