Ego Slip

According to a recent study, creative folks really are a breed all their own.  An egocentric breed.  Really?  It took a study to determine this?  

Whenever I think of the obnoxious creative type I am reminded of this amateur production I got roped into during college days.  One of the lead actors let it be known that he was working with a big name director on a big name production and on and on.  I was inclined to believe him until we all got on stage for our sole performance.  Every line he knew must have fallen out of his head since none came out of his mouth.  Good times.

We writers can be full of ourselves.  I know I've been guilty at times.  And these days, with the necessity for  author self-promotion its easy to become self aggrandizing, constantly pumping up yourself and your work to whoever will listen.  Some would argue that this in your face approach is necessary to sell your work, particularly if you are self (or indie) published.  Who will toot your horn if you don't?

To me, there are few things more fascinating than an excited author talking about her work.  I find this fascination comes from the fact that more than likely she is speaking from her heart and not from her ego.  When you engage others from this perspective, your enthusiasm, your love can be contagious.  That's because you are working from the heart chakra not the solar plexus (power) chakra.  You are more centered in building relationships and less focused on yourself and more focused on what you bring to your (potential) reader.  

Being truthful, do you fit the profile of the egotistic author?  Is a certain amount of hubris needed to be successfully published?