What's Your Writer Persona? Grandiose Gary

Last week we discussed Publication Pat, and the various publishing avenues available to them. Today, we're here to introduce a persona that may seem like a Pat at first glance, but is actually an imposter. Much like Pat, this week’s persona says they want to publish, and they may even seem to be serious and write a lot. However, they mistake writing more for writing better and sending out more queries as the solution to a stream of rejections. Failure, to them, stems from everyone else.

Unlike a Pat, who will take feedback and use it to propel their story to greatness, this persona gets defensive, believing they know best. And unfortunately, this persona is one we’re all susceptible to adopting if we aren’t cautious. So, buckle in as we take a long, hard look at ourselves to avoid becoming a Grandiose Gary.

Identifying a Gary

Years of research and working with writers have shown us that regardless of persona, most fall into one of three categories. They underestimate the quality of their stories, they are spot on in their self-evaluations, or they consistently overestimate themselves—sometimes pathologically.

The first category tends to suffer from impostor syndrome: "My writing just isn't good enough; I'll never get published." With some coaching and kind, constructive feedback, they'll come to see their work as it is. Then, the sky's the limit, and they can join those in the second category on their journey to success.

I don’t know whether every author feels it, but I think quite a lot do — that I am pretending to be something I am not, because, even nowadays, I do not quite feel as though I am an author. -Agatha Christie

The third category belongs to the persona we call Grandiose Gary. Though they struggle with an inability to accurately assess their work, Garys err on the side of overestimating their skills. Imposter syndrome is nowhere to be found. Overconfidence prevents Gary from putting in the necessary effort toward being published. Honest feedback puts him on the defensive, and he’s quick to claim others “just don’t get his work.” To Garys, publishing is not about writing well—which they believe is in the bag—it's about finding the right connection, the right tactic, or the right trick. Success for them is just around the corner, but it never comes.

If you’ve spent any time in communal writing spaces—virtual or otherwise—you’ve likely met a Gary. They’re easy to spot. Talking over their peers, becoming argumentative in the face of constructive feedback, and acting as if their word is law. From the perspective of a directed writing group facilitator, Garys (who are unwilling to change their behavior) aren't ideal group members. We’ve had to politely dis-invite more than one Gary from our groups because their boorish behavior isn’t compatible with the constructive, kind environment we want to foster.

When dealing with Garys, it's best to fight the temptation to tell them off. Trying to have a logical conversation may seem like a good idea, but reasoning with them is actually the worst action to take. They aim to waste your time, and you'll never convince them of anything. It’s invariably wiser to disengage—and by that, we mean remove them from the group.

Dodging Grandiose Gary Traits

Keep in mind that none of us are immune to becoming Grandiose Garys. Not intentionally, of course, but the risk remains. Whether Gary's traits are developed knowingly or not, adopting this persona spells disaster for what could be a promising writing career. "Check yourself" to avoid slipping into a Gary mindset. Taking emotional inventory every so often ensures your attitude sets you up for success—think like a Learning Logan and embrace the opportunity to improve. And ask yourself, “Am I remaining open to other’s feedback or shutting it down? Am I testing my work to ensure it’s conveying the meaning I intend, or am I blaming any confusion on the readers?” Continuing to seek information and bettering your craft is one of the best ways to prevent Gary-isms from creeping in.

No matter how far we advance as writers, we should always view thoughtful critique as the gift it is. Since we can never view our own work objectively, we need others' insight. This is especially true while you're developing your writing abilities. Over time, you'll develop a keener eye for appraising your own work, thanks to thoughtful feedback from your peers. We know it's true because we watch it happen in our directed writing groups. It isn't unusual for long-time members to know how their chapter will "land" with the group, even before receiving feedback. Others' evaluations of our work help us develop our own self-evaluation skills—essential for any successful writer.

It is certainly more pleasurable to focus on our talents and strengths, but where does that get us? Arrogance and self-absorption inhibit growth. -Ryan Holiday

Along with feedback, another way to build your "self-critique" muscle is with our Publishability Index™. Use this resource as a rubric of sorts, checking your story against it, chapter by chapter, to ensure you have all the necessary components.

TO DO SCRATCHPAD PRIVATE JOURNAL TRACKING Update Assessment

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