5 Toxic Personalities Writers Should Avoid

Sometimes writing can be a lonely journey marked by self-doubt and rejection letters. This is why it’s very important to find a like-minded writing community and surround yourself with support and encouragement. Connecting with other writers can provide a camaraderie that will enrich your life while refining your writing skills. But, while most writers are friendly and helpful, we know there are a few personality types who might not have your best interests at heart. Here are 5 toxic personalities writers should avoid.

Toxic Writer Personalities To Avoid

The Overachiever: All writers have different lives and schedules. A writer with more time available might complete hours of work each day, then boast in the writers’ group about WIPs, awards, and submissions made. Meanwhile, a writer with a full work schedule and many other responsibilities may be lucky to write a paragraph or two each week. Don’t compare your output or success rate to someone else in your writing group. And don’t let an Overachiever make you feel like an impostor!

The Critical Critic: Being told to change or revise your work can sting, even when the critique is well-intentioned and offered in a supportive manner. And unfortunately, sometimes you may experience an especially difficult or mean-spirited critique of your work. Before you toss your latest story or poem into the trash, take a step back. If you’re getting good feedback from most of your critique partners, but really bad feedback from Critical Critic in particular, you might consider the source. Focus instead on critique that is meant to help, not hurt.

The Publications Snob: You got an acceptance! Break out your happy dance shoes! But when you mention the name of the literary journal to certain Publication Snobs, suddenly their noses are higher up in the air than a passing jet. Sure, it would be great to be published in the Paris Review (which regularly receives 15,000–20,000 submissions a year). But that doesn’t mean a publication in a lesser-known, smaller journal isn’t also worthy of kudos. In fact, there are many benefits to being published in a less-famous journal. Most small to midsized journals regularly nominate their published writers for well-known, prestigious prizes like Best of the Net and the Pushcart Prize…