One of the easiest things for writers to do is to fixate on image. We ask ourselves: what personal narrative can I attach to myself in order to be more marketable. It makes sense, that’s what politicians do all the time.
The problem is that writing isn’t like getting elected. Incidentally, getting elected isn’t like governing.
Unless you do the careful work to write from the inside out–that is to write from your deepest self rather than allowing fads, image, and trends to shape what you write–you’ll end up a washed up, burnt out sophist.
If you spend your time asking and delivering what the crowd wants, before long that’s all you’ll care about.
And when that happens, you’re doomed.
Jeff Gissing 