How do you deflate an ego?

[AstylahAthrys]

Publish some of your work on here and we'll all rip it to shreds. I am really good a criticizing other people's work! Personally, I try to not let my author ego inflate by reading published works a lot and reminding myself I'm not this good yet. It just gives me the kick in the butt I need to work harder to get better.

 

[Biosophilogical]

A pin or sharp object deflates things quite well.
or at least that's what I'm told.

That post works brilliantly with your avatar. It made me laugh a little.

OT: You could make a competition out of how modest you can be, so you can brag about how you are more modest than all of your friends. Think of it as an ego outlet that forces you to reign in your own ego in everything but you lack of ego.

 

[Necromancer1991]

A well aim barb of logic or calling out an obvious flaw

 

[Narclaw]

Hire someone to follow you around and whisper in your ear "You're only a man." (Borrowed that from Law Abiding Citizen)

 

[Silver_Shade]

There's no need to completely destroy your ego and/or self-esteem. You are creating something and you deserve to be proud of yourself. Just remember that you can always do better and you always, ALWAYS, have something more to learn.

Enjoy your work, allow yourself a little pride. Just never let your ego guide your actions.

 

[gravitii]

your rather strange to me. I hate myself so I have trouble relating to people with egos and the fact that you're aware of how big yours is is really uncommon and probably means it's not really that big. After all most people with big egos don't realize it and if you ask them about it will try to justify it with how awesome they are. You can't be that bad and i agree with all previous suggestions on this thread.

 

[mrmash]

Just think of Eragon.

I don't think I'd consider Eragon the pinnacle of English literature.

 

[Z(ombie)fan]

Just think of Eragon.

I'm a little confused on this one. Care to explain it? xD;

Eragon was horrible.

also written by Ego-Heavy Kid ( From what I hear).

 

[Z(ombie)fan]

Just think of Eragon.

I don't think I'd consider Eragon as the pinnacle of English literature.

I think he meant it in the way that its pretty bad, but the author didn't think so.

 

[HeySeansOnline]

Go watch Citizen Kane, or Pulp Fiction, or go read Lord Of The Rings, and realise, no matter how hard, or for how long you try, you will never be able to write anything as good as that, ever.

 

[Mechanix]

Read a stephen king book and realize you'll never be as good as him. No matter how hard you try, you will never become a literary genius capable of thinking of amazing stories and publishing multiple books a year.

Hope I helped

 

[HT_Black]

In your case, it's very simple. First, find an author you admire greatly. Then, read their works nonstop while you think about how Godawful yours are in comparison, and about how you should probably burn your manuscript and go get a real job before your family starves becase of you, you lazy head-in-the-clouds disgrace to mankind. I recommend reading FullyRamblomatic.com, Watchmen, or the script to a Pixar movie.

If you overshoot and fall into a depression, just read Eragon once or twice, and you'll be back in fighting shape.

The key, however, is to learn how to critique yourself. If you don't know how, watch all of Zero Punctuation in one go, divide your personality into two parts, assign part two a seperate name, and write while in that mindset. Then have part one-- the 'real' you-- take the piss.

 

[Chase Yojimbo]

All i can say is this, it is ok to have a Ego. However, it is horrible to think that you are a gift to man kind. If you are a writer, and if you are a good writer, good on ya, publish a book, ill read it, you get my money, but just don't build a large Ego, one that will drive the 'Lessers' away. Do not live in a mansion, live in a regular house or even an apartment. Do not drink Wine with the Greaters of Society, drink Beer or another Beverage with the friends you have now. You will know when you have to large of an ego when you start changing your scenery drastically, try not to let that happen.

 

[Chase Yojimbo]

In your case, it's very simple. First, find an author you admire greatly. Then, read their works nonstop while you think about how Godawful yours are in comparison, and about how you should probably burn your manuscript and go get a real job before your family starves becase of you, you lazy head-in-the-clouds disgrace to mankind. I recommend reading FullyRamblomatic.com, Watchmen, or the script to a Pixar movie.

If you overshoot and fall into a depression, just read Eragon once or twice, and you'll be back in fighting shape.

Didn't read the book but i heard it was worse than the movie, that is downright awful, isn't it usually vice versa, a fine example of that would be Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. I was so depressed when i watched the movie i had to read the book to get my mood back up, god bless that man, shame he died before writing the 6th book of his trilogy *I am not making it up, that is what it is actually called*.

 

[HT_Black]

If you overshoot and fall into a depression, just read Eragon once or twice, and you'll be back in fighting shape.

Didn't read the book but i heard it was worse than the movie, that is downright awful, isn't it usually vice versa, a fine example of that would be Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. I was so depressed when i watched the movie i had to read the book to get my mood back up, god bless that man, shame he died before writing the 6th book of his trilogy *I am not making it up, that is what it is actually called*.

Imagine Star Wars. Got it? Good. Now remove all the flaws from Luke and Leia's characters, remove Han Solo from the equation for all but 1/8th of the first book and Chewbacca for the whole thing; and turn Han into a Sith Lord in The Empire Strikes Back. Now imagine Obi-wan isn't an interesting character and is actually Luke's dad. Now make Luke an unrepentent mass-murdering psychopath who literally believes that everyone with different opinions or methods of operation should die, while he himself is nothing less than Jesus. Now replace Jedi with telepathic warrior-wizards...on DRAGONS. Now sprinkle the entire thing with enviromental messages that make Ferngully look subtle, and add some equally blatant anti-theology messages. Now imagine that the writer doesn't really give a shit about any of that and instead decided to write an entire book that let him jerk off to his dragon fetish while pretending he's an elf.

Gentleman, I give you Eragon.

 

[MorsePacific]

Wait until you piss someone off and let them brutalize you verbally.

 

[TheBaron87]

That is the feeling of weakness dying.

You are stronger now.

 

[ShunningMonkey]

Be proud! So few are able to write (hell, even spell) properly anymore. I say be proud of it, but don't get cocky.

If you do, do what I just did and misread a forum topic at a little after 1 in the morning... Honestly, at first glance, that looked like "how to deflate an Eggo". I was so confused as to why someone would even think to flatten a tasty toaster waffle, let alone seek advice on the matter!

Yes, I felt like a Wetald. My ego = teensy-tiny right now.

 

[The Arc of Eden]

Turn pessimistic. Always expecting the worst outcome usually keeps my ego in check. Can't say the same about deflating other people's ego. My friend is an air balloon and you couldn't pop his bubble with an AK-47.