I've written about this before, but it bears repeating. In the past, I've seen some authors get published, achieve some success, and go whole hog in bragging about sales and awards and what have you. It was like they were the second coming of the lord...sorry, no, they were nowhere near. Not even a million miles close.

Now, a little humble bragging is acceptable. Authors are plentiful and often anonymous, and once a few sales are under their belts, it's only natural they want to let the world know. I've done it, I'm not ashamed of it, but I've never let it get the best of me.

On the other hand, I've witnessed some authors in full frontal lobe meltdown mode if they don't get sales or recognition. One author blamed everyone save themselves for lack of sales, and the bitterness in their posts was unmistakable.

Another author, having garnered a book deal, proceeded to divorce their better half, hook up with another writer, let everyone know they were on their way to fame and fortune...and then their book tanked. Sure, they got a nice advance. Sure, they got a few sales...but they lost pretty much every friend they had in the process, and to this day, they've written nothing of note.

Let me be clear. In this crazy world we call publishing, tooting your own horn every once in a while is fine. Blowing it so everyone can hear it with nothing to back it up with is not. When you're number one, perhaps you can crow about it if you're so inclined. When you've won major awards and have your book(s) made into feature films, well, that's up to you what to do.

I've yet to read about J.K. Rowling screaming, "I'm NUMBER ONE!" at the top of her lungs. Why? Because she IS on top, she knows it, and so does everyone else. Sure, she has her detractors. Who doesn't?

But even though she is rather opinionated, she has never, not to the best of my knowledge, ever said she was THE greatest writer around. Same deal with Stephen King, George R.R. Martin, or any other well-known writer that I'm aware of.

My advice, for what it's worth on the open market--which is nothing, by the way--is to stay humble, for just as quickly as you've risen, so, too, you can fall even faster, and the fall from great heights is often a very damaging one. My two yen on it all.