Almost everyone's instinct is to be overconfident and read way too much into a hot or cold streak.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
Well, I think we tried very hard not to be overconfident, because when you get overconfident, that's when something snaps up and bites you.
I am not overconfident.
We're generally overconfident in our opinions and our impressions and judgments.
I've always thought that the balance between the side of my mind that knows what it is doing and the side that really hasn't got a clue has to be carefully maintained because if you write too knowingly then you get chilly, and if you write too unknowingly you write bollocks that nobody else can understand.
I think at times I read too much of my own press. I wish I was better at taking in how great my life is, but that's surprisingly elusive. I tend to be very hard on myself and insecure about failing no matter what happens.
The thermometer of success is merely the jealousy of the malcontents.
As I said, I began losing confidence in my instincts, which is tough and very bad for an instinctive person.
I think it's easier to be cynical. I think the temptation, often, among writers is to write about anything other than real, true, deep feelings.
I feel like everyone has this competitive instinct.
If you actually do cold readings, it's very close to how people actually talk, because you're experiencing these thoughts anew every moment, and trying to make them come out coherently.