’21 Things I Wish I’d Known Before I Started Writing’

7. But be vigilant about being a jerk. We all make mistakes – but it’s also frighteningly easy to become a taker, a user, a self-absorbed neurotic wreck, and not even know that’s what you’ve become. Don’t be too hard on yourself, but don’t assume you haven’t fallen into bad-colleague practices either.

This item in particular spoke to me out of Robin Black‘s list of 21 things she wishes she’d known before she started writing. Given my own propensity toward jerkiness, I’m always a bit pained when I see the tendency play out (or maybe I should say flare up) in others. Here’s hoping I can avoid it from here on out.

Check out the whole list and let me know which ones speak to you.