There's a person in SFF who shot to fame in recent years... before they were ready for it. We've been friends through that rise, but privately; I've been their first point of contact in many crises, and walked them through their many missteps along the way. I neither condemn nor praise unduly, and we always talk about the challenge of being famous for messy reasons. I always knew the rush to fame would hurt them. They weren't ready for it. They also had no other choice once the momentum started.
@MLClark One of the reasons I changed my name again, besides living my truth as mu ch as I can, is that one of my novels hit #1 and best seller in its category, and for a while I was top 500 on amazon scifi.
It scared me, and I decided to jump on a name change as a way of putting distance between professional and private life.
I want to be read, but the idea of fame is honestly terrifying.
Fame is fickle and it does *such* things to a person's ability to navigate the world.
This person for the last few years has been both wildly (and to some extent prematurely) praised & also condemned and pathologized - both publicly & in whisper campaigns.
At the same time!
It's an incredible stress to live with. It makes it so difficult to respond to any situation in a more measured & grounded way. I'm glad you found a way to put distance between yourself & your lovely work. ❤️
@MLClark It ended up being only a blip on the radar (so far) but in a sobering moment I was facing the chasm of being known. I have social anxiety about running into people at the gym at 0100. I can't imagine what they must be going through.
I'm hoping the best for them, hoping they find some peace away from the lime lights.
It seems that much of the general populace feels like being known invalidates one rights to a private life, and that is purely toxic to my thinking.
@MLClark You are quite gifted at flattering an old beast. I look to you and all that you've accomplished, the eloquence and diversity of ways you write and I am humbled.
You are not just a gifted author, but you have a heart that loves, cares and is enthralled by wonders that you share with us all.
Living my truth came hard. I spent so much of my life living under the camouflage of other peoples standards, slowly dying, it is something like an imperative I make the most of my remaining time.
@NiveusLepus
🤗 Thank you for your warm wishes for them - and your commitment to self-care.
You set such a lovely example (no pedestal required!) just by honouring your truth and needs as best you can, and by leaning into joy whenever it's on offer.
Long may you run free and true to you. 💫🍃