Lessen the Pressure on Yourself | Psychology Today I wont, but there are some very good reasons why: Don't write checks with your mouth that your body can't cash. Do you think everything you write is good? These writers usually want a listener more than anything, so mostly I just listen. google_color_border = "336699"; They may be chatting me up in the hopes of networking, or because they want me to tell them that theirs is the most brilliant idea Ive ever heard. "Don't write checks that your body can't cash." Tell the Truth - The truth isn't always what people (yourself included) want to hear. clip with quote Your ego's writin' checks your body can't cash. If you publish commercially now, when you can own ALL your rights forever, youre crazy. Especially in todays world where there are so many opportunities to make a few bucks here and there as a writer (hell, self-publish on Amazon and sell one copy to your mom). Burroughs was phenomenally popular. I had four books I love that were commercially published by a big publisher, then sold in a bundle with a bunch of works by other authors to the odious Hatchette, and are now dying down in the basement on Amazon. So, if you recognize yourself as being the adult version of the kid in class with his hand always up going Me, me, me, here are a couple of tips. Quimby, don't write checks your butt can't cash. I am very aware I do not have the qualifications just yet to advance in a career such as writing.