Years ago I read The Forest for the Trees it's an advice book for writer's written by an editor, Betsy Lerner. If you haven't read it, I suggest you do. It's great.

Not only does she give advice, but she breaks down writer's personalities. One of things she suggests is: "In many ways writers are scared by their ambitious hearts. Just as they are often accused of exposing others, they often fear being exposed themselves. To be a writer, to come out of the closet, is to announce that you are different in some way."

As my family can attest, this statement fits me to a tee. I absolutely hate letting anyone know that I write. Or for that matter, allowing others to read my work. Ms. Lerner goes on to say that writing is a risky business in so much as is requires you to isolate yourself from others, run the risk of rejection from family, friends, publishers and eventually critics, while so few writers succeed to actual publication. She also wrote, if you can't give up, if hearing how impossible the odds are only makes you want it more, it doesn't really matter. What's important is that you create.

You can read Ms. Lerner's blog here:
The Forest for the Trees