I'm noticing in a lot of writing groups that there seem to be a great deal of people who like to share or promote their own work yet the number of people who actually take time to comment and explore other people's creative projects is so tiny. Is this normal? Is this the way it should be? I feel confused.

I always find myself at open mics, listening to other people and talking to them about their projects so much that I never actually have time to share any of my own work. Probably this is foolish on my part but I can't seem to find a good balance between being too self-involved and being too passive to find a moment of my own.

I know you have to promote yourself but isn't it important to encourage others too? Plus, sometimes I feel like it's so easy to get so swept up in your own little world that you completely forget about everything else around you. I really don't want to be one of those people.

Any ideas or advice on this delima?

Am I the only one feeling slightly off-balance?