I can't be sure about authors but knowing athletes and chefs...there are definitely those that think they are the best. So I would assume it is the same in any skill based activity. Like playing poker or whatever. They even talk about it in interviews in sports about believing they are the...
Yeah? That probably describes a high% of published authors, not to mention professional athletes, actors, or any career path. Think Chefs...they have to think they are the best. There is a rating system and everything!
Yep. I'm trying to think of the reason why someone would not write it down? Too much information to look at when writing?
What about ideas that are for later and not part of your immediate writing? Just gone?