[update]

> The article's also evidence of the temptation to write about yourself, as I suppose that's what you know best. I have seen a lot of successful authors who inject themselves into the narrative.

Great point.

Searching for sentences that include "I", "Me", etc. in your writing is an excellent exercise.

> And I suppose if you can write about outrageous things you do, it probably makes people all the more motivated to read you.

Personally, I think this is just human nature. That is, most people are fascinated (and likely, long to do so themselves) with living an "outrageous" lifestyles