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Peter Johnson's avatar

That's a good one. When I had my journal and assigned reviews, I told people that I wouldn't accept a bad review if they didn't like it because of what they WANTED the book to be, rather than what it was.

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Sydney Lea's avatar

Enjoyed re-encountering these, Peter, very much. Prompts me to take the anthology off the shelf again. As for "some dope who very confidently disparaged one of my books, saying it was 'obviously' influenced by a much-older-now-deceased other writer...," I'm reminded of a comment by the late Marvin Bell: "We all know how many times a critic reads a book– less than once."

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PAT's avatar

A disparage from sitter whose is riding in a carriage;

Of others wheeling words;

Of other writers and their woes and wows;

Is a gift;

The response to disparage is the initial authors choice. That choice is a gift. Accept, negate, deny, create, recreate. Then turn to disparager and offer a smug smile.

Thank you to every writer who wrote. Even the seemingly meaningless writer whose value may be witness of what not to do.

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Peter Johnson's avatar

Just saw this, so sorry for late reply. The beginning hooked me. Thanks.

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