quick curious q

[rm]

Pro authors are all over LJ, often in very participatory fashion. Does this effect how or to what degree you critique their books?

I'm being relentless on the subject of Melusine and was just sort of taken up short by "Monette is on my friends list" in another comment on it. Of course, it doesn't really change my tonal quality, which is what it is, but it interested me.

Conversely, for those of you published or working on publishing, how do you want that sort of thing handled and how do you intend to handle it on your end.

Personally, I think I'd have to do a lot of constant reminding my myself not to engage, because I can explain my work all day long, but ultimately a book must speak for itself, no matter how engaging I seem to think I am on the subject.

Comments

[timiathan.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I just wouldn't care a tiny ounce what people around here have to say. I'd be flattered that they're talking about me, maybe, but who gives a damn if they like it or not. But I never cared about being a 'writer,' and never written for anyone but myself, so that might be why.

On the other end, I would hesitate to rip on a book if the author was a friend, but only because they're a friend...

It is interesting that as an author these days you can see reactions to your own work that weren't really intended for you. I wrote a post once tearing apart the moral stance of a certain poem published in a lit journal, and the author found it whilst Googling himself. That was kinda weird. In the past authors have indured the opinions of critics, and fan/hate mail, but those letters are addressed directly to them, on purpose. I wonder if a lot more feelings get hurt now.