Daniel Mendelsohn wrote in the introduction to How
Beautiful It Is and How Easily It Can Be Broken, “For (strange as it may sound
to many people who tend to think of critics as being motivated by the lower
emotions: envy, disdain, contempt even) critics are, above all, people who are
in love with beautiful things, and who worry that those things will get
broken.”
My criticism has never been criticized; it is
always me—I am “jealous,” my criticism is “nothing but a
ploy to bring attention to yourself,” etc. Instead of making such assumptions,
why not engage with the criticism? (A. to do so requires the ability to do so.)
That’s how, I realize: on July 11th at
11am, I will participate on the panel “When should we argue with reviews.” The
etiquette of when interests me less than how, but I’ll give when some thought
and why, too——
Later that day, at 1:30pm, I’ll read from a novel
in progress. My Readercon readings are not usually well attended. Let me engage
in a bit of bribery: anyone who comes and listens to me read will receive a
complimentary copy of New Genre no. 7 (while supplies last).
# # #
John Cotter, who contributed the ghost story “After
the Storm,” received his copy and wrote this about the issue.
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