When I’m at a school or store or convention or anywhere talking to someone who knows what I do for a living, I am immediately asked to offer up an authoritative (and supposedly insider) professional opinion about the quality of some title or other, or the abilities of another writer. I am never more thrilled than when I can say . . . “I haven’t read it/those/them.” It’s not that I don’t have opinions. I do. Too many, no doubt. The problem is that it feels unprofessional to publicly kick a peer’s work (if I happen to dislike it). It’s easy when I like something–and you can expect me to occasionally trumpet things here. But it’s hard to know how to broadcast public dislike for something without looking like (or actually being) a punk. I’ve talked to other authors about this, and while some have understood my hesitancy, others have laughed at me. Consider it an athletic scruple. I can’t stand players who jaw about an opponent’s abilities to the press before (or after) a game. Sure this is children’s books, not the NFL, but I think the principle crosses over. I don’t feel a twinge of conscience when trashing some blockbuster movie, or musing on the inadequacies of some bit of crime fiction. But I do feel like I should try to keep my mouth shut about those people in my market and in my time. If they’re dead, or in a different league, I’ll fire away. But if we are in any way competitors in this beauty contest that is book-selling, then I’ll concentrate on the busting seams in my own evening gown, and let you (and the critics and the readers) worry about the moist rings beneath your arms.
I’m wandering. Let me bring it to the nub. I don’t think I’ll often use this blog as a vehicle for criticism. There will be the odd, provoked exception (even in my market), but as a rule, I’ll let the writers be the writers and the critics be the critics. If you’re a fellow writer, best of luck to you. If I don’t like your book, you aren’t likely to find me going on cyber-record to that effect. If you want to know what I think of another children’s author, feel free to ask. If they’re dead or untouchable or I happen to like them, I might even answer.
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