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- Reader Rule! Evanne Lorraine
Once a week, I post a quote that I’ve read/heard recently. So here’s this week’s Quote I Love …
Saw this great quote on Twitter thanks to author Alan Chin.
“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.”
Mark Twain
Author
I think this is an important statement for all to remember. I hate when I see someone established in his/her career belittle the efforts of those just starting out. Or when someone who has never tried something, criticizes those who dare to try. I know critical reviews are important, but sometimes the difference between a critical discussion of someone’s work and a rude attack is a fine line to walk. My thinking is, if you can’t do it with tact and dignity (for both yourself and the other person), than it might be best not to say anything at all.
We are all on different journeys. We all have different ambitions and goals. And we all have a lot to learn. We just have different things to learn. I know I have a lot of room to grow. As a person. As a daughter. As a partner. As a writer. Learning and growing is part of the fun in living. It would be pretty boring if we were all the same.
Best of luck to each and every one of you in your chosen pursuits!
Thanks for stopping by today,
Sloan Parker
www.sloanparker.com
December 16th, 2009 at 11:49 AM
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Connie Phillips, Sloan Parker. Sloan Parker said: Thanks to @AlanHChin for my quote this week…Quote I Love: Mark Twain on Your Ambitions http://ow.ly/MGn7 [...]
December 16th, 2009 at 4:31 PM
You always have the most interesting posts! And this one really hits the spot.
As someone who loves to read and has ventured to foray into the world of book reviews, I can’t state strongly enough how detestable I find reviews that do nothing but desecrate someone’s work. I don’t care how much someone doesn’t like a book, or picture, or movie… whatever; what matters to me is the words with which the reviewer ~ and sometimes this is a word I use very, very loosely to describe such a hack ~ uses to get the point across.
Yes, we’re not all going to like the same thing ~ thank heaven for that… ’cause how boring it would be if that were so ~ but to totally denigrate the creator and those who do enjoy the entertainment is truly reprehensible. Whenever I chance upon such a vitriolic display my first thought is ‘My, how sad this person is.’ Probably not the goal that they are after.
The second impulse is to find the book or whatever and disprove everything they spewed.
I know, I’m contrary… always have been and I’m sure as heck not gonna change now!
And wow… I really got off-track! My apologies Sloan! :sigh:
Anyway, what I meant to say is that for anyone who is faced with such negativity all you have to do is look at what someone is saying. If they present their views with some integrity and reasoning then they may be words that you can use. If they are all rhetoric and unreasoning words, back away and save yourself the bother… there’s probably an underlying problem and it doesn’t matter what you say, or not, nothing is going to change their minds.
I’m now off my soapbox and I’m going to chop it into bits of kindling.
December 16th, 2009 at 6:12 PM
Thanks for the comment, Kathy. It’s nice to see such remarks from someone who writes reviews. It’s hard for any writer to read a “bad” review of his/her own work, but I’ve seen them written in ways that give insight into what worked or didn’t work for that reviewer without making anyone who does like the book feel like an idiot. Some books are great reads for some and not for others. Like you said, if we all liked the same thing that would be boring.
I know my work certainly isn’t for everyone. ;-) Explicit sex, gay men falling in love, lots of four letter words…it’s just not for everyone, and I’m okay with that. No one writer can create books that every single reader in the world will enjoy.
Thanks again for taking the time to comment, Kathy.