September 2nd, 2009

Author Chuck Parsons forwarded a sonnet to me by Michener and I wanted to share it. “When people saw that I might be a writer a wise man gave advice profound and sane: I know that you by nature are a fighter but when the critics blast, you can’t complain. For that’s their job so think of something brighter. Don’t try riposte or struggle to explain, you’ll not succeed, just make yourself look slighter. And I advise you never to disdain the critic, for he boasts a clout that far surpasses yours: brains, style, facts and the use
of that huge daily paper. He’s the czar
with force to hammer you with harsh abuse. You’ll find recourse in the only one true shot: That you have writ the books and he has not.”