Fwd: Re: [MR] reactions to competitions (fwd)

[Craig Levin]

For what it's worth, the few contests I've entered have been
largely unsuccessful, in terms of the mass of stuff I've brought
back to my home. I've set myself to working in an art that's not
easy, verse, and in a specific genre, epic in the style of
Spenser, that, while appropriate for my period, isn't popular
now.

However, I think I've done alright anyway. Versifying isn't easy
for me, especially keeping the beat, and so any skilled writer
who hears my stuff almost certainly holds his or her ears at its
recital. But I appreciate the comments and hints I have garnered,
because I try to fit them in to my next bit. I would, OTOH, like
to talk to my critics directly, as opposed to communicating by
leaving my work on paper, having them read it, and leaving their
words on another sheet of paper, though that's actually sort of a
variation on how Renaissance literary types interacted-if you
think people are treating each other harshly now, take a look at
how rival schools of writers treated one another in Renaissance
Italy or Spain!

Some people have asked about the "periodness" of our A/S
contests. One area where we know that there were contests is
literature, so I don't feel that I'm doing something necessarily
"inauthentic"; if someone wants to know more about literary
contests in the Renaissance, I would be happy to give them what
I've discovered.

Basically, I try, I don't often win, but I don't feel that I
enter these things with a shot at doing well anyway, since I'm
not that good to begin with. My hope is that I get understanding
critics (not soft touches-people who are aware of how hard it can
be to versify during your lunch break), and I've usually been
lucky.

Pedro