Steve asked Lois McMaster Bujold:

I am currently reading Edward James's very interesting book about you in the "Modern Masters of Science Fiction" series. While he is a big fan of your writing, he sometimes interprets things differently than you do. So how does *"The Writer" feel about being written about?

Lois McMaster Bujold Well, it's very flattering, of course. And a little weird. Each reader has their own construction of everything they read, and I don't think academics are immune from this in any way. In fact, it's something of their stock-in-trade. They are also writing within a genre, Academic Writing, with its own genre conventions and agendas, with certain boxes they are trained to tick, and which take some learning to parse for a reader coming in from the outside. (Just as in any other genre of writing, truth to tell.)

Arguing with same bears for the writer the same hazards as attempting to argue with any other review. One of the (fortunately) early lessons in professional etiquette I was offered from an older writer back in the 80s, and which seems only more pertinent now, is never to respond to reviews except, perhaps, for an occasional thank-you if someone says something especially nice. It's much harder to stick by this wise rule in these days when reviews and comments come not from a tiny handful of edited print columns, but dumped out by the virtual truckload. And from a much wider range of sources.

I was given the chance to read this book in manuscript, by the way, and offer corrections (iirc I tried to limit myself to those of biographical or bibliographical fact) which was a nice courtesy to receive.

( https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... for more on the book referenced -- academic press e-book pricing, but far from the most heart-stopping I've seen.)

Ta, L.

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