09-24-2011, 12:51 AM
I think that the idea that words are not mine, is a red herring. You would have to apply that to everything in the Universe. Michelangelo might have done his best, some other guy comes up and says he made a mess of the proportions, but,fortunately, he has some ready-sculpted stuff 'off the peg'. Michelangelo admires the 'off the off the peg'. David, but remonstrates, saying that it would not be his, even if it is better. 'That stone is not yours , anyway' says his mate, 'Go on!' And perhaps in Florence now, that is what we see: not the one Michelangelo did, but the one he bought from Sr Walmarto.
It is incontestable that if,say, your wife writes half of your poem, then she should be credited as co-author. After that, it becomes a question of degree.
Obviously, there are things which only a fool would hang on to. Criticism has a second, and very valuable, function. It may be that a person will , for whatever reason, perhaps childishly, refuse to make any changes. I have often suggested that a thing be completely recast,for example, from free verse to meter and rhyme of some kind. Even if they do not do it, it may be that the next time, they will incorporate that into what they do. Perhaps that is no better than adopting other people's suggestions whole-sale, but I know I am like that, and certainly, you are dead right about there being some knowledgeable people on here, not least Leanne, but also several others.
It is incontestable that if,say, your wife writes half of your poem, then she should be credited as co-author. After that, it becomes a question of degree.
Obviously, there are things which only a fool would hang on to. Criticism has a second, and very valuable, function. It may be that a person will , for whatever reason, perhaps childishly, refuse to make any changes. I have often suggested that a thing be completely recast,for example, from free verse to meter and rhyme of some kind. Even if they do not do it, it may be that the next time, they will incorporate that into what they do. Perhaps that is no better than adopting other people's suggestions whole-sale, but I know I am like that, and certainly, you are dead right about there being some knowledgeable people on here, not least Leanne, but also several others.