I am not greatly troubled by fans nowadays. Less than one a day on the average. No sour grapes when I say they were an infernal nuisance. I divide them into\u2026<\/p>\n
(a) Humble expressions of admiration. To these a post-card saying \u201cI am delighted to learn that you enjoyed my book. E. W.\u201d
\n(b) Impudent criticism. No answer.
\n(c) Bores who wish to tell me about themselves. Post-card saying \u201cThank you for interesting letter. E. W.\u201d
\n(d) Technical criticism, eg. One has made a character go to Salisbury from Paddington. Post-card: \u201cMany thanks for your valuable suggestion. E. W.\u201d
\n(e) Humble aspirations of would-be writers. If attractive a letter of discouragement. If unattractive a post-card.
\n(f) Requests from University Clubs for a lecture. Printed refusal.
\n(g) Requests from Catholic Clubs for lecture. Acceptance.
\n(h) American students of \u201cCreative Writing\u201d who are writing theses about one & want one, virtually, to write their theses for them. Printed refusal.
\n(i) Tourists who invite themselves to one\u2019s house. Printed refusal.
\n(j) Manuscript sent for advice. Return without comment.<\/p>\n
I also have some post-cards with my photograph on them which I send to nuns.<\/p>\n
In case of very impudent letters from married women I write to the husband warning him that his wife is attempting to enter into correspondence with strange men.<\/p>\n
Oh, and of course\u2026<\/p>\n
(k) Autograph collectors: no answer.
\n(l) Indians & Germans asking for free copies of one\u2019s books: no answer.
\n(m) Very rich Americans: polite letter. They are capable of buying 100 copies for Christmas presents.<\/p>\n
I think that more or less covers the field.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
From Lists of Note: In July of 1952,\u00a0Nancy Mitford wrote to her friend, the famous novelist\u00a0Evelyn Waugh, and asked: \u201cWhat do you do with all the people who want interviews, with fan letters & with fans in the flesh? Just a barrage of nos?\u201d Waugh\u2019s reply contained the following \u2014 a list of the stock […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":197,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1741],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26394","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-writing-blogging"],"yoast_head":"\n
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