Writing criticism is to writing fiction and poetry as hugging the shore is to sailing in the open sea.

Summary

This quote suggests that writing criticism is restrictive and safe, comparable to hugging the shore in sailing. Just as sailing in the open sea involves taking risks and venturing into uncharted territories, writing fiction and poetry allows for creativity and exploration. In contrast, writing criticism relies on analyzing and evaluating existing works, often following established norms and boundaries. The quote highlights the difference in the nature of these two forms of writing, implying that writing fiction and poetry offers more freedom and adventure compared to the more limited scope of writing criticism.

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