Perhaps I shouldn’t admit a certain attraction to wicked anomie’s secret strategy for navigating the blind review process: blind reviewer voodoo dolls. Treat them well, while manuscripts are pending review. Afterwards. Well…
1. Make a paper pattern in the shape of your blind reviewer.
2. Cut out the pattern and pin to a folded piece of burlap, or whatever other fabric you have lying around.
3. Using yarn and a tapestry needle, stitch a face onto your doll, making sure you only stitch into 1 of the pieces.
4. Whip-stitch the two pieces of fabric together, leaving the head open.
5. Gleefully shred a copy of the offending negative reviews.
6. Stuff your doll, leaving the head free.
7. Sew shreds of the review into the head for hair, leaving a space open for stuffing the head.
8. Stuff the head and close the hole.
The wicked anomie website provides more information – and a link to where you can purchase one premade (I’m somewhat tempted to get one of these for Wildly – whatcha think, would they work as a sort of insurance strategy for good vibes from dissertation examiners? :-) ).
They are just awesome!
They would be a ironic adaptation if the person making them was a New Orleans anthropologist with an interest in religion, witchcraft and voodoo in the carribean!
I have also heard of some anthropology departments have a specific policy against using magic and voodoo against other staff members.
There is that African ritual involving a live chicken that I’ve been itching to try too…
Not sure about effectiveness against examiners of dissertations. Academic rigor and hard work might be a better insurance policy!
Goddam it, e, you think? I was really relying on this to work… ;-P
Yeah, I dunno e – the testimonials look pretty convincing to me…