There are a few whose work I appreciate, but there are none I find worth rivaling, let alone imitating. Yuck. If there is anyone of this ilk, it is my own self.

Addendum I (November 24, 2016)

And I do keep rivaling myself all the time, to be sure. For better or worse, my writing records are always at hand. I check them from day to day, and I do my best to beat myself at the writing game. It is all about numbers, and there can be no doubts about who is the winner: me now or me once upon a time. For untold years, I have been endeavoring to beat my previous records. Until recently, the goal has been to write more and more, but the game has changed as of late. Now the goal is to write less and less. As little as possible, as a matter of fact. In other words, I am still endeavoring to beat my previous records, but in reverse. One way or another, I am likely to keep rivaling myself till my last breath. The only question is who will ultimately win…

Addendum II (June 12, 2017)

As of late, I am doing my best to rival myself at copyediting. Yes, copyediting. I go from one yearbook to another with a fine-tooth comb. Now I look for this, and now for that, but I always make sure that I ultimately come on top. Given that there are forty-two yearbooks containing three-million words and a half, copyediting is far from an easy job. It has taken me nearly six months already, and it is likely to take me twice as many months more. But I am not about to slacken my pace. Rivalry is in question. Me then and me now, that is. If me then was sloppy with English every now and then, this is hardly the case with me now. Now I am like a soldier. And no kidding. The only problem I can foresee is the end of my copyediting job. What next? What could I possibly do to rival myself ever again? At any rate, a good soldier does not worry about such things. Forward, always forward! For much of copyediting is yet to be done. Hooray!