Not long ago a young woman told me that she attended a reading by a famous person (not really a writer, but he's written some books) and while standing in line to have his latest autographed, people were asked to write down the dedication they wanted him to pen. I'd heard of writing names - to help with spelling - but I'd never heard of composing complete messages for besieged authors. From the author's perspective, I can sort of understand it; it saves you from having to think up something that's not a cliche. But it still seems odd - the signed equivalent of a selfie. I told the woman she should have had him write: "I'll always remember our night in Venice."
