This is quite easy if you go by context instead of looking for the words in the options. Sometimes this is the best way to answer these questions. Upon reading the context, the context is obvious, its that of a new writer contending with the fact that his/her work is not as original as they thought it to be. So that gives us our first two blanks easily, the first blank is a synonym of frustrating/annoying. Only 'galling' works here. The second blank is obvious from context, it is some variation of the word 'original', only 'novel' works here.

The last blank is a bit trickier, it says that this situation is worsened when the less popular author's work is (wrongly) assumed to be a derivative because of some reason. Now if it is wrongly assumed to be derivative then it can only mean that the less popular author's work came first, i.e. it 'precedes' the more popular work. So that is what we choose. Our options are, A,D,H.

I am not getting that, [Now if it is wrongly assumed to be derivative then it can only mean that the less popular author's work came first, i.e. it 'precedes' the more popular work.] So if something is wrongly to be assumed derivative how come it will it will precede, I think so it should follow/succeed

The correct words for the blanks are (i) galling, (ii) novel, and (iii) precedes.

Breakdown of the Blanks
- Blank (i): galling

The sentence describes an unpleasant feeling for a first-time writer: seeing that their ideas are "far less... than they had imagined." The word galling means humiliating or exasperating. This fits the context of a writer discovering their original ideas are not original at all.
- Blank (ii): novel

The sentence states that a writer's "cherished ideas are actually far less $\qquad$ than they had imagined." Novel means new or original. The writer believed their ideas were new, but they find out they are not.
- Blank (iii): precedes

The final blank describes the relationship between the two authors' works. The neophyte's work stings even more when its publication happens before the more popular author's work. The word precedes means to come before in time or order. This creates a situation where the public might mistakenly believe the lesser-known writer's work is derivative, even if it was created first.