Such a Boring Person
January 13th, 2010
Melbourne Writers Festival
I’ve been told that there is not a lot that I can personally do to sell my book. Yes, there will be a launches, some magazine interviews and maybe radio and other things to do, but basically the story will, or will not, sell itself.
As a debut author I’m not that interesting, and I’m glad this is so. If this was my tenth book, maybe, if I was a celebrity, definitely, if my book were non-fiction, possibly. You see, you will get hours of entertainment from my book, but not from me. I’d start to yawn, or wander off, or pick up a magazine or want to talk all about the mysteries of poultry keeping. And my private life is about as interesting as anybody else’s – which means not very, except to friends and family.
At lunch the other day a friend asked me, ‘Why are writers so boring when you meet them?’ I choked and spluttered on my glass of wine and then laughed. Does Bruce Willis go around punching people? Is Jerry Seinfeld a barrel of laughs all the time? No to both questions - so why should we writers be as interesting as our books?
What does make a person interesting? For me, usually it’s not what they’ve done but how they frame it themselves, the connections they make, the choices they’ve made and the obstacles they’ve overcome. But not everybody is forthcoming with these introspections, and many don’t have the language or the temperament for such analysis anyway. And I have no right to their inner life. If they choose to share, that’s different. But you can’t access a writer’s inner life at a cocktail party, writers festival or indeed, ever. And why should they let you anyway?
I have always disliked writer’s festivals because I don’t want to see the writers, I don’t want to hear them read from their book – I can do that myself. What does interest me is the creative journeys they were on – how and why they wrote what they did. That can be fascinating. But it’s rarely spoken of. I find artist’s notebooks more interesting than the finished piece sometimes, and I know actors have to criss cross the world promoting their films – but occasionally I’d like to hear the film designer, or the costumes mistress and hear about how they solved the creative problems they came across. I’d love to have access to manuscript edits on my favourite books to see where things were changed and why – far more interesting than the personage of the writer.
The thing is though, is that in this world our lives are increasingly public, particularly because of the Internet. Information about the individual is easier to get. Unless the aim of this is nefarious, I can’t really see the point. But I know there are certain obligations that come with putting a piece of work in the public space; one has to accept that and then draw the line.
So if someone enjoys my book and wants to know how it came about, I’m happy to talk, but only about that. Me personally? Boring and off limits. Me socially? Good for a laugh, a few drinks, then I’m off. My book? Funny, full of suspense, great characters and good value at twice the price.
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Categories: media and promotion | Tags: imagination, marketing, self promotion
7 Comments
for a good feed ...
when writing my book, i remember a tense exchange between my editor and i which devolved into: “maybe you think you can do better selling it from the back of your truck’”, she said; i backed down and did the tour and talk shows and whatnot; still, in the end, i probably could have done better from the back of my truck; that was years ago
>:r
Just had a poke around your interesting website, Runran. Are you referring to the Plains grave sites book? I love a good wander in a cemetary - particularly outback Australia and the offshore islands. The graves of lighthouse keepers are always compelling. Yours is a very specialist book by the sounds of it - and a personal sell sounds like a good fit, including the back of the truck method.
oh i don’t fret about it anymore, that was back in ‘99, the last millennium … i much prefer spoken word now, and digital media
http://www.runran.net/remix_runran/?p=1053
i still love books
>:r
I agree it’s the process of writing that’s interesting - but is that just because we’re writers. And I find the writers on my FB page much more stimulating company than some of my other ‘friends’ - but shhhh - don’ t tell them that.
All I can say is that Cormac McCarthy is the most fascinating novelist I’ve read in 35 years, and his interview with Oprah Winfrey was dreadfully boring. Although 99% of that was OPRAH’S fault.
I refuse to even entertain the thought that you, Phillipa Fioretti, are “boring.” Ridiculous. Absurb.
You’re right, Pete. I cast my eyes down modestly and say, yes, I am scintillating company - endlessly witty, rivetting raconteur, generous hostess and always decorative. But does this sell a book? Tupperware maybe …
Now… about these chickens…