The wisdom of Jordan and a cost/benefit analysis
Last Friday I went to hear YA author Jordan Sonnenblick (Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie; Notes from the Midnight Driver; Zen and the Art of Faking It) speak at a junior high assembly in Phoenix. The kids were rowdy, but Jordan had no problem handling it since he used to be an 8th grade English teacher.
I love watching other authors’ presentations because I can always learn so much–about style, about demeanor, about handling tough questions. And Jordan was a great example. Among the questions were “What kind of car do you drive?” “The kind of car I wish all your parents would drive: a hybrid.” And “Are there any black characters in your novels?” (asked by a young black man). “There aren’t. Because I didn’t grow up African-American, I didn’t feel comfortable writing about that experience. But this is a chance for you to be the change you want to see–if you want more African-American characters in novels, write them yourself.”
“Be the change you want to see”–I love that line. I’m not claiming Jordan invented it, but I appreciate him reminding me and that whole auditorium of kids.
The other line of his that I really loved was the punchline of his story about why he finally sat down and wrote a book after so many years of saying he was going to, but never getting to it. He had a student, a lovely, bubbly 8th grade girl, whose little brother had cancer. At the parent-teacher conference, Jordan commended the mother on how well her daughter was handling the situation. “She’s not good at handling it,” the mother answered, “she’s good at hiding it.” So Jordan set out to find any YA books about siblings with cancer. None. So finally Jordan had a reason to sit down and write.
“That’s how you become a happy adult,” he told the assembly. “You find what you’re good at–what you love doing–and you use it to serve someone else.” LOVE THAT! What an excellent message not only for those kids, but for all of us. It’s so easy to forget how much joy we can gain from using our gifts to make a positive change in the world. Thank you, Jordan, for the reminder.
Which brings me to another point that came up from this Phoenix trip. It costs me a tank full of gas to get there and back. Then there’s the night in the hotel and whatever meals I have to buy on the road. Plus it’s a night away from my husband and dogs.
Balanced against that is the meetings I had and the connections I made with various booksellers, teachers, and librarians. I love connecting with new people–especially people in the book world. Plus, out of those meetings I ended up getting a few invitations to do presentations and booksignings.
But there’s no question that at the booksigning I did that night, my sales were pretty small–six books, five of them to people I knew. So if you looked at that trip in terms of pure dollars, it was a waste of money.
And that began this whole day-long debate yesterday among me, my husband, my writer friends, and an impartial observer and reader. Do public appearances matter? If so, do they only matter when you’re speaking to 100 people versus 10? Does personal contact with bookstores and booksellers matter? If a bookseller can only handsell a dozen of your books, was it worth the travel to meet him or her?
I say, and other people in yesterday’s debate say, that yes, it all matters. It might not translate into immediate dollars, but that isn’t the only consideration. First of all, there’s the fun factor–it just feels good to get out there and meet people and talk to them about books, even if it’s not just your own book. Second, as one person put it, “If you don’t get out there, then how are people going to get to know you? The more people who get to know you, the more who will tell their friends about you, and so on.”
The opposing argument is that you do a much better service to your career by staying home and writing your next book and the one after that. Being on the road takes time away from your main job of writing. Doing presentations and booksignings is just about being a “celebrity”–it’s food for your ego, rather than actual work that’s required for your writing career. J.K. Rowling doesn’t take the train to all the little towns around her to do signings, she just stays home and does her work. Stephen King does his work. You get the picture.
To all of this I can only respond: I don’t know enough yet. As my husband likes to put it, this is my first rodeo. I can’t say yet whether it’s foolish to spend money on gas and airfare and hotels to go meet people. I don’t know if spending these first few months after my book comes out putting myself out there in the world will feel like a good use of my time and energy. I’m just feeling my way along. I have writer friends who are at relatively the same stage I am, and who are wrestling with that same question. I try to learn from them the way they’re probably going to learn from me. We’re just figuring it out as we go.
Jordan Sonnenblick told the kids he writes his novels quickly–in about two months–but then spends the rest of his year doing talks and other promotion. He could, technically, write more than one book a year, but one feels right to him. Contrast that with my hero Meg Cabot, who has a new book out every two or three months. And she still manages to do at least one tour a year. And maintain her hilarious blog.
Anyway, I offer no wisdom of my own here, but in the spirit of full disclosure and TMI, you know I like to tell you everything that’s going on, whether it’s in the realm of flub or triumph. I hope these discussions are valuable to you writers out there, and at least interesting to you readers.
Now it’s time to do my main job of writing. Story due at the end of the week. I’m off!
Technorati Tags: Writing, Publishing, Author Tours, Book Tours, Jordan Sonnenblick, Drums Girls and Dangerous Pie, Meg Cabot
September 10th, 2007 at 10:36 am
I, of course, do not have any first hand experience on this topic, but generally speaking I would think that it will, like all things require a balance that you will time to settle into. It’s all new right now, so I would think it kind of exciting, and certainly interesting to get out there and meet people, sign and sell some books, etc. You seem a disciplined enough person to know that if you have something to write, you’re going to sit and write it, and if there is nothing really burning to get written, then enjoy all the rest of the rodeo! It will all sort itself out into a nice balance if you let it.
September 10th, 2007 at 10:49 am
Sounds cool! I like listening to authors talk too. I always feel so inspired! And don’t worry about the book sales! You wrote what you wanted to write and you had fun doing it right? I think that’s the most important thing! And if it helps I’m loving your book so far! I think it just takes a while for books to build popularity.
September 10th, 2007 at 11:11 am
After skimming over several authors’ blogs, I find yours to be the most down-to-earth, accessible one thus far. Your fun personality, your willingness to give each of us a chance and a hearing, and your ability to laugh at yourself and not take yourself too seriously (or, worse, think of yourself too highly) make you someone we can admire, enjoy, befriend, learn from, and even teach. That said, I think that while you are, as you admit, still learning, any experience of relating to and with others will only help your writing career. Even a question-and-answer session with three or four folks gives you a chance to hone your public speaking. And it is also a way to get to know individuals, since getting to know everyone in a large group would be impossible. With my lack of experience, I feel silly advising you, but I’ve been thrilled to see into the mind of a rising author who’s actually published, and especially to have you acknowledge our comments to your blog! I say keep it up while you can and enjoy every minute as much as possible. Be the one the public can access. Be real, genuine you!
September 10th, 2007 at 11:18 am
Love the quote: “That’s how you become a happy adult,” he told the assembly. “You find what you’re good at–what you love doing–and you use it to serve someone else.”” That’s excellent! Perhaps worth the trip for you in and of itself.
I don’t have any experience as an author, but as a reader, I know that I have a very positive feeling towards those authors whom I’ve met at signings, and had real interactions with. And (this is true for whatever you’re trying to sell), the more people out there who have positive impressions of you, the better off you’ll be in the long run. I think you’re doing great.
September 10th, 2007 at 11:26 am
I appreciate Jordan’s answers to the audience questions, particularly the one concerning multiculturalism.
I was just thinking about what it would be like if you came out to Seattle to promote your book. I heartily recommend All For Kids Books as a venue. When Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight came out, she had 3-4 people come to readings sometimes, but All For Kids had twenty ready for her. As far as hotels and such go, you’re welcome to stay in our basement.;) The downside: it’s a basement. The upside: it has a separate entrance.
September 10th, 2007 at 11:31 am
If only we could put a BST (Book Sale Tracker) on each person we meet.
I look at bookstore events like this: They’re like baptisms. A ritual. Do them if they make you feel happy and blessed to be a writer.
September 10th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
Speaking for myself, but maybe for librarians in general, if I meet you and you’re funny and smart and cool, I will buy any book you write, and many you recommend, for my library. And I will tell other librarians to, also. I might even buy more than one.
September 10th, 2007 at 1:22 pm
Kelley, what an incredibly nice thing to say! But I can’t take all the credit for this site. It’s fun and inviting because the people who stop by to join in the conversations are so fun and warm themselves. And it’s nice to add you into the mix now!
Molly, you’re going to be getting a special post of your own next month, but as a preview let me tell all of you that Molly is a librarian, Molly took a shine to my book after reading an ARC, and MOLLY (capital letters totally deserved) has not only organized the librarians in her area to bring me up there for Teen Read Week next month, but she has also (GET THIS!) organized something called One Book Freshmen, where she’s giving out my book to all the freshman at the area high schools so they read the book before I get up there. Which means MOLLY was single-handedly responsible for an order of 500 of my books!!!!! Don’t worry, I have already sent her chocolate. Der.
Sara, I think the BST is a much smarter invention than that remote signing pen Margaret Atwood invented a few years ago. If you want to develop that, I’ll totally sign on as an investor.
Alkelda, I love All for Kids! They were one of the stops on my tour back in March. My favorite part of that store is the secret room they have in back with all the signatures of authors and illustrators who have come through there. What an honor to add my own name! Plus the booksellers there are awesome. I’m so glad you get to shop there. As for the use of your basement, thanks so much, but I’m a total hotel girl.
Jen, I agree with you about that quote about how to be a happy adult. Funny you should say that was worth my trip there, because I actually had that same thought! And thanks for your input on personal contact with authors. I’ve always felt that way as a member of an audience, but you never really know when the roles are reversed.
Dylan, thanks for boiling it down to this: You wrote what you wanted to write and you had fun doing it right?” That’s exactly what I did. How easy it is to forget the fun part of this when you get so caught up in the business side. Thanks for rebooting my brain.
And Deborah, thanks for your assurance that “It will all sort itself out into a nice balance if you let it.” That “if you let it” part is always the hangup. I need to stop paddling all the time, and instead just let the stream carry me along. Why is that so hard????
September 10th, 2007 at 2:05 pm
It’s ok Robin. You’re among friends.
You can admit that you like speaking engagements because it gives you more opportunity to possess people with the devil.
September 10th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
Shut up! You know I was framed!
September 10th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
Of course you were. Devil made you do it, I’m sure.
September 10th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
Robin–
Wah! How did I miss you back in March? Was I reading your blog back in March? Gadzooks, I feel as if I’ve been coming here for years.
September 10th, 2007 at 4:06 pm
P.S. I just checked my first email from you, and it was April. Well, boil me in beet juice.
September 10th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
I think that book signings are both a blessing and a curse-they can be very necessary to help promote a new author or keep a well known one still in the spotlight,but they can be grueling and disappointing at times.
I’ve worked a good number of them back in my bookstore days and have seen huge lines all the way down the street for baseball players,plus large turnouts for the likes of Frank McCourt and Mary Higgins Clark. I have also seen moderate signings that were alot of fun and pratical no-shows that made the staff want to run and hide.
Part of the reason for any good signing is the planning that’s put into it,for both publisher and venue. If you’re making good connections with both booksellers and readers,Robin,that will be worth more than money in the long run. They’ll remember you and look for your next book as they tell all of their friends to get your current one. Booksellers especially will be glad to handsell a book written by someone who treated them nice(bringing them a snack is a good idea,too).
September 10th, 2007 at 6:25 pm
“your first rodeo”. i say stop fretting, savor each moment, do it different/better next time. just stay on the bull-gee-haw!
September 10th, 2007 at 8:55 pm
Alkelda, I swear if I find out I’m coming anywhere near Seattle, I will let you know right away. Coffee date!
Lady T, thank you so much for that special behind-the-scenes information. It’s really valuable to know how it looks from the bookseller’s side. And thanks for the tip about snacks! I’ll remember that.
Annette, I like “do it different/better next time.” That seems like a reasonable, non-obsessive goal. Thank you very much.
September 10th, 2007 at 9:09 pm
No problem Robin! Glad I could help! Can’t have you getting in any writing funks if we can help it!
September 12th, 2007 at 3:44 am
Check out this quote that I found through the blog Buzz, Balls, & Hype:
“When a writer doesn’t show his face,” Don DeLillo wrote portentously in his 1991 novel, “Mao II,” “he becomes a local symptom of God’s famous reluctance to appear.”
Wow, that’s carrying it a bit far, huh?