Ever since the happy announcement of my representation status last week, I’ve been asked, poked, and prodded about The Book. (The Book, of course, being the reason I was querying in the first place.) What is this book? What is it about? I’ve been utterly vague about it so far because: (1) I am unused to talking about my book with anyone other than the people who have read it or those I’ve encouraged to read it and (2) for all of my online activity, I’m in the habit of being private/vague about what I do creatively.
The first writing I ever dared print out (at something like age twelve) went into a yellow clasp envelope with the words “For Erin’s Eyes ONLY” scrawled across the top. Because I was superstealthninja about my early writing. (Who am I kidding? Part of me is still trying to be superstealthninja about my writing.)
What it comes down to is this: when one spends the majority of one’s life NOT talking about a Thing, and suddenly a lot of people want to know about a Thing, it is not exactly easy to talk about that Thing.
It’s a habit I need to break. Slowly. In the past week, I have taken some baby steps.
My first was answering questions for QueryTracker.net’s success stories page. When describing my book, I’m only slightly less vague than I am on this blog. Yay!
This past weekend I took another step and told some friends who knew nothing about The Book other than that I’d written it… what The Book is about. My face was probably bright red the entire time, for a reason I can’t entirely explain to myself. I’m not embarrassed about my book — I love my book. Lovelovelove. Love the characters, the world, just simply being in it. But I’m so unused to actually talking about it that mentioning more than the fact that it’s young adult fantasy feels strange. New.
After those, I’ll take another baby step here: the novel is called BOUND BETWEEN. *lets out a long breath* Now you all know what everyone I’ve queried knows!
I’ve avoided ever mentioning it on this blog until now because I hate titling things; it has to be a twist-my-arm necessity for me to actually title something. I’m not one of those people who can start with a title. Any time I’ve tried that, while writing short fiction, my title ended up having nothing to do with the story. So somewhere down the line I gave up on titling things until I absolutely had to throw a title on it. I admit, I kind of like it. It’s appropriately vague.
What about you all? How has the way talking about your writing, your books, changed over the years and how/why?
Sara Raasch
/ 27 July 2010I’ve become much more superstealthninja over the years (and the fact that you used the phrase “superstealthninja” makes us BFFs. Just so you know). I used to post snippets/segments/titles/summaries/character-bios, the whole shebang. But lately I’ve become rather — protective of my books. So while I REALLY REALLY want to know what BOUND BETWEEN is about (because, honestly, if Agent Kate likes it, it HAS to be good), I respect you and your superstealthninja ways. Ninja on.
From Sara Raasch’s [type]: Thank you- Travel Channel
E. F. Danehy
/ 27 July 2010Ninja high five!
It’s good to know I’m not the only one who feels a wee bit, um, protective. I’d call it shy but… nah. I want to tell the world! …but not today.
Kristan
/ 27 July 2010Ergh. I still don’t know the right balance of talking about/not talking about my books. It’s easier for me to talk to someone in the industry, or my close friends/family, but when a stranger asks me what my book is about, part of me thinks they don’t even really care, so why bother giving them the good stuff? Kind of like how everyone asks “How are you doing?” and when I answer truthfully, they’re all, “Oh… {awkward pause as they try to ignore all the information I just gave them} That’s nice…”
Because of that, I used to hate talking about my stories, but now I’ve come to realize the value of hashing out problems with fellow writers who can give me good suggestions, or just drumming up enthusiasm by getting a friend interested in my characters.
I know as writers we also have to self-promote, and I think I do an okay job of that online (for me, it’s so much easier to send out to the anonymous masses than to talk face-to-face to someone who may or may not get it), but I still think I could be better.
I’m glad you’re taking the steps, though! Because, you know, when you’re a big time famous author, everyone’s gonna want to know your next project! ;)
From Kristan’s [type]: How fiction breaks us out of walls
Jess Tudor
/ 28 July 2010I used to blabber alllll about my books. I’d also bounce ideas off people, let them read first draft… it works for some people. Not me. I’d lose the spark. I’d doubt. I wouldn’t be able to focus; I’d second guess. I’d also feel like the story wasn’t *mine* anymore.
So now I might give an elevator pitch, mention my progress, but that’s about it, and the pitch is never until the first draft is completed, either. I’m not superstitious about it, but it’s just what works for me.
Jess Tudor
/ 30 July 2010So I said this, and then I started a new project, and now I think I might want an alpha reader for this one. Not to diffuse the creative energy but just one person to bounce it off of…. I’ve never tried anything so intense before and I just want to make sure I push hard enough.
Go figure.
From Jess Tudor’s [type]: Uncertainty
erin f. danehy
/ 30 July 2010That just goes to show how different every project can be! I’ve definitely had projects where I’ve wanted to shout from the rooftops versus some first drafts I wanted to bury / burn…
So intense in what regard? Genre / tone / plot? I completely know what you mean in regards to starting something so different you feel like you may have taken the wrong turn and you’re now driving father and farther away, feeling like you ought to stop for directions and make sure you’re not wasting your time. You don’t want to get lost!