Is it obnoxious to offer my (published) writing to an author at a book signing?

January 25, 2006 2:25 PM

Is it obnoxious to offer my (published) writing to an author at a book signing?

I want advice on how to make her aware of my article while maintaining good fan etiquette. She's not a superstar, but is well respected in her area. The article involves original research on a pop-culture topic that is dear to her heart (I know this from comments she has made in her previous writing), is 12 photocopied pages and written with little academic jargon. I'm a graduate student so I haven't got real academic credentials to help persuade her (she's a former academic in a different field) that my writing is worth her precious time.

I'm thinking that I'll praise the book she's promoting (I'll do my best not to gush, and yes, I've read it), ask an intelligent question about it, ask her to sign my copy, and mention that I've had this article recently published. Then hope she expresses concrete interest (asks me for the article, or asks me to send her email about it). If she does, I'll offer her the photocopy that'll be waiting in my bag (is this dumb? would most book-touring authors consider this intrusive?). If she doesn't, I'm thinking I'll email her after her book tour is over and offer to mail her a copy. If she doesn't respond to that, of course I'll swallow my disappointment and won't pester her further.

posted by cybercoitus interruptus to human relations (22 comments total)

I would email her instead. Academics are used to having people send them their work to read.

Send her an email with the article attached. Tell her your interested in her work, and are particularly interested in how she takes X approach to Y. If you like you can mention that you heard her speak about W in YourCity. Explain how your work connects to hers and tell her you thought she would be interested. Tell her you would be interested to hear any comments she might have and that if she is doing any further work on this topic, you would be interested to read it.
posted by duck at 2:32 PM on January 25, 2006

I think you should just give it to her. Say "I wrote an article about xyz that I think you would like. Here it is." And then hand it to her. And then (and this is very important) leave. Later, in the privacy of her hotel room, when her public face is off, she will decide on her own time whether or not she wants to read her article, and if she likes it, and wants to contact you, she will.
posted by bingo at 2:33 PM on January 25, 2006

I have a sad little confession to make which is that, except for a couple of good friends whose writing I like, I almost never read anything anyone gives me (which happens a few times a year). I still accept it if offered but I tell them how bad I am at getting around to reading it.

On the few occasions where I've read something and passed it up the food chain, it's never resulted in anything but a frosty pass from the agent/producer/whoever. So I'm not sure how much value an author adds, unless they're Stephen King.
posted by unSane at 2:36 PM on January 25, 2006

I agree with bingo. If it were your unpublished manuscript and you expected her to do something like read it and find you an agent, it would be obnoxious. Since it's just a 12-page article, and you just think she might be interested, I think it's ok to do pretty much what bingo suggested above. (I'm correct in thinking you don't expect her to do anything like pass it on to an agent, right? It's just something you think she might personally find interesting?)
posted by MsMolly at 2:39 PM on January 25, 2006

bingo really has it. Give it to her and leave. I wouldn't even worry about the rest of the etiquette, unless you really do have a question about her book, just be straightforward and don't expect anything from her at the time "Hi, I've been really impressed by your writing and I wrote something on the XYZ topic that was published in the ABC Journal. I made you a photocopy because I thought you might enjoy it" If you have the option, I'd copy the published copy of the article and not your own draft copy, I wasn't sure if that's what you were referring to.

If you want to include a post-it or something that has more information "I read what you said on the PQR blog about this topic, seems that you and I share a common interest" Above all, I'd try to think about what you'd like to get out of this. If you just want to give her something that she can read if she has time, super. If you want to get feedback from her on the topic/article, then you should make that plain and follow-up later, assuming that it might be a long shot.

I'd really ditch the whole "I don't want to bother/pester you" thing since it takes up time and isn't too germane and really could be obnoxious. It seems like you have a good reason to think she'll like the article. The ideas you have for waiting until she basically requests it are unlikely to be successful if she's busy and on a speaking tour. My experience with authors, and having done some speaking myself, is that I like interacting with people but I always feel a sort of urgency to get to all the people who are waiting, so if someone has a long apologetic story, I'd much prefer an envelope a sincere compliment and a cluefulness about the reality of book signing time constraints. Good luck!
posted by jessamyn at 2:51 PM on January 25, 2006

I would not hand them the paper when they're travelling. They'll lose it, forget who gave it to them, and otherwise ignore it. And I also am assuing that your point is to get your work out there and to make others working in related areas aware of your work.

Also, this article might be of interest. A few relevant passages:

"The right way to start a professional relationships with someone whose work is relevant to your own is not entirely obvious. Unless you are already well known in the person's field, you should not simply approach them and say, "hey, I hear you're interested in ...". The reason for this is profound, viz, whereas ordinary social life calls on you to simply be yourself, professional life calls on you to construct and maintain a complex professional persona that is composed largely of your research, writing, and professional activities.

Therefore, in approaching possible professional contacts, you should let your research articles be your emissaries. (If you haven't written anything yet, let your networking wait until you have. Unpublished articles, conference papers, and research reports are all okay. In writing your first articles, you will want to lean heavily on your local system of advisors, mentors, and peers; the skills involved in this process are a subject for another time.)

Here is the procedure: (a) choose someone you wish to approach and read their work with some care; (b) make sure that your article cites their work in some substantial way (in addition to all your other citations); (c) mail the person a copy of your article; and (d) include a low-key, one-page cover letter that says something intelligent about their work. If your work and theirs could be seen to overlap, include a concise statement of the relationship you see between them. The tone of this letter counts. Project ordinary, calm self-confidence. Refrain from praising or fawning or self-deprecation or cuteness or making a big deal out of it -- you're not subordinating yourself to this person; you're just passing along your paper. Don't sound like you're presupposing or demanding that you'll get a response. Try a formula such as, "If you should happen to have any comments, I would be most interested to hear them".
posted by duck at 2:54 PM on January 25, 2006

This kind of thing happens to authors all the time and some of them get very cranky about it, and not just the ones you'd expect.

Unless you have some specific sign from her beforehand (something she said in an interview, etc.), I would avoid giving it to her at the signing. It's just not the best time or place to be handing out material. Regardless of what it is, or how well intentioned the person with the pages is, uninvited slush can easily get a stigma attached to it if it's given over when the author isn't expecting it or doesn't want it.

I would highly recommend simply making a general contact at the signing, say something insightful and memorable, and then contact the author through her agent or publisher with the note "I was at your signing in XXXXX and I asked the question about XXXXX. I have an article that I think you might be interested in ...." I can almost guarantee that this will get a better reception than handing pages to someone on a book tour.
posted by camcgee at 3:03 PM on January 25, 2006

I say email the person. She's not going to appreciate you shoving something in her hand at a reading or whatever, even though she may be polite about it. It seems kind of equivalent to the screenwriter shoving the script under the stall to the studio exec.

I'm sure this would be a bit of an annoyance to any writer at a reading, where they are already pressed for time to accomodate a lot of people. Though, if you were to email her, it would put the whole thing in a different light and be less rude. And you could perhaps even email her and ask her if it would be okay to hand her something at the reading.
posted by xmutex at 3:13 PM on January 25, 2006

On the subject of getting things at signings, Neil Gaiman says,

I do my best to read all the letters I’m given and not lose all the presents I’m given. Sometimes I’ll read letters on the plane to the next place. But given the sheer volume of letters and gifts, you probably won’t get a reply. . . If you’re after a reply or to have me read something, you’re much better off not giving it to me on a tour. Post it to me care of DreamHaven books in Minneapolis.

I would imagine that most authors are not so terribly different from this. I think you're better off meeting her, having a nice snippet of a conversation, and then sending her the document later with a nice note. camcgee has some good advice.
posted by Medieval Maven at 3:14 PM on January 25, 2006

Yeah, it's kind of obnoxious. Even if she is interested, even if she does want to read it, she probably doesn't want to carry it with her. You might have good intentions; but yes, this is a slightly obnoxious way to carry them out.
posted by cribcage at 3:19 PM on January 25, 2006

MsMolly: (I'm correct in thinking . . . it's just something you think she might personally find interesting?)
Jessamyn: If you just want to give her something that she can read if she has time, super.

Correct. Also,

Duck:
your point is to get your work out there and to make others working in related areas aware of your work.

Absolutely.

Duck: I would not hand them the paper when they're travelling. They'll lose it, forget who gave it to them, and otherwise ignore it.

Yes, this was on my mind with the "Give it to her at the signing" scenario, that she'd consider it one more damn thing to keep track of in the middle of running around a strange city with a million things to keep track of already.
posted by cybercoitus interruptus at 3:21 PM on January 25, 2006

I say bingo, bingo.

I get the sense that you don't want to seem "fannish", but you are a fan, so just deal with the awkwardness.

I once handed David Sedaris a pack of smokes and a book of short stories after he signed a book for me, and the next time he came 'round he remembered me and I squeed like a little fangirl. Which I am. So it's all good.

No, really. I "Squeeeee!d"

Out loud.
posted by ersatzkat at 3:26 PM on January 25, 2006

I like the suggestion to email beforehand, but the talk's really soon.

Would it make a difference if it turns out attendance is small? The business where it'll take place is doing a lousy lousy job of promoting the talk. I doubt she'd have Gaiman-length lines even if it was being promoted properly.

Ersatzkat - I'd "Squeeee!" too if David Sedaris remembered me!
posted by cybercoitus interruptus at 3:32 PM on January 25, 2006

Would it make a difference if it turns out attendance is small?

If attendance is small enough that there'll be chit chat and mingling before or after the talk, then go ahead and introduce yourself and ask if you can send them the paper. Don't chit-chat in line to get a book signed.
posted by duck at 4:04 PM on January 25, 2006

It is obnoxious. However, you're essentially making a cold sale of your material and you really can't do that without being at least a little obnoxious.
posted by insomnus at 4:25 PM on January 25, 2006

Doing what you suggest is considered the sign of an amateur and if you are looking for respect for your work, you don't want to start by acting unprofessional.

Publishing is a business, and getting something published requires a polished, professional presentation.

I suggest investing in a book about getting published. There are well established guidelines for approaching others with your writing. You are more likely to get the results that you seek by following the guidelines.
posted by DrAmy at 5:34 PM on January 25, 2006

Yes. It is obnoxious. Doesn't stop people from doing it but it is obnoxious. I am all for promoting oneself but this is not professional or appropriate, if you want to be taken seriously.

Keep in mind that many writers will not accept or read unsolicited work so they don't get accused of plagiarism later, so your delightful contribution will probably make it as far as the garbage can. And, also keep in mind that there are many, many people who think that doing what you want to do is fine and dandy, and if they accepted everything that was given to them, imagine what they'd have to carry home? Garbage can again.
posted by micawber at 6:08 PM on January 25, 2006

DrAmy, I suggest that you reread my question. I have in fact had several articles published. The topic is introducing my already published and peer-reviewed work to someone with a demonstrated interest in my field, thanks.

Everybody else, thanks for the great input. I wanted to mark almost everything as "best," since everybody brought out different aspects that are helpful. (I may bring a hardcopy along with me...always a one in a million chance, you know) :)
posted by cybercoitus interruptus at 6:09 PM on January 25, 2006

I just came back from a nine-day book tour, and at one of the bookstore events, after the reading was done, a woman came up to me and introduced herself. She told me she'd emailed me months before (maybe a year before) asking if I'd mind if she used a quote from my first book as an epigraph for a piece she was writing. I remembered the email -- people quote stuff all the time without asking, so I remembered this exchange (especially since the amount she wanted to quote fell within the "fair use" guidelines). Anyway, it turned out she brought me a copy of the piece she had been working on when she first emailed, which had indeed used a quote from me as an epigraph. It had been published in a reputable literary magazine, and which (it turns out) was her first published piece of creative nonfiction writing.

I thought that was really touching -- she went out of her way to come to this reading, she stayed for the whole thing and asked questions, and she wanted to share with me how my work had inspired her. I know I can't speak for every author, but I was grateful and humbled by that gesture.
posted by mothershock at 7:05 PM on January 25, 2006

I would let her know that you have written the articles at the signing, but not give copies to her at the time. If she expresses interest, then you can send them to her via her publisher or school where she teaches--if that is the case.

This is what I did with David Leavitt about a poem I had written based on a character in one of his stories. I hadn't brought a copy with me, but he let me know he wanted to read it and asked me to send it where he taught. In his reply, he praised it and let me know that he was proud that I had been inspired to create the poem from his story. Later, when the poem appeared in the Colorado Review, I let him know that it had been published.
posted by brujita at 11:06 PM on January 25, 2006

I'm sorry that you misinterpreted my comment. I did not mean to suggest that you want your piece to be published or that it was not published. I just meant that the etiquette of the publishing world is the etiquette that you should follow in this situation.
posted by DrAmy at 4:08 AM on January 26, 2006

getting something published requires a polished, professional presentation. I suggest investing in a book about getting published.

I "misinterpreted" your comment?

*looks at "getting published"x2, scratches head, wanders away, comes back, looks at "getting published"x2 again, scratches head again*

Looks to me like you mis-phrased. *shrugs*

I just meant that the etiquette of the publishing world is the etiquette that you should follow in this situation.

Intent acknowledged.
posted by cybercoitus interruptus at 11:56 AM on January 26, 2006