A while back, I got a deceptively simple question with an apparently obvious answer, all of which turn out to be neither so simple nor so obvious as they at first seemed. The question was, in essence, “What parts of your writing career can you talk about in public, and which ones should you not talk about; how do you decide which is which…and if you’re not talking about something exciting, how do you do it?”
The question is not as simple as it appears because “in public” means so many different things these days. There is often a considerable difference between telling your mother you just won a writing contest and putting it on your Facebook page. (Not always, of course; it depends on what your mother is like and whether she will instantly post it on her Facebook page…) Even so, the answer seemed like basic common sense to me…until I thought about it.
What makes the answer more complex is the way each person thinks about their writing. If writing is your beloved hobby, there isn’t nearly as much incentive to behave professionally as there is if writing is, well, your profession. I am in business; this is my job that pays the bills. The answer to “What parts of my writing career can I talk about in public?” is 1) Whatever is already public, or 2) whatever both the other party (the contest, the publisher/editor) and I feel comfortable making public. As a professional writer, I expect my publisher, agent, and business colleagues to behave in a professional manner, which means not blurting out all sorts of my personal business without first making sure it is OK; I feel obligated to maintain that same level of courtesy toward them. If writing were my hobby, there wouldn’t be nearly the same kind of incentive to behave professionally, and while the basic requirements of courtesy remain the same, honesty compels me to admit that not everyone in the world is as courteous as I think they ought to be.
The short form of the above is “When in doubt, ask.” If you just got an offer but haven’t signed the contract and you want to know if you can tell people, ask if it’s OK with the editor. If you just got word that you’ve won an award or a contest and you want to post it to every forum you’re on, ask whoever just called to tell you. Half the time, they’ll say “Go ahead;” the other half, they’ll say “We’d like to announce it ourselves at/on/after …” and then they’ll give you a date or an event: at the conference, on May 2, after the contract is signed, after we put it up on our own web site, after we let the organizers and other contestants know.
And in case it isn’t obvious, for some things you have to keep asking, no matter how long you have been in this business, because there isn’t a hard and fast rule. Some publishers want the writer out there drumming up buzz for the book right away; others want to wait. Some awards/contests let the winning author know first thing and want to hold the announcement at least until they can let the other contestants or nominees know; other times, the winner is the last to find out, and by then it doesn’t matter who else he/she tells.
For myself, I am happy to discuss most of my projects-in-development (that is, ideas and things that are still churning around and haven’t even reached the outline stage). Once they reach the point at which they are under submission, or even seriously approaching submission, I tend to stop talking about them in open forums unless and until I have a signed contract. I also have a sort of hierarchy of revelation: First, there’s stuff I will talk about “in public” (defined here as “any venue where I have no idea who might see it” – in magazine articles or interviews, in this blog or other online forums, during a speaking engagement). Then there’s the stuff I will talk about in person with people I know to some extent (mostly local acquaintances or fan-friends I see at conventions once or twice a year). There is business stuff that I will only talk about with other professional writers who need to know it, though that usually isn’t stuff I particularly want to broadcast to the world anyway.
There is a very small group – six or eight people, tops – that are good enough friends that I’m comfortable telling them that I have X project under submission at Y publisher and the editor looks interested, or that I just got an offer on something but it’s all hush-hush until the contract arrives. These are the folks I trust not to gossip about whatever-it-is until I let them know it is OK – and sometimes, they are already keeping their mouths shut. Last time I sprang an I-got-an-award announcement on them, two of them grinned and allowed as how they’d known for months I was up for it because the committee contacted them for letters of recommendation. And they hadn’t said a thing.
And then there’s my Dad.
I tell him pretty much anything, for two main reasons: first, he doesn’t know anyone in the industry to spread gossip to, were he so inclined, and second, he turned 94 two weeks ago and I don’t want to take a chance on waiting to give him any good news that comes up, even though he is in very good shape for his age. Also, having one person that it is safe to brag to makes it much easier not to tell anyone else in situations where that is really important.
As for other ways to insure one keeps one’s mouth shut when necessary, they are pretty individual in nature. One person I know writes and rewrites his/her announcement letter (but doesn’t send it) whenever he/she gets the urge to tell people. Some call their agents (which can quickly get into the realm of unreasonable pestering). Some are so concerned about giving things away inappropriately that they don’t tell anyone anything until it’s all totally public – the book is out, the awards ceremony has been held, the acknowledgement plaque is ready to hang over the mantelpiece. Another large chunk, for me, involves not getting into situations or conversations where I know I am likely to let something slip, and having three or four perfectly true answers ready for when someone asks “So what’s new?” or “How is your next book coming?” that a) don’t give anything away and b) take the conversation in a different and non-dangerous direction. Cats are very good for this. Speaking of which, let me tell you about the cute thing Karma did yesterday…
Good to know.
Also, your dad is awesome. He’s a fun guy to talk to.
I have a few people who I can talk about submissions, agents, etc. but they all are in similar places as me, so they know that it’s all hush-hush. My husband, of course I tell everything. It’s nice to have some people who “have your back” and can understand what you’re going through when you can’t announce it to the world.
Sounds like a nice problem to have – and your solutions are courteous and professional, so I’m taking note.
I just had my son tell me via Skype from Hawaii, that he had popped the question and his lovely girlfriend had said yes. Then I sat on it, giving him time to do it their way – until I saw it was on Facebook, and they were getting congratulations from their friends. Then I ASKED if it was news that could be shared before I did. When he did, I blabbed it to family and close friends – so they wouldn’t say nobody told them (not all of these people are on FB).
I think there is a bit too MUCH tendency for the younger generation to assume that if they’ve posted it on FB, it is ‘public’ knowledge. I called the grandparents directly – don’t know when the young couple will get around to doing that – since they are in a different country and completely across the country – and don’t communicate very often.
It is only my job because…
When I publish, I will have that job – but for myself, and it should be a bit easier to make the relevant decisions, after, as you did, asking the other parties to the information.
Very thoughtful post – thanks!
Alicia
Another dose of wise and sensible advice. Thank you.
Wait until it’s officially announced, ask if it’s okay… and if you don’t know, err on the side of keeping your mouth shut. 😉 Got it. (I tend to err on the side of keeping my mouth shut anyway; it’s a lot easier to undo that than it is to undo talking too soon.)
I may have to try that trick of writing (but not posting) the announcement; not only might it let off some of the pressure, but it would mean the announcement got written while I was still excited!!!, rather than a month or two later when the thrill has faded somewhat and, while still pleased, I don’t sound nearly as bouncy as a person ought to.
So, what did Karma do? (Do cats hide exciting writing announcements under the sofa along with their toys?)