tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post2196470105739176139..comments2024-03-10T04:29:20.044-04:00Comments on Mad Genius Club: Author as a PerformerSarah A. Hoythttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17478124095732219352noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-8315460006330910272010-07-14T23:19:41.256-04:002010-07-14T23:19:41.256-04:00Maybe it's a small town thing, where everyone ...Maybe it's a small town thing, where everyone really does know who you are and what you have done.Synovahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01311191981918160095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-91974777537405452472010-07-14T21:53:50.889-04:002010-07-14T21:53:50.889-04:00Heh. Having just had to stand up in front of peopl...Heh. Having just had to stand up in front of people and talk about myself, I'm probably keener to volunteer for an enema (and no, this idea does NOT fill me with glee! But the two things have a similar effect on my underwear). I find Aussie's self-deprciation way of doing things easier, I think. More like the old country. Probably the worst though is when you really are a tall poppy, and short of actually telling people bluntly (and for the conversation to make any sense you need to tell them) they won't know. For example I've been on a panel in Oz where they had barely heard of me, with a couple of self-published / very small press people - nice enough folk, but entirely ignorant about the subject they were pontificating about. A dispassionate observer from the audience would have assumed they were knowledgable... it's very awkward, because I really didn't want to shout the odds about my real experience, or their lack of same. So the Australian way works well... IF everyone knows who you are.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12315551718688781746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-21231866923365035042010-07-14T06:43:17.410-04:002010-07-14T06:43:17.410-04:00Rowena,
Let me get back to you on that after Auss...Rowena,<br /><br />Let me get back to you on that after Aussiecon - assuming I can get past the bureaucratic ballsup and get on the flights.<br /><br />I haven't been back in eight years.Kate Paulkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02034983693134240754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-76734556287528446242010-07-14T03:59:01.498-04:002010-07-14T03:59:01.498-04:00Synova,
I should have thought of that.
Even in A...Synova,<br /><br />I should have thought of that.<br /><br />Even in Australia which only has a population of 20 million, the different ends of the country have old rivalries that die hard.Rowena Cory Daniellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08995983965583233914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-67001479442298658862010-07-14T03:57:43.083-04:002010-07-14T03:57:43.083-04:00Amanda,
I like an insight into the author. I'...Amanda,<br /><br />I like an insight into the author. I'd rather they were on a panel where we could ask questions and chat, then line up for a signature on books.Rowena Cory Daniellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08995983965583233914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-79405714246463172882010-07-14T03:56:34.889-04:002010-07-14T03:56:34.889-04:00Kate,
You're right about the Tall Poppy Syndr...Kate,<br /><br />You're right about the Tall Poppy Syndrome.<br /><br />Must be interesting to live in the US. Is there a point where it feels like home and coming back to Australia feels alien?Rowena Cory Daniellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08995983965583233914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-19990976535771207092010-07-13T23:43:45.302-04:002010-07-13T23:43:45.302-04:00I think about "branding" like I think ab...I think about "branding" like I think about my story-filing system. I either have to decide before I start how I'm going to go on, or I'm going to put together rather elaborate setups, decide they suck, and then do something completely different which means that notes and story ideas and bits and pieces are going to be hopelessly lost.<br /><br />Building a brand with anything other than your name seems like a lot of effort put into something that will most certainly change... and some authors use a lot of different names, too.Synovahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01311191981918160095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-35681002323598274232010-07-13T21:27:16.608-04:002010-07-13T21:27:16.608-04:00Heh, *I* moved from San Diego to just north of Bo...Heh, *I* moved from San Diego to just north of Boston Mass... Wanna talk about culture shock? Whew!!!! I'm STILL dealing with it.C Kelseynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-63971534125555688742010-07-13T21:24:45.021-04:002010-07-13T21:24:45.021-04:00Synova,
Ooh, yeah! Moving from Texas to Pennsylva...Synova,<br /><br />Ooh, yeah! Moving from Texas to Pennsylvania was like moving internationally.Kate Paulkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02034983693134240754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-37949602752289673252010-07-13T20:48:03.437-04:002010-07-13T20:48:03.437-04:00I'm sure that Australia is different from the ...I'm sure that Australia is different from the US, but then so is the US.<br /><br />If you know what I mean.<br /><br />I get culture shock every time I move. ;-)Synovahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01311191981918160095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-32207477509386525132010-07-13T20:38:18.742-04:002010-07-13T20:38:18.742-04:00Rowena, the best readings, seminars, etc., that I&...Rowena, the best readings, seminars, etc., that I've been to are the ones where the author simply relaxes and talks. She talks about her book like Kate said -- how much fun she had writing it. She is self-deprecating and she is genuine. Most of all, if the author is having fun, so will the audience. <br /><br />The quickest way to turn me off if I've come to hear an author is for the author to talk about how good he is, how many prizes he's won and how he has the one way all writers should work. The only time I want to know about how well-respected an author is in a field is if that author is talking about a non-fic book where expertise is needed.Amanda Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02927312739323222344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-18908742984746106562010-07-13T17:07:15.238-04:002010-07-13T17:07:15.238-04:00David Coe is absolutely correct - although they...David Coe is absolutely correct - although they're similar on the surface, the US and Australia are two very different cultures, and the Oz mindset is quite different. <br /><br />The tall poppy syndrome isn't entirely to blame, though. Achievement isn't knocked down: crowing about it is. "Knocking" - insulting and criticizing in order to bring someone/something 'down to size' is what happens when there's a perception that someone is full of himself. I'd guarantee it's a convict-era leftover: anyone who tried to bring attention to himself was either trying to curry favor with the guards (and had to be stopped because he was a traitor) or he was a fool and could endanger all of them.<br /><br />An Aussie author who big-notes himself is sure to get a hostile audience: you don't talk about how great your book is, you talk about how much fun you had writing it - and you assume that any favors from someone with power over you had better be repaid, fast, because you can't trust anyone in power.<br /><br />USians are much more willing to sing their own praises: I wouldn't call it good or bad. It's how the culture evolved.Kate Paulkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02034983693134240754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-51723396031271876952010-07-13T16:16:10.776-04:002010-07-13T16:16:10.776-04:00C Kelsey,
I met US spec fic writer, David B Coe, ...C Kelsey,<br /><br />I met US spec fic writer, David B Coe, when he was out here working for a year. He attended our national SF Con. He was lovely and not at all pushy (just thought I'd make that clear).<br /><br />I asked him if it felt like he was coming from another culture, living in Australia after the US. He said there were many things the same, but every now and then people would do something or he'd see something and he'd be reminded that he was not in Kansas any more.<br /><br />The Australian psyche (for want of a better word) is different from the US.Rowena Cory Daniellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08995983965583233914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-91372323701880260532010-07-13T08:44:41.904-04:002010-07-13T08:44:41.904-04:00It really sounds like the publishing industry worl...It really sounds like the publishing industry world wide is heavily influenced by American culture. We expect to be sold to. We expect people to do well. And then we (sometimes way too much) admire those who have done well. <br /><br />We also tend to be far more forward here, and authors tend to have to adapt to that.C Kelseynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-3049409757818907052010-07-13T07:32:52.180-04:002010-07-13T07:32:52.180-04:00I know what you mean, Brendan.
If I feel the auth...I know what you mean, Brendan.<br /><br />If I feel the author is simpatico, I'll read their book.Rowena Cory Daniellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08995983965583233914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4940224740718934743.post-36947023825882389282010-07-13T06:15:58.755-04:002010-07-13T06:15:58.755-04:00As a fellow Australian I am highly suspect of bein...As a fellow Australian I am highly suspect of being sold to. Someone standing up in front of me telling me why I will like their book is going to get a very frosty welcome. <br /><br />The book launches/author events that have been most successful were ones where the latest book hardly rated a mention. The author spoke about themselves, what drove them and what they were passionate about so the audience connected with a person not a product(One was so unprepared for the after launch signing I had to provide the pen. Lucky I always have my selection of Uniball medium point pens with me(She went with the Burgundy)).<br /><br />The chances are if I can connect with you as a person I am going to enjoy reading your work, and even if it doesn't end up as something I would keep on my shelf, I won't have felt it a loss since I will have helped someone I appreciate/admire/respect by putting my money down at least once.Brendanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12290731721638936110noreply@blogger.com