Someone You’re Not (Or Perhaps Almost Just)
13 Nov
A reader writes:
What about taking the idea of trying to become someone you’re not and gaming that? Like sort of considering your “author self” a character you’re playing. Kind of like Lemony Snicket. You could let your audience in on the joke if you took it far enough. Alter-egoishly.
Thanks to psuedosu for this question in the comments to the post about making something out of your shyness. Here are my thoughts on alter egos:
1. Commitment is everything
To promote his alternate history World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, Max Brooks did this brilliant NPR interview where he and Neal Conan dryly and slyly updated H.G. Wells’ legendary War of the Worlds hoax. Proof that your persona doesn’t have to showy to be effective.
2. And yet you are allowed to get a divorce
Before Neal Pollack was an Alternadad, he was America’s Greatest Living Writer, a Norman Mailer parody that was very funny but perhaps too inside to warrant a large audience. You don’t want to switch characters too often, but you are allowed to grow and change.
3. You may not have to go as far you think
The Times recently did a piece on Carolyn Chute, an author who I believe quite genuinely has iconoclasm to spare. At the same time, posing with your mountain man husband while brandishing an iconic firearm shows an understanding of what sells in this culture. In other words, when a major newspaper comes to visit your isolated, rural compound, you don’t hide your AK. You wear it.
Tags: promotion
I definitely put on an author’s hat when I go to professional functions. I write tough characters, so I act cool and tough (I think–I hope!) Mostly it’s blatant confidence resting on absolutely no foundation at all. But so far it’s gotten me some speaking gigs.
Oh awesome! I was going to make my husband shave and hide the guns– whew!
Just kidding– thanks for taking on. I saw that article too and wondered. Loved her “I belong to a no-wing militia” line.
I like this idea, and Bets– you sound bad-ass to me…