tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post4702391798050811603..comments2024-03-26T23:41:10.319+00:00Comments on Authors Electric: Self-Promotion for the Socially Impaired - Umberto TosiKatherine Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17196712319655603442noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-24453257976523604972017-10-17T16:38:52.970+01:002017-10-17T16:38:52.970+01:00I can say the words "I'm a writer" n...I can say the words "I'm a writer" now, though for years it was as hard as admitting to an addiction. What I find difficult is to talk about my books.mishahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02817380292408084414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-76657202579329605882017-10-04T01:53:14.035+01:002017-10-04T01:53:14.035+01:00Well said, Umberto. I've steered clear of conv...Well said, Umberto. I've steered clear of conventions for many years and am only now gearing up to start doing readings, the first being in November. In most people's minds, it seems, books--at least real books--are written by mysterious beings whom they'll never meet. And whom, frankly, they don't want to meet. Familiarity, I believe, breeds worse than contempt--it breeds total neglect. But for readings, or even chance encounters, I plan to work out a good list of zingers.glitter noirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11728649916344336118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-73510673216570676752017-10-03T22:14:26.444+01:002017-10-03T22:14:26.444+01:00Thank you all - Marsha, Chris, Dipika, Jan, Rosali...Thank you all - Marsha, Chris, Dipika, Jan, Rosalie, Bill, Andrew - for your kind and relevant comments. I'm happy for the company! Umberto Tosihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04939504157464234443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-24268527475182302342017-10-03T21:02:27.692+01:002017-10-03T21:02:27.692+01:00Asking someone what they do is just plain lazy. I ...Asking someone what they do is just plain lazy. I never ask anyone such questions. When people ask me what I do, I always look them straight in the eye and say, "I'm a personal trainer." As a substantial woman, they always look at me incredulously and quickly change the subject. <br /><br />Love the idea of asking people about their passions rather than their work, Umberto. Let's do this. <br />Marsha Coupéhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04231252789789817205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-41411801038842038582017-10-03T15:32:47.169+01:002017-10-03T15:32:47.169+01:00Another great post Umberto! I feel your pain as pe...Another great post Umberto! I feel your pain as people assume I am related to the famous writerly Mukherjees in the US (one of whom is a doctor who won a pulitzer in case I need comparisons) but I'm not, and virtually unknown! Hang in there :)Dipika Mukherjeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17734481154069467025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-68712033573769124602017-10-03T14:30:24.302+01:002017-10-03T14:30:24.302+01:00Ghost writer is good, Andrew. My alternative is &#...Ghost writer is good, Andrew. My alternative is 'trainee corpse'. Accompanied by a mysterious smile...Jan Needlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15823078224282953782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-88700092498888408942017-10-03T14:21:31.883+01:002017-10-03T14:21:31.883+01:00I identify so much with what you say, Umberto. I t...I identify so much with what you say, Umberto. I too am an introvert who hates social gatherings of more than a few people. And I find it very difficult to promote my work, though oddly, in my previous career, I was OK doing conference presentations to dozens or even hundreds of people. It was work I'd done but somehow less personal. Does that make any sense? <br /><br />Anyway, here's a bit of publicity for you, gladly given. I've just finished 'Ophelia Rising' and it's a great story. Review coming soon.Rosalie Warrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10790708661647164052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-43079685040132516162017-10-03T12:16:32.956+01:002017-10-03T12:16:32.956+01:00Familiar experiences, Umberto (and I loved the ...Familiar experiences, Umberto (and I loved the 'are you related to Umberto Eco?' enquiry). I share the dislike of big gatherings and conferences and yet, paradoxically, I'm relatively adept at 'performing' when it's needed. There is, though, a certain mystique about the label 'writer'. I've always written but I still remember the time when the late Tony Church had been appointed director of the new Northcott Theatre in Exeter and a BBC drama producer had given him my name as a playwright. He invited me along to see the setup and, backstage, we met his assistant. whereupon Tony uttered the magical words, 'This is Bill Kirton. He's a writer'. I wonder if, when somebody else says it, it means it's true.Bill Kirtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16345949773423764808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-87560284702485751032017-10-03T10:24:01.753+01:002017-10-03T10:24:01.753+01:00Ghostwriting is a very handy bridge over this part...Ghostwriting is a very handy bridge over this particular swamp.<br /><br />"What do you do?"<br /><br />"I write books."<br /><br />"What sort of books?"<br /><br />"books for other people."<br /><br />"Like who?"<br /><br />"All sorts. Not allowed to say who, I'm afraid."<br /><br />They then ask more technical questions about the ghosting business, which I have well practiced answers for. Once I have steered the conversation away from me and onto them, and have drained them of their life stories, I can usually find someone they know or admire and I can then confess that I have written for them - if the lawyers haven't expressly forbidden it. <br /><br />Job done, awkwardness avoided. It's a technique I've been honing for years in order to get through the horrors of mass socialising.Andrew Croftshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16101696875255886422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-47894485842290278092017-10-03T09:11:13.271+01:002017-10-03T09:11:13.271+01:00Thank you, Umberto! I have to grit my teeth to say...Thank you, Umberto! I have to grit my teeth to say 'I'm a writer' when asked what I do, and I cringe from the inevitable follow-up questions,but it IS what I do and I love it and, rightly or wrongly it makes me proud! Sandra Hornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01761260568729338471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-68134888274066711622017-10-03T08:45:42.558+01:002017-10-03T08:45:42.558+01:00I enjoyed this post Umberto and can relate to a lo...I enjoyed this post Umberto and can relate to a lot of what you say.Chris Longmuirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02488093821886798927noreply@blogger.com