Notes from the (Failure) Field
By Yuvi Zalkow | August 11, 2012 |
This month I have a short video with a bit of an update on two fronts related to what’s been going on with me (along with, of course, the emotional baggage that goes along with any of my stories).
For one, I want to share about how I experimented with using video at a few of my public readings. I’ve often found author readings a little tedious, which is strange because I love reading and I love authors. There are a lot of obvious pitfalls that can cause a bad reading. A reading can go on too long. The author may choose an imperfect excerpt to read. There could be a lack of connection between author and audience for some reason. A big problem I face is that I have serious stage fright. This can all make for a less-than-stellar author reading, even when the book itself is solid. Since I’ve been getting a kick out of doing these videos, I decided to see if I could blend the video shtick alongside an author reading.
I was fortunate in that the fabulous Cheryl Strayed asked me if I would participate in the Rumpus event in San Francisco to celebrate the release of Cheryl’s new book (Tiny Beautiful Things). My book was chosen as a Rumpus Book Club pick for July so I definitely wanted to read from my book at a Rumpus event. But I also decided to experiment with playing some animation as I talked about how Cheryl mentored me back in 2009. The animations were timed so that they expanded on (or contradicted) what I was saying at the time. I wasn’t perfectly smooth at doing this, but I still think it’s an interesting way to shake up an author reading. (West coasters: check out my event schedule to find out if I’ll be fumbling my way through a presentation at a bookstore near you.)
On another front, I want to share the experience of getting my first really bad book review. I’ll let you watch the experience for yourself. A crying, drinking anteater can more effectively express the experience than any of my words.
What do you think about author readings? Have you seen any innovative ways to shake them up?
And what about handling the critics? Any personal anecdotes or experiences in that realm?
Yuvi Zalkow is the author of the novel I Only Cry with Emoticons (Red Hen, 2022) as well as A Brilliant Novel in the Works. His stories and essays have been published in Catapult, Narrative Magazine, Carve Magazine, Rosebud, The Los Angeles Review, and others. Yuvi received an MFA from Antioch University. He uses his poor drawing skills to make YouTube videos and mobile apps that ooze with his worries and anxiety.
I think it would be interesting to be at one of your readings, Yuvi. Are you coming to my coast, or sticking on the west?
I’ve never seen a reading I’d call innovative, but I’ve always been surprised by the number of questions I’ll receive about the writing life. I think there are a lot of closet writers out there; you may be surprised too.
As for advice on handling the critics? Don’t go to GoodReads and read your reviews — or at least not without that bottle in your hand. It’s often a blood bath.
Sending you the best of vibes as you head into Debut Week! You know I loved your novel.
Therese — I’m only doing a small west coast tour. Would have loved to hit a few east towns, but…
I’m actually excited about the Q&A part of things. I’m so curious what people will want to know more about.
Thank you, Therese!
Great animation, and I like your idea of using video at readings. I certainly enjoyed this one. If I were still living on the west coast, I’d love to attend one of your readings. Any plans for an east coast tour?
About handling critics…I tell myself, “Screw ’em. They missed the point. They evidently got one of the misprints that had several hundred of the good pages missing. My copy was excellent!”
And then, multiple boiler makers. Multiple.
I like the idea of shaking things up à la using vids at readings.
I read the review – it did have a fairly balloon-pricking feel too it (bordering on personal)- but remember, bad press is good press. Considering that you’re using a Seinfeld pastiche, in one sense, the review could prop what you’re doing! You could run with it, reviewing the review and use it from a ‘see Yuvi fail’ angle.
Thx for sharing, good luck!
Thanks for the feedback, Bree. And nice sleuthing work to dig up the review :) I went back and forth as to whether to specifically name the review but then left it anonymous in the end.
Yuvi, I’ve been to two (successful) author talks recently, both at Cornell, not only to listen to the authors but to watch how the authors relate to the audience. They were interesting experiences on a number of levels.
You are a brave person to want to incorporate video into your readings. The video can add so much stress, things to go wrong. For you, though, I think it makes perfect sense. In the case of the authors I listened to, they used slide presentations (probably PowerPoint) as the major part of their talks. Sometimes things did go wrong, you know, little glitches, but the audience was understanding. So I think you shouldn’t worry. Go for it. And if someone doesn’t understand your book, it’s because they don’t want to. It’s their loss, not yours. Keep at it. Everything will be fine.
[…] fan of Yuvi Zalkow’s (@yuvizalkow) monthly video posts on Writer Unboxed. This month’s Notes from the (Failure) Field isn’t one of his funnier ones but does contain a couple of gems. First, he describes and […]
I like your site! A great resource when wanting to narrow down all the writer’s blogs and websites and see what’s worth reading that I may have overlooked.
I’ll see if I can come to one of your book readings, Yuvi, since I live near you (I think) in Alameda.
Good luck with that.
Patti
I feel sorry for that person who felt the need to share her very shitty review. Needless to say, she is a humorless woman with very few friends and certainly no stuffed animals who do shots of bourbon.
Also needless to say, I was thrilled to arrive home from Montana last night to the package of YOUR BOOK. Reading it tonight will be my treat for getting through the day. And, I see that you will be at Elliott Bay Books on Wednesday. I am supposed to be at a concert at the zoo on Wednesday (Pink Martini; you may know of them?), but I think that zoo concerts end earlier than non-zoo concerts. I will do my best to be there, Yuvi!
The third needless thing I’d like to add is this: you have blurbs from Cheryl and Gary. And that friendless, humorless bitter reviewer does not.
I love the idea of adding animation to your readings — I wish I lived on the West Coast! Great video, and I’m glad both you and the anteater survived that rotten, no-good, blasted review. Bah!
Get someone to read with you. Have a friend or local actor or writer read parts of your story or take a part in your dialogue (always the weakest point of any fiction reading). No need for video. Your excerpt should be vivid enough by itself.