Doing a reading at my University--is this a good idea?

[pepperlandgirl]

I am publishing my first novel this spring with Liquid Silver Books. If you are familiar with the name, you know two things about them--1)They are an epublisher and 2)They publish erotica romance.

I told three professors about this. The first professor I told because we were in Italy when I heard the news and he was standing right in front of me. Kinda hard to keep it a secret when I'm screaming "I'm published! I'm published!" The second prof is my writing mentor and I knew she would want to know. The third prof is a standoffish, odd man, but he supports me in his own way, and I thought he would like to know as well. As far as everybody else is concerned, I've been keeping it down low, on the QT, and very hush, hush. (Hee.) Mainly because I don't feel like I'm really published and it's hard to explain.

The third professor pulled me aside yesterday and told me he'd like to speak to the English department head and arrange for me to do a reading because apparently this is very exciting and a very big deal. He told me the department would pay me $200 and that I don't know who could show up...this could potentially be a very big deal for me. But I immediately balked, for the reasons I mentioned above. It's a romance novel with an e-publisher. Prof's response was, "So?"

He has a point. You know, the novel is well written. It's a good story. I'm not ashamed of it at all. I just feel like I should be, and that other people will somehow think less of me or something.

So in conclusion, what the heck should I do?

[maestrowork]

Hey, it's published. They pay you. It's a good book. Publicity. Why not?

(Make sure everyone in the audience is over 18 or with a parent if you're going to read something "naughty")

[Andrew Jameson]

Well, honestly, I think the first thing you should do is a little self-analysis: Why are you reluctant to do a reading? Are you afraid that it won't measure up in some way? Are you embarassed because it's a romance novel? Or because it's an epublisher? Or would you be reluctant to read any published work of your own, figuring that it's not quite up to the standards of Hemmingway or Thoreau?

And who is it that you're unwilling to read in front of? Are you afraid that the faculty will think less of you? Or other students will snicker? Or a major agent will drop by, and think, "goodness, just an epublisher"?

And then, after you do that self-analysis, what you do is you go and do the reading anyway. Because, you know what? Some of the people who attend your reading won't like your stuff, but some of them will. And why would you want to deprive the people in the latter category?

[pepperlandgirl]

Well, honestly, I think the first thing you should do is a little self-analysis: Why are you reluctant to do a reading? Are you afraid that it won't measure up in some way? Are you embarassed because it's a romance novel? Or because it's an epublisher? Or would you be reluctant to read any published work of your own, figuring that it's not quite up to the standards of Hemmingway or Thoreau?

Yes. Pretty much all those things.

And who is it that you're unwilling to read in front of? Are you afraid that the faculty will think less of you? Or other students will snicker? Or a major agent will drop by, and think, "goodness, just an epublisher"?

Yes. Pretty much all those things as well.

And then, after you do that self-analysis, what you do is you go and do the reading anyway. Because, you know what? Some of the people who attend your reading won't like your stuff, but some of them will. And why would you want to deprive the people in the latter category?

You're right.

[maestrowork]

Pepperlandgirl, there's some wisdom in the saying: "You're your worst enemy."

[Andrew Jameson]

I rather suspected you might answer "all of the above." I think it's kind of natural, in a situation like you describe, to have a sudden attack of "oh my God, I am so out of my league."

I know that's a natural feeling because I've felt the same. Not about a fiction reading (I've never done one), but other things. Giving conference presentations, I felt the exact same thing: I'm presenting in front of professionals who are going to rip me apart with a few well-placed questions, and expose my research as the sham that it is.

So I'll guarantee that you'll be nervous about this reading, because it's natural. But I'll also guarantee, 100% guarantee, that after you do this reading, you'll be glad you did it.

[Hapsburg]

That's exciting news and you'd be crazy to let that opportunity pass by. It's publicity plus 200$ plus a writng credit. I'd take it in a heartbeat.

[Jules Hall]

I'd definitely do it. Its great publicity, because you have a connection to the people there; they're _your_ university department. I've bought books in the past because they were written by authors I met once or twice at my old university, and I know others do the same thing. I'd hope you'd sell quite a few copies that way.