Seanan McGuire (seanan_mcguire) wrote,
Seanan McGuire
seanan_mcguire
  • Mood: aggravated
  • Music: Five Finger Death Punch, "Far From Home."

In which Seanan is briefly thoughtful about awards.

This morning, I awoke to find the annual award season argument raging on my Twitter. It's a familiar dance (we dance it every year), and it goes like this:

PERSON #1: "Here are my eligible works!"
PERSON #2: "That's crass and inappropriate!"
PERSON #1: "But...how else am I supposed to make sure people know what's actually eligible?"
PERSON #2: "SILENT HATEFUL MAGIC."

(I always get Ursula from The Little Mermaid in my head right about now. "You'll have your looks! Your pretty face! And don't underestimate the importance of body language...")

This was followed by the second loop of the award argument:

PERSON #2: "I will never ever ever ever vote for or nominate someone who announces they're eligible."
PERSON #1: "But...that just penalizes the people you know about."
PERSON #2: "I KNOW ALL THINGS."
PERSON #1: "What about conversations in bars? Isn't it better to be upfront and public?"
PERSON #2: "ALL THINGS."

Cue the Sea Witch.

So here, then, is the big conundrum of authors during award season: If we say "I am eligible, and here is what I am eligible for," we get people complaining about crass, inappropriate self-promotion, no matter how gently we word it. If we say nothing at all, we get people complaining about how we didn't remind them about our eligibility, with a side order of "why didn't you make sure I knew nominations were open in the first place." In short, we cannot win for losing. So which option causes more unhappiness? Which option is more problematic, in the long run?

In this case, I'm going to say...silence. Because here's the thing: the only way a zero promotion model works is if there is genuinely zero promotion. If one person with a lot of friends makes an off-hand comment in a bar, that can change everything, especially with as narrow a margin as most fannish awards tend to have—and yes, that includes the Hugos and the Nebulas. Since zero promotion is impossible to enforce, the best option is for everyone who cares about the horses they have in the race to say, publicly, politely, and without hiding behind the veil of anonymity, "I am eligible for these things, in these categories, thank you for considering me, please remember to consider all the worthy works from this past year."

I have horses in this year's race. So do an enormous number of my friends, and an enormous number of authors and creators who are not friends of mine, but whose work I respect and admire. And I genuinely want to see the ballot reflect what we, as a community, think, not what I think, or what Bob thinks, or what Bob's fifty friends who he took out for drinks last Friday night might think. I want us to be global, and that means sometimes, creators will need to open their mouths and say "I am eligible." There's no shame in that. Saying it every day for a month, on the other hand, will get me slapping you in the back of the head with a tentacle.

Just saying.
Tags: awards and stuff, cranky blonde is cranky
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sheistheweather

January 4 2012, 17:07:47 UTC 5 years ago

Hear hear!

I don't understand people who react as if you did something wrong.

dulcinbradbury

January 4 2012, 17:11:48 UTC 5 years ago

Personally, I've always seen it as a nice year end review, rather than shilling for nominations.

seanan_mcguire

January 4 2012, 17:13:42 UTC 5 years ago

That's how I tend to think of it. I mean, I don't expect everyone to rush out and nominate ALL THE THINGS just because I say they exist. But it might mean you get to find something you missed before, and it might mean you remember to do your nominations, even if I'm not among them.

ironed_orchid

5 years ago

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beable

January 4 2012, 17:14:40 UTC 5 years ago


I, for one, really appreciate when authors (or other creators, award depending) post a "these are the things I am eligible for" sort of list, because I can greatly enjoy a book but the likelihood that I'll remember when it was published or what the eligibility window is for any given award is much smaller.

The kind of self-promotion that does make me twitch is the vote-requesting type ( where the creator exhorts their readers to "please go vote for my stuff because you know me and we're fwendz", and worse does it many many times) but I have NEVER seen you do that kind of post.




vixyish

January 4 2012, 17:20:03 UTC 5 years ago

Yeah... I don't mind that kind of vote-requesting when it's a silly thing like a poll of "WHO WOULD WIN IN A MUD-WRESTLING MATCH: HARRY DRESDEN OR HERCULE POIROT?" because that's not a poll meant to reflect the community's serious opinions of the quality of works.

(PS: Sherlock Holmes would kick both their asses.)

ladymondegreen

5 years ago

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dornbeast

5 years ago

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notalwaysweak

5 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

5 years ago

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notalwaysweak

5 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

5 years ago

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notalwaysweak

5 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

5 years ago

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notalwaysweak

5 years ago

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priscellie

5 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

5 years ago

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argonel

5 years ago

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lauowolf

5 years ago

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dornbeast

5 years ago

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kyrielle

5 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

January 4 2012, 17:47:58 UTC 5 years ago

Word.

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seanan_mcguire

January 4 2012, 17:48:10 UTC 5 years ago

Exactly.

alicebentley

January 4 2012, 17:17:27 UTC 5 years ago

I am very grateful for the "this is eligible" posts from authors.
Even when it was my full-time job to keep track of what was coming out over the course of the year I don't think I managed more than about 80% coverage.
These days I struggle to get the time to read even a single book or a handful of short stories, so the notice is even more appreciated.

I'm surprised to not find a wiki or googledoc or something that compiles these. At least, a cursory search didn't turn one up.

Anyway, thank you for your list - I believe the very minor self-promotion squick is vastly overwhelmed by the "useful service to the community" it represents.

seanan_mcguire

January 4 2012, 17:51:42 UTC 5 years ago

Very welcome, and thank you for your thoughts.

priscellie

January 4 2012, 17:22:10 UTC 5 years ago

If you said "VOTE FOR ME OR I WILL UNLEASH PLAGUEFUL DOOM UPON YOU ALL," that might be inappropriate. Simply saying, "I wrote these things. They are eligible for niftiness. Here's how to become a voter, if you so desire," is a polite way of ensuring an informed voting populace. I'm sure there are tons of books that came out early in the year that people may forget are eligible, and I'm sure there are tons of people who don't understand how the voting system works. I can't see a zero promotion working. Whenever voting is involved, education is essential.

jennygriffee

January 4 2012, 17:35:44 UTC 5 years ago

I'm sure there are tons of people who don't understand how the voting system works

Come awards season, when lots of authors are posting about this kind of thing, that's what can get a little weird -- it's like a blend of being exhorted toward People's Choice-type awards and seeing behind the curtain on For Your Consideration Oscar campaigns. ;) It does help to know what's what, since I'm sure a lot of us would like to pitch in where we can.

seanan_mcguire

5 years ago

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adelheid_p

January 4 2012, 17:25:19 UTC 5 years ago

I appreciate the "Here is a list of my nomination eligible works" posts from the authors I follow because if I read a work and found it worth nominating, I'd like to be reminded that I haven't missed the boat (so I don't kick myself about it later) and it answers questions I might have about whether a work is eligible. Now if they post it or point at the post frequently then that would move over in to the annoying self-promotion column in my book. I also allow that a once in a while before the deadline is passed reminder would be okay with me, too. ('Cause, I might have gotten distracted and not done it when I meant to.)

seanan_mcguire

January 4 2012, 17:54:12 UTC 5 years ago

Totally my position.

reedrover

January 4 2012, 17:40:21 UTC 5 years ago

Thanks for the thinky post. It makes me want to go back through my 2011 reading list and figure out what goes where.

NOT SO MUCH thanks for the ear worm. I really did NOT need to know that I have that song memorized. Really...

seanan_mcguire

January 4 2012, 17:54:25 UTC 5 years ago

You're welcome!

mneme

January 4 2012, 17:44:12 UTC 5 years ago

*sigh*

The sensible approach (from both sides) is "have some class."

We know if you're only here to promote yourself (you're obviously not) vs genuinely engaging.

Similarly, there's an obvious distinction between "here is my self-proclaimed best work, everyone should vote for it!" and "here is what I wrote last year and here are the awards; if you think something's worthy of an award, I'd like it if you voted for it."

On the reader/voter side, vote genuinely (and for the serious awards, try to judge everything in the category before you vote), and don't spam-promote or castigate an author for sensibly promoting him or herself.

seanan_mcguire

January 4 2012, 17:54:43 UTC 5 years ago

Very good points, well-said.

blythe025

January 4 2012, 17:44:23 UTC 5 years ago

Well said. The reasons behind the "I am eligible" totally make sense. :)

seanan_mcguire

January 4 2012, 17:54:55 UTC 5 years ago

Thank you.

This is Beth Agreeing, Verbosely

archangelbeth

January 4 2012, 17:55:54 UTC 5 years ago

I figure, if someone doesn't want an author mentioning what they're eligible for, then that someone can just not follow the author's twitter, journal/blog, or whatever else the author generates. It's part of the author's job to promote their works (don't take my word for it; look at the various agent, or occasionally editor, blogs that say as much!), and trying to punish an author for doing their job will result in NO MORE BOOKS.

And that would be BAD.

So I'm all for self-promotion in whatever dose the author wishes to provide. Though, preferably, stylish self-promotion; I will probably object if someone uses flashy-sparkle text to do it. But hey, I can stop reading that blog if there's too much flashysparkle, y'know?

archangelbeth

January 4 2012, 18:06:31 UTC 5 years ago

(And then I have the fanfic version of Disney's Little Mermaid, where SeananAriel goes, "My... my voice?" And then promptly goes, "NEVER!" and bashes the Sea Witch over the head with her own cauldron so that she goes reeling around the room as a cauldron with tentacles sticking out. With SeananAriel sitting on top and banging it with her tail while working on brewing up a suitable octopus-affecting plague from random ingredients grabbed from the shelves when the cauldron-conveyence passed by.)

seanan_mcguire

5 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

5 years ago

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tikiera

January 4 2012, 17:55:56 UTC 5 years ago

Some of us have to time sense. Absolutely no actual time sense.

I have been informed by a friend that something I would been willing to bet a lot on happening last year happened this summer.

My ability to figure out what someone would be eligible for would be nonexistent. And I know I am not the only one who has this kind of problem, I have met others like me.

lauowolf

January 4 2012, 21:39:14 UTC 5 years ago

Absolutely.
A list like this is a comfort, convenience, and generally a polite kind thing to offer the temporally-challenged.

seanan_mcguire

5 years ago

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aliciaaudrey

January 4 2012, 17:58:55 UTC 5 years ago

This yearly nonsense always reminds me of the perennially overworked Team Member who never gets any credit for her contributions because Jim Bob With A Big Mouth is busy promoting all his contributions to everybody who matters and she's (because in my experience this is almost never a he, though I'm told it happens) is sitting on the sidelines fuming waiting for someone to realize everything she did and reward her appropriately.

In a fair and just world, that would happen, but we don't live in a fair and just world, so generally speaking she gets stepped on.

There is nothing wrong with politely pointing out the work you've done in the past year that's eligible and making your argument for why it should be seriously considered in the framework you just outlined. As my father likes to put it, "No ask, no get. If could read minds, would be billionaire. Am not billionaire. Therefore cannot read minds, so ask nicely."

This seems sensible. I try to live by it. This occasionally gets me called assertive in tones that indicate it's meant as an insult, to which I go, "Nyaaah" and don't lose sleep.

janetmiles

January 4 2012, 18:12:19 UTC 5 years ago

As my father likes to put it, "No ask, no get. If could read minds, would be billionaire. Am not billionaire. Therefore cannot read minds, so ask nicely."

Your father is Zathras? :-) Seriously, though, can I add that to my quote file? It's a wonderful statement.

Also, Seanan, I think your degree and format of self-promotion falls squarely into the "appropriate" category.

aliciaaudrey

5 years ago

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janetmiles

5 years ago

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aliciaaudrey

5 years ago

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dornbeast

5 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

5 years ago

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jenjen4280

January 4 2012, 17:59:10 UTC 5 years ago

I see nothing wrong with self-promotion. It's your blog. How else is an author supposed to get the word out if not on her own blog? And where else is more appropriate? I mean, crass would be renting one of those airplanes that you see at the beaches on the East Coast that drag advertisements banners saying vote for Seanan/Mira. Okay, nevermind. That would actually be kind of cool. Maybe crass is more like a Super Bowl ad.

I'm just bummed out that I'm not eligible to vote for anything (not a Worldcon member, etc.).

adelheid_p

January 4 2012, 18:05:22 UTC 5 years ago

You can become a supporting member of Worldcon for $50 which allows you to nominate/vote for Hugo Awards.

jenjen4280

5 years ago

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mrs_norris_mous

5 years ago

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beable

5 years ago

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jenjen4280

5 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

5 years ago

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My take

maverick_weirdo

January 4 2012, 18:07:31 UTC 5 years ago Edited:  January 4 2012, 18:13:16 UTC

This year for the first time I bought my Worldcon membership early enough to nominate. However I was not able to read All The Books published last year already. I now have just under 3 months to round out my reading so that I can make informed nominations.

As such I appreciate people posting "this is eligible". Yesterday after checking some favorite author, publisher, & fan sites I had a list I took to the library to see what they had, or could get through inter-library loan.

So for me "this is eligible" posts are necessary. Thank you for yours.

seanan_mcguire

January 5 2012, 16:11:54 UTC 5 years ago

You're very welcome.

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seanan_mcguire

January 5 2012, 16:12:09 UTC 5 years ago

It's useful in that sense, too!

taldragon

January 4 2012, 18:23:09 UTC 5 years ago

i was very glad for your "look what i wrote that is eligible" post because now i know what to add to my Amazon wish list :)

that aside, 'look what i wrote!' is part of your job as an author - if you dont publicise your work, esp here in your blog, people might not realise it exists. and book sales = happy Seanan :)

er. i might be rambling.

seanan_mcguire

January 5 2012, 16:12:22 UTC 5 years ago

Rambling is always allowed. :)

cbpotts

January 4 2012, 18:30:45 UTC 5 years ago

Being a non-voting type of person, I use these "Here are cool things I wrote that I'm eligible for" posts that people make as an efficient way to populate my to-buy and wish lists.

As for mentioning your work being ill mannered or whatnot - I think you can tell people like that to kiss your crass... awards help sell books, and selling books pays bills, and I reckon you've got just as many bills as the rest of us.

seanan_mcguire

January 5 2012, 16:12:48 UTC 5 years ago

Thanks to the cats, I occasionally get extra bills to make sure I don't get sad.

argonel

January 4 2012, 18:40:28 UTC 5 years ago

The only time no promotion works is for awards for the least popular foo of the year. I would not wish that award on anyone and it would probably be easier to judge based on raw sales rather than a vote. As someone else said "you can't monetize obscurity " being able to tastefully promote your books is a small talent of becoming a successful author.

seanan_mcguire

January 5 2012, 16:13:01 UTC 5 years ago

Bingo.

mrs_norris_mous

January 4 2012, 18:47:13 UTC 5 years ago

So given that you have so many eligible items I have created a few doodles so those who can nominate can coordinate if they wish to so that we don't all nominate different works and none have a chance of being on the list. Please ignore this if you find it distasteful :)

Best Novel:
http://www.doodle.com/3xav2v6tgw9bp7cu

Best Short Story.
http://www.doodle.com/pe667ggxzq4wtfa7

seanan_mcguire

January 9 2012, 16:07:31 UTC 5 years ago

Lovely!

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la_marquise_de_

January 4 2012, 19:35:39 UTC 5 years ago

There are, of course, also those of us who are happy that others promote but feel awkward doing it ourselves. It's partly a personality thing and partly a cultural one. I'm British. Self-promotion makes me very, very uncomfortable if I do it. (I'm fine with others promoting themselves. It's just not something that comes naturally to me.) Is that being a snowflake? I don't know. I think that Seanan's a lot braver than me.

seanan_mcguire

5 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

5 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

January 9 2012, 16:08:53 UTC 5 years ago

Me, too! I never remember to make my post until someone else makes theirs.

la_marquise_de_

January 4 2012, 19:27:37 UTC 5 years ago

I absolutely support the right of most writers to mention their eligible works if they want to. (I'm not sure it's a good idea for every writer, however -- if you've only ever sold one story, it might be worth waiting a bit, if only not to risk looking a bit foolish.) For myself, though, I don't do it. Not because I disapprove, but simply because I am not personally comfortable with doing it. I'm not a 'name', I'm not well known, and I don't enjoy talking about my writing in that sort of way. All of which is my problem, and no-one else's. (Plus I'm convinced someone would immediately point and say 'Who does *she* think she is?', but then I'm not famous for my confidence, either.)
My happy medium is mentioning the things by others that I really liked and that are eligible.

seanan_mcguire

January 9 2012, 16:09:39 UTC 5 years ago

I absolutely don't think it's a requirement. I just feel that unless we can stop all promotion of any kind, anywhere, we can't say "no, never say it out loud." It doesn't prevent anything, just drives it out of sight and makes it dirty.

kaleidors

January 4 2012, 20:43:08 UTC 5 years ago

Guilty confession? I sometimes don't like the businessy posts like "vote for me" because it reminds me that my relationship with authors/artists is less friendship, more business. Social media feeds into the fantasy that I can be friends with people I admire easily because I can find them, friend them, and occasionally get a reply. But I want my author/artist "friends" to thrive, and I appreciate the information that they so easily provide, so I ruthlessly crush my more selfish-inner-3-year-old feelings and get down to business.

seanan_mcguire

January 9 2012, 16:10:43 UTC 5 years ago

Oh, trust me, we do this to our mothers, not just our friends. :) Kate endures endless dinners with my going "have you voted for the Hugos yet? How about now? Now? What about now?" So it can be a fantasy booster, not a fantasy eroder, really.
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