Rumman ChowdhuryJan 4, 2023

Since being laid off from Twitter, a lot of folks have suggested I write a book. It makes sense given my career and experiences, not just Twitter, but in applied responsible AI.

What they don’t know is I’ve been fiddling with a proposal for years and have backed off from four different agencies because of the deeply ingrained stereotypes that exist of what books are expected of someone like me 1/

Show threadRumman ChowdhuryJan 4, 2023

First, what is “someone like me”? Hyper educated, liberal, woman, minority, child of immigrants, worked in tech, held a management position.

Let’s break down the feedback I hear. First, it’s “accessibility” - people love smart women as long as they don’t sound smart. People love minorities in power as long as we don’t sound too authoritative.

I get feedback that introducing new concepts and using words like “sociotechnical” is not accessible if I’m not writing an academic book (I’m not) 2/

Show threadRumman Chowdhury

I make it clear in my proposal that the book I’ll spend my time on is more akin to the impact of Kahneman or Gladwell or Dawkins or Harari (even if I don’t nec like all of them as humans). This is where the “hyper educated” part becomes a liability. I don’t have it in me to write a cute pop tech book.

I guarantee you if people don’t understand a word in their proposals they assume the problem isn’t the author.
3/

Jan 4, 2023 at 1:49pmMetatext
Show threadRumman ChowdhuryJan 4, 2023

Next is “not enough of me.” I understand that I am old and boring and don’t have a constant need to share my lived experience as evidence.

I also notice a trend of trauma voyeurism where women and POC are expected to lay their worst experiences bare for public consumption and evaluation. No fucking thank you.

Of course, where I worked and what I did is interesting as an anecdote or demonstration of first hand expertise. But that’s not what they want is it?
4/

Show threadRumman ChowdhuryJan 4, 2023
In all of these experiences (four totally different agencies, some of which directly support WOC authors) I have backed off because I notice the same harmful stereotypes of women and POC that I don’t want to be a part of:
- be smart but not too smart.
- don’t be too authoritative, it intimidates others.
- the phoenix from the ashes story, because minorities and especially women are only great if some major trauma happens to them first 5/
Show threadRumman ChowdhuryJan 4, 2023
- you aren’t a human being, you’re an object for consumption and evaluation
- your degrees and achievements matter for DEI optics but don’t lend you real authority 6/
Show threadRumman ChowdhuryJan 4, 2023
I struggled with this a lot, and this is why I’m sharing my feelings. There’s nothing wrong with writing a pop culture book on tech or business management, or an academic book; it’s just sad that those of us who don’t want to are pressured out of the boys club and redirected to the more “acceptable” outlets. /end
Show threadCatherine D'Ignazio (she/ella)Jan 4, 2023
@ruchowdh I would love to read a book by you.
Show threadRumman ChowdhuryJan 4, 2023
@kanarinka that means a lot coming from you!
Show threadVirginia HeffernanJan 4, 2023
@ruchowdh Seriously, this thread sounds like the perfect preface to the book. I'd read and buy for friends.
Show threadVirginia HeffernanJan 4, 2023
@ruchowdh just write the truth and you’re way way way way better than Harari Gladwell et al so no need for those comps!
Show threadAlice ThwaiteJan 4, 2023
@ruchowdh there are different details, but I experienced something similar and would be so up for bitching about it with you.
Show threadDanaBlankenhornJan 4, 2023

@ruchowdh My suggestion, for what it's wroth, is that you write the book you want to write and consider finding an ally in the business who will help you self-publish, rather than seeking a "publisher."

Killing trees is so 20th century. You have a singular vision. Why not a singular business model?

Show threadPamela MerrittJan 4, 2023

@ruchowdh I self-publish because of similar issues. The form to fill out includes media appearances and celebrity connections.

They make the narrative. Shackled to spreadsheet thinking.

Show threadTarleton GillespieJan 4, 2023
@ruchowdh Like many others, I want to read this book, the one you want to write. It does feel like the major trade press have a narrow idea of what makes "tech" books sell. I think there are some "academic" publishers who want crossovers (I had good interactions with Yale), they wouldn't push back in the ways you described. Or... find the trade press that's published books you admire, nod and smile when they give this "advice," sign the contract, then write the book exactly as you intend.
Show threadRumman ChowdhuryJan 4, 2023
@tarleton does that last piece of advice work? I worry that if I do the smile and nod (im very good at it 🙂) they’ll just not put the promotion and effort behind the book. So much of having a book read is simply publisher support
Show threadJeff JarvisJan 4, 2023
@ruchowdh @tarleton
I have very limited experience. I published two trade books. My next book is an academic/trade crossover coming out in June (The Gutenberg Parenthesis) and I've been quite happy thus far with my interactions (through editing, cover; first marketing meeting in a week).
I just signed for a next book with a trade publishers, Basic, which seems interested in books that cross trade & academic.
I, too, want to read the book you want to write.
Show threadRenee DiRestaJan 4, 2023
@tarleton @jeffjarvis @ruchowdh I got all this feedback too, including “make it a memoir”. Best rejection: “She is a character in [redacted]’s book and we are working with him.” My agent is an extremely direct woman who would say point blank “I don’t know what this means” and make me rewrite it. It was a challenging but ultimately useful experience. A very anecdote-heavy proposal was what did it.
Show threadRenee DiRestaJan 4, 2023
@ruchowdh @jeffjarvis @tarleton I have ultimately put a lot more of my own work and personal experiences into mine and I while I define some complex terms, a lot of the weedy academic stuff gets relegated to footnotes following editor feedback. I also hired a journo to help improve my drafts from a storytelling standpoint. It is a very long and frustrating process.
Show thread(((Cindy Weinstein)))Jan 4, 2023
@tarleton @ruchowdh. #JohnsHopkinsUP is also quite receptive to crossovers.
Show threadEstelle Smith 🌟Jan 4, 2023
@ruchowdh I really appreciate & admire your points about not being defined by trauma. I also have a question. I’m not a POC, but as a woman, my life has been deeply impacted by sexism, assault & the fallout (PTSD, etc.). I honestly cannot explain my personal story w/o it & my research story did arise from my personal story even though the research stands on its own. It shouldn’t be required to conform to expected narratives-but how do you even begin to separate yourself from it?
Show threadRumman ChowdhuryJan 4, 2023
@estellesmith I think that’s fine if you’re comfortable with it. I think a good blueprint would be how indigenous scientists write about their scientific work as it relates to their community’s trauma.
Show threadShannonJan 4, 2023
@ruchowdh Self-publish. You’ll do fine with it as you have all those credentials.
Show threadspankministerJan 4, 2023
@ruchowdh FWIW, I just don't read those books because I'd rather read a book by a domain expert that slightly confuses me, than an easily digested pat simplification from someone who parachuted into someone else's discipline for a year as "research."
Show threadRumman ChowdhuryJan 4, 2023
@spankminister honestly same. I want to learn.
Show threadDogaJan 4, 2023
@ruchowdh this is indeed very frustrating.
Show threadChris RileyJan 4, 2023

@ruchowdh I'm sure this is already on your radar screen, and I also risk projecting here, but... if I were to write a book, I'd first talk to David Weinberger and the MIT Strong Ideas series: https://mitpress.mit.edu/search-result-list/?series=strong-ideas

I love what they're trying to do with substance, and I feel like you could write an amazing book within that format/setup, as long as hybrid open access is OK and you're not counting on much income from the book necessarily. Might be worth a chat with David at least.

Search Result List

MIT Press - Search Result List

MIT Press
Show threadchris martensJan 4, 2023
@ruchowdh not surprising but deeply frustrating that that's been your proposal experience. have you explored the self publishing route?
(i'm asking from a place of "i might want to follow in similar footsteps to you someday")
Show threadJoanna Bryson, blatheringJan 4, 2023
@ruchowdh Personally I'm writing the book I want to write, then worrying about the outlet, though I have a few leads, I'll DM you something on LI
Show threadTylerJWhitJan 4, 2023

@ruchowdh could you do a Kickstarter?

Publish it as an epub to lower costs of distribution?

Show threadShannon ClarkJan 4, 2023

@ruchowdh I’m going to disagree with the suggestions to self publish. Perhaps as a backup plan if you can’t sell the book but given what you describe and the reactions on this thread I would hope you can find the right agent/publisher.

4 agents/agencies you decided not to work with may seem like a lot of no’s but sounds like the decisions to not work with them was largely yours - which is, ironically perhaps, a really good sign for you - many writers I know struggle to even get an agent’s time

Show threadShannon ClarkJan 4, 2023

@ruchowdh it sounds to me that you just haven’t, yet, found the right agent (or publisher directly) for the type of book you want to write.

I’d suggest talking with authors you know especially who have written the type of non-fiction book you want (sounds like narrative non-fiction not popular tech or academic nonfiction) about their agents and their publishers. And while a good agent is great if you can talk directly to publishers/editors do that as well.

Show threadxiaoweiJan 4, 2023
@ruchowdh I would also love to read your book!!! Please write it!! 🙏
Show threadkeeps vis.social runningJan 5, 2023

@ruchowdh wow, everything you're saying in this thread resonates with me so much. in so many ways. Especially about the 'be smart but not too smart"

I would love to read a book from you. And if i enjoyed it, I'd buy multiple copies and give them to friends.

Show threadQuadrapop 🎨 🐈‍🐓🌱🇦🇺Jan 4, 2023
@ruchowdh like many of those replying here I agree on the self publishing. I would like to suggest a self funding model like Patreon to both help fund and build a community while you write.
Show threadRebecca HedreenJan 4, 2023
@ruchowdh As an academic librarian, I recognize the value of "telling the story" to show our students that lots of people can do all the things - and we do buy those books. But we primarily need to buy books that explain the content, ideally in ways that aren't the same as the way the textbooks describe it. I find that "inspiration porn" (I love your use of "voyeurism") tends to get relegated to "books for other people" not "books about X". I would buy the book you describe!
Show threadmaiamaiaFeb 4, 2023
@ruchowdh I thought gladwell was pop? But I think The Complete Review is a good guide lol