How to Sign Your Name 150,000 Times

2020-10-20 · letter vlog · John · 4:00 · watch on YouTube

Topic: Books & writing (also: Philosophy & meaning) · mode: Personal essay · tags: self promotion

In a second-person guide to signing 150,000 sheets for The Anthropocene Reviewed, John covers the 300 hours and the physical technique, then what the mind does: gratitude for readers' attention, doubts about publicity and commodification, a childhood memory of being refused an autograph, and the flow state on the other side of monotony.

What is said

The parts of the video and what is said in each (★ — how much it matters to the video).

00:00:00 — How long signing 150,000 sheets takes and how to keep the hand from cramping

★★ John says signing takes a while: rushing, maybe 700 sheets an hour, but counting sorting, collecting paper and changing pens, about two hours per thousand, so 300 hours. — 00:00:00 · The Anthropocene Reviewed (book)
★★ John's technique: hold the marker loosely (the Sharpie does the work), relax shoulder and neck, and occasionally draw a spiral or write DFTBA to vary the motion and avoid cramping. — 00:00:24 · Sharpie, DFTBA
★★ John says the real question is not what the hand does for 300 hours but what the mind does. — 00:00:47

00:00:53 — What to think about: audiobooks, thanks for readers' attention, luck, publicity stunt or enjoyment

★★ John recalls that in 2011, signing the first printing of The Fault in Our Stars, he listened to Moby Dick. — 00:00:53 · The Fault in Our Stars
★ John says he is now enjoying Hilary Mantel's trilogy about Thomas Cromwell while he signs. — 00:00:53
★★★ John says signing is a way of thanking readers, for buying the book but also for their attention, the hours they will give his work. — 00:01:10 · The Anthropocene Reviewed (book)
★★ John reminds himself he is absurdly, ridiculously lucky to have this many sheets to sign. — 00:01:25
★★ John wonders whether all the signing is just a publicity stunt: where is the line between sharing your work and commodifying yourself or your audience? (unsure) — 00:01:25
★★ John thinks maybe he signs simply because he enjoys it, or something about it. (hedged) — 00:01:25

00:01:54 — The 1987 Florida Young Writers Conference: denied an autograph at nine, and why he signs now

★★★ John recalls winning a writing contest at nine to attend the 1987 Florida Young Writers Conference, where a famous author he loved refused his worn paperbacks, signing only new hardcovers he couldn't afford; he felt horrible. — 00:01:54
★★ John now understands the author probably wasn't as wealthy as he imagined and faced pressure to sell new books, but says it's still not that hard to sign your name. (hedged) — 00:02:24
★★ John says it is probably no coincidence that his first memory of authors was not getting an autograph, and now he signs his name a lot. (hedged) — 00:02:24

00:02:53 — Imperfect signatures, boxes left, and the flow state on the other side of monotony

★★ John says that at least signing is a small thing that may brighten some people’s days. (hedged) — 00:02:53
★ John sometimes thinks about the little imperfections in his signature he can't get rid of, and how many sheets and boxes are left. — 00:02:53
★★★ John says mostly he won't think at all: on the other side of monotony lies a flow state, just being, a present tense that feels present, like driving alone at night or getting lost in a story. — 00:03:20

“On the other side of monotony lies a flow state”

In the description and comments

★★ The description says The Anthropocene Reviewed book comes out on May 18th and every copy of the first printing will be signed. — video description · The Anthropocene Reviewed (book)

Threads in this video

progress update · John: sign about 150,000 sheets so every US and Canadian pre-order and first-printing copy of The Anthropocene Reviewed book is autographed (2020) — John says signing takes a while: rushing, maybe 700 sheets an hour, but counting sorting, collecting paper and changing pens, about two hours per thousand, so 300 hours. (00:00:00)
recalled · John: sign every copy of The Fault in Our Stars (2011) — John recalls that in 2011, signing the first printing of The Fault in Our Stars, he listened to Moby Dick. (00:00:53)
retold · Hank shows Dad's home video of eight-year-old John at the Orange County Young Authors Award (2007) — John recalls winning a writing contest at nine to attend the 1987 Florida Young Writers Conference, where a famous author he loved refused his worn paperbacks, signing only new hardcovers he couldn't afford; he felt horrible. (00:01:54)

Where the stories that moved here went next

John: sign about 150,000 sheets so every US and Canadian pre-order and first-printing copy of The Anthropocene Reviewed book is autographed (2020) — kept; last: recalled, 2022-06-21

Mentioned

Central: flow (psychology) · The Anthropocene Reviewed (book)

Also: People: famous author at the 1987 Florida Young Writers Conference · Hilary Mantel · Thomas Cromwell

Works: Moby-Dick · The Fault in Our Stars

Terms: DFTBA

Concepts: commodification

Events: Florida Young Writers Conference

Products: Sharpie

Also centred on flow (psychology): One Must Imagine Sisyphus Happy

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