PostSecret Live

Frank Warren was online Wednesday, March 8, at 3:30 p.m. ET to talk about the growing popularity of his blog, PostSecret, and his recently released book, "PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives."

The transcript follows.

In November 2004, as part of an art project, Warren distributed 3,000 self-addressed postcards to the public. The cards instructed people to tell Warren a secret they'd never shared with anyone and send it back to him. Warren displayed the submissions he'd received in the art exhibit, but he kept receiving secrets -- so he created the weekly updated PostSecret blog to display more.

To date, the Maryland resident has received about 20,000 cards and continues to hold temporary exhibits of the cards. "PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives," a collection of secrets Warren has received, was released in November 2005.

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Washington, D.C.: I am sure that some of the "secrets" published by PostSecret are fictional, especially now that the project is highly visible. What do you think? If you agree, how do you think that affects the integrity of the project? Speaking only for one viewer -- myself, I need to believe that the secrets are real in order to feel satisfied. Thanks.

Frank Warren: Hi, I am Frank. This is the first time I have participated in this type of discussion so please be patient if I make some mistakes or am confused at times. And please pardon the misspelling (grin).

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Miami, Fla.: Hi, Frank -- Thanks for making PostSecret so amazing. I read it every Sunday and have sent in a card myself. I'm wondering what your favorite part of the recent exhibits has been. Is there a moment or a reaction from someone that sticks out in your mind? Something that made an impression on you?

The book is wonderful. Really, I can't thank you enough for starting this outlet and for keeping it so vibrant and available.

Frank Warren: The issue of veracity comes up often with the project.

I never select secrets to publish or post that do not feel real to me. I like to think of the secrets/postcards as works of art or literature, and as such do not view them as true or false.

Someone once e-mailed me and said, "Even if the secret is not true for the person mailing it, it might be real for dozens of others who read it."

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Washington, D.C.: Hi Frank, I really enjoy reading the updated PostSecrets on Sundays. How many postcards do you receive on average a week? Thanks.

Frank Warren: I have received a over 25,000 postcards in 14 months. I get between 100 and 200 every day.

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College Park, Md.: What was the first PostSecret you ever received?

Frank Warren: I lost one of the first postcard I remember. Two shopping lists were written on the card and the person had written in the corner, "I am struggling to deal with what I have become."

(Secretly, I think my wife threw it away, thinking it was one of our old shopping list.)

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New Market, Md.: I know a lot of these cards have really affected me or my friends -- what's been some of the most meaningful to you?

Frank Warren: Several have made a lasting impression on me.

One came on the back of a photograph of some items tucked into the corner of a bedroom mirror. It read, "I steal small things from my friends to keep memories of how much I love them."

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Germantown, Md.: Why is there stuff for a hotline on your blog?

Love the site!

Frank Warren: While I do not think that there is a direct connection between suicide and secrets, I wanted to connect the project with a charity I believed in.

Suicide has effected me personally and I actually volunteer on that hotline, so I know the good work they do.

Maybe suicide is America's secret. Twice as many people kill themselves than are killed by others -- but you would never know that by watching the nightly news.

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College Park, Md.: I've seen the All-American Rejects video and thought it was awesome. How did they get the idea? Did they contact you? Are they fans of the site?

Frank Warren: The producer of the video contacted me and offered $1,000 to use the PostSecret images in the video. I suggested that they instead make a $2,000 donation to 1-800-SUICIDE. They did, and I provided them with 100 images for the video.

Four weeks ago, I believe "Dirty Little Secret" was the most downloaded song on the Internet.

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Arlington, Va.: Why did you start doing PostSecret? Like, I know it was an art project, but what made you think of it?

Frank Warren: I don't know why I started it.

Maybe it was because growing up my family kept things from me and that always stayed with me.

Maybe it was driven by secrets in my own life that were pushing for reconciliation below my own awareness.

Maybe I just wanted so see if others had a rich interior life like I knew I had.

I think all of these were motives, but I am also sure I really don't know. After all, I have no artistic background or experience. I feel like an "accidental artist," like this project found me.

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Washington, D.C.: How big has your book been?

Frank Warren: The book is doing very well. First, I consider it an artistic success, which was important for me because I feel like I am representing everyone who trusted me with their secrets.

Second, it is on the New York Times extended Best-Seller List -- so commercially it is doing well, too. So I might be sharing more secrets in book form.

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College Park, Md.: I went to the exhibit in Baltimore last month and thought it was great. How many exhibits have you done, and where? Are you gonna do another one soon?

Frank Warren: I have done four exhibits and am looking to do more.

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Washington, D.C.: Your mailman (or mailwoman) must loooove you!

Frank Warren: My mailwoman loves the project but there are people at the post office who hate me (grin).

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College Park, Md.: Have you ever spoken or met with anyone who has sent a postcard to you?

Frank Warren: At exhibits and signings, people who have mailed in secrets do come up and introduce themselves. I also hear from people who tell me about how other people's secrets have changed them.

My next book signing in the area will be at the Vienna Borders this Tuesday.

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Falls Church, Va.: The book is great -- did you decide to do it because we've wanted to see more of the cards, or did someone approach you with the idea?

Frank Warren: Early on, the blog received a lot of attention online. I was contacted by both literary agents and publishers about a book.

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Pittsburgh, Pa.: I just want to commend you on this project. I absolutely LOVE it. I am still haunted by one of the first ones I read: "Everyone who knew me before Sept. 11 thinks I'm dead." Wow.

Frank Warren: Thank you. I often feel guilty because I receive praise for the project, but it is really the poignant and powerful voices speaking through the postcards that are so extraordinary.

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Arlington, Va.: At the exhibit, I was struck by the fact that you don't use a P.O. box. Have you had any issues with having your street address released to the world?

Frank Warren: My home address is on the book and on the Web site. I feel that people are taking a risk by mailing me their secrets, so I wanted to take that first vulnerable step by sharing my home address. I feel like I have a relationship of trust with these strangers. And that trust has never been violated.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Have you ever received international cards?

Frank Warren: Every day.

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Arlington, Va.: I saw your exhibit in Georgetown and found it thought-provoking. Is the artwork on the postcards all done by the senders, or do you add it?

Frank Warren: The artwork you see on the cards at exhibits is exactly as it appears when they arrive in my mailbox. Of course, for the Web site and the book, I sometimes have to edit out identifying information or crop out a company logo. This happens maybe 2 percent of the time.

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Washington, D.C.: Are there any particular secrets that seem to come up over and over again as you read through the cards?

Frank Warren: The all-time most common secret is, "I pee in the shower."

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Reston, Va.: Thank you for your art -- there is a secret this week that could have come from me. It finally gave words to a wordless fear of dying I have felt all my life.

I may be able to get the answer to this from the blog, but can't access the blog right now. Is there a mailing list or anything that I can receive updates about book signings and exhibits? I would have loved to gone to the exhibit if I had known about it.

Frank Warren: I try to post all forthcoming exhibits and signings on the Web site, http://www.postsecret.blogspot.com/.

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Baltimore, Md.: Thank you so much for your site. There is a genuine pathos there that really connects with me. My son reads your site each week, too and we've talked about many of the cards. I have one that is ready to go and I'm going to send it out any day. It falls into the more comedic category though and I think people will identify with it. Please keep the site going; we look forward to reading the new cards each week.

Frank Warren: My favorite cards are the ones that make me laugh or express an optimistic secret. One in the book reads, "I put quarters into other peoples parking meters."

More than once, I have heard that world-opening discussions between parents and children have occurred by visiting the Web site or reading the book together.

In my own family, when I was driving my father to the airport after the Georgetown exhibit, he turned to me and said, "Frank, do you want to hear my secret?"

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Foggy Bottom, D.C.: What do you do with all of the cards you receive?

Frank Warren: I keep them all in a secure location. I even keep many of the envelopes.

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Logan Circle: I found the Georgetown exhibit extremely poignant -- walked out feeling an very sensitive to the weight shame holds on each of us. Certainly there are different degrees, but so many of these secrets come from shame that can be one giant burden, thousands of little pebbles, or a straitjacket ...

Frank Warren: I like to think that, by seeing the hidden burdens others are carrying, it makes our own a little lighter. My experience has also been that, by sharing these intimate private views into other people's lives, I have more understanding and compassion for strangers ... and myself.

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College Park, Md.: How did you choose the secrets for your book? Was there something that set them apart from all the others?

Frank Warren: Picking the secrets for the book was very difficult, partly because I always try to treat the secrets in a non-judgmental way.

I tried to pick postcards that were representative of all the cards I get. I also picked a large variety. And sometimes I included cards that just would not leave me alone until I included them. (I know that sounds weird but I do not know how else to describe it.)

Lastly, I tried to arrange the cards as if I were telling a story. I wanted the secrets to be a narrative.

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Frank Warren: Thank you for your questions and interest in the PostSecret project. And, of course, I am still accepting secrets. Bye.

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