Forget the CIA, Frank Warren is probably the world's best keeper of secrets.
In 2004, Frank started a project called PostSecret, in which he printed 3,000 blank postcards inviting people to mail him their secrets anonymously. He handed out the postcards to strangers, left them between book pages in bookstores and libraries, and even left some on park benches. He got 100 back and posted the secrets on his blog.
Apparently, that struck a nerve: PostSecret went viral and since he started it, Frank has received nearly half a million postcards in his mailbox and over a quarter billion visitor to www.postsecret.com. The website spawned various exhibitions, events and PostSecret books, as well as various parodies (a true measure of one's popularity in today's world, I'm afraid).
The latest book, PostSecret: Confessions on Life, Death, and God was inspired by a collection of more than 300 postcards that were part of the "All Faiths Beautiful" exhibit at the American Visionary Art Museum. The book contains never-before-seen secrets that, as Frank so eloquently wrote, "expose the common landscape of our private lives - from our embarrassing desires to our hidden acts of kindness; from the private prayers of atheists to the voiceless doubt of believers."
Frank, a Neatoramanaut himself (that's him wearing one of our T-shirts), has kindly agreed to sit down for a virtual interview with us. You are invited to submit comments and questions for Frank - we'll pick 5 of the best comments/questions to get a free autographed PostSecret: Confessions on Life, Death, and God book.
Neatorama: Congratulations on the new book (it's fantastic, by the way, I was engrossed reading it for a couple of hours) - did you ever think that PostSecret would be as popular as it is today when you started it?
Frank Warren: No, I have been shocked. In addition to the five PostSecret books, the website has had over 250,000,000 hits.
I knew that if I could earn people's trust and build a collection of creative and authentic secrets it would be very special for me. It's great to know so many others appreciate these extraordinary confessions too.
Neatorama: Why do you think it has been so successful?
Frank: I think people find some of the funny and sexual postcards amusing but eventually you come across a secret that you might recognize as one of your own. One you might be hiding from yourself. I think it is those moments of epiphany and empathy that have allowed the PostSecret community to grow.
Neatorama: Your latest book focuses on life, death, and God. Can you tell us a little bit about the reasoning behind the topic?
Frank: PostSecret started as a lark, maybe even a prank, but over the years the secrets have become more meaningful to me. This new book, like all the books have never-before-seen secrets that touch on sexual taboos and some outlandish humor, but more than the other books, the new book has postcards that share some our deepest and most private feelings about the greatest mysteries of life. The parts that are always there beneath the surface but we sometimes forget about during our everyday lives.
Neatorama: What are some of your favorite PostSecret secrets?
Neatorama: It's been five years since you started PostSecret - how has it changed your life?
Frank: Knowing all these secret stories that are happening in so many of our lives makes life, people, and riding the subway more interesting.
Neatorama: What's next for you and PostSecret?
Frank: My favorite part of the project now is traveling to college campuses and sharing the stories behind the secrets at live events where audience members can share their own secrets - without anonymity, but sometimes with great emotion.
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Frank's message on YouTube
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From PostSecret Confessions on Life, Death and God:
Frank has kindly offered 5 free autographed copies of the book for a giveaway. Got any questions for Frank? 5 lucky commenters with the most interesting questions and/or comments will win a copy of the book (I'll post Frank's replies as an update).
Links: Post Secret Book official website (with bonus secrets) | Post Secret website | Post Secret Community | Post Secret Book on Amazon (affiliate link, here's the clean non-affiliate link if you'd like)
When you visit universities and have people come up to the mics, are you ever secretly (see what I did there?) glad when someone tells a funny secret to lighten the mood?
What is the secret that made you laugh the hardest?
Hmm.
-Has anyone ever gone to a PostSecret event dressed in a costume? If so, what's the oddest costume you've seen?
-If you had to choose one CD/album to put on repeat for the rest of your life, which would you choose? If that's too hard, which group or artist would you choose?
-What is the best movie you've seen in the past ten years? Again, if that's to hard to narrow, perhaps a top ten?
I'm so absolutely horrible at thinking of questions. :( I hope mine were partially worthy of being answered by the amazing Mr Warren. :D
Thanks Frank and Neatorama for this interview!
But then I always enter them anyway :)
- What "postcard" had the most dramatic impact on your life?
- Have your opinions on things in life changed, such as your Religious or Political views?
which secret still haunts you?
which secret gives you the most hope?
Is there anything you wish you'd done differently about PostSecret?
What have you learned from our secrets?
What does it feel like to be the father of PostSecret?
I've always wondered about the legitimacy of some of the postcards, as in, Do you think that several of them are made up to get attention? I still love them, but it's always something I wonder.
Thanks :)
What role do you see secrets having in everyday life? You give an awesome venue to bring air to hidden treasures while keeping them anonymous, does the act of sharing a secret help fight against our own repression?
And probably the question everyone is asking, have you sent a postcard? Care to elaborate?
My question is: Reflecting upon all the Post Secrets you've received, and the contents therein, what would you say is the underlying - yet unifying - character(istic) of humankind?
Sincerely,
Sanyu
Have you ever been tempted to exploit someone else's secrets for your own gain? ie, a secret so great you could profit from it, etc.
Have you ever felt a moral or ethical obligation to reach out(either yourself of some other means) to someone who sent in a secret based on the fact that they were probably severely hurting themselves, or maybe possibly others.
I am interested in knowing more about how you helped the project become more than just a one-off experiment (was it all organic, or do you feel like you ever had to give it a nudge?), and what other personal or professional projects you've ended up taking on that you think are a result of PostSecret (not just where doors had opened because of this, but anything you were led to do because of it).
What is the most commonly sent 'secret' to Postsecret?
Do you ever keep the "secrets" secret from everyone? Is there ever a postcard that you can't bear to expose and has to be kept all to yourself?
Thanks!
How do you tell a fake secret submission from a genuine one? Or does it matter to you if they're genuine confessions from the person who sent them or not if they might resonate with someone who might read them?
I sometimes feel a little like a peeping-tom or a snoop for reading the secrets. I know that people posted them on purpose and part of the idea of posting the secret is knowing that people will read it, but still I get the feeling that I'm prying a bit, like reading someone's diary or personal mail. It's a bit of a thrill to read something secret like that, to look into something something that people aren't supposed to know, but at the same time, I feel a little naughty and maybe even a bit guilty. Do you ever get that feeling or do you hear a lot of people that kind of feel that way?
Stevemarth-
I think the elaborate post cards serve a couple of purposes. First, they're cooler for the reader to look at. But more importantly, the post card maker can really express themselves in more than just words and even the act of making the postcard is more freeing than just quickly writing the words. If you just jot it down, you don't have to really embrace the secret and everything you're feeling about it the same way you do if you have to design and craft a card.
Plus, it probably cuts down on the amount of absolute garbage and frivolity and that Frank receives. A lot less people are going to go to the work of crafting a visually expressive post card just to goof around (unless it's actually really really funny). If you are willing to put all the thought and work into creating a work of art from your secret, you must really want to share and be a part of the project. I bet it increases the amount of genuinely interesting submissions. If people could just type or scratch out a couple of words, he'd probably get a lot more people that aren't taking it seriously. The extra effort required to be involved keeps the quality of the secrets up.
First, thank you for your dedication and hard work on this ongoing project.
Second - knowing now what a big thing this has become, considering the daily inundation of postcards and emails, the weekly commitment to organize and post selections on the web, the work of composing a book (and now, books), the book tours, the presentations - is this something that, if you had a second chance to start this project, you would do all over again?
Thank you so much for sparing even more time for us.
"Ruby"
Do you ever have people stop you on the street to tell you their secret? Do you ever get tired of it happening?
Have the junk mailers figured out who you are and send you junk mail in the disguise of secrets? Like, "My secret is I like saving money on car insurance with Big Bob's Insurance!!!" ?
One day, you'll eventually run out of room to store the secrets, what's your plan for that?
That's an AWESOME question! I'm curious now,too. I bet he does get some secrets that more than one person have in common. It would be fascinating to know the top "Frequently Shared Secret".
Does you and your mail carrier have a love/hate relationship?
What was the very first secret you received?
Do you think your mailman/woman has ever add his/her own secret?
Frank, thank you for creating this project. I'm sure it's helped a lot of people find their own way in life and I know it's affected mine. Keep it up :)
I was just wondering with the thousands upon thousands of secrets you've received, where do you keep them all and do you have any sort of organization system for them? I can only imagine the number of filing cabinets necessary.
In the recent past, you have said that one of the reasons you started the project was a secret of your own. My assumption has been that you created your own anonymity by surrounding it with others. Even though I expect you never to tell which secrets are yours, I think your audience would benefit from knowing your personal reasons for wanting them to be published, yet still kept secret.
Edward
I've heard of people leaving their own secrets in Post Secret books at the bookstore or in the library. I remember once you wrote about leaving a secret in a drawer in a hotel room, which struck me as being a unique way to accomplish the same thing.
So my question is: Where is the strangest place you have ever left a secret or heard of a secret being found?
Thanks.
It's interesting that the current book is about faith and God... do you ever feel like a priest taking confessions? :D Do you ever respond to the people who send you secrets?
I've been reading Postsecret since the very beginning and any time someone asks for advice on who to write a school report about, I suggest you (and say your job would be my dream job!). I am thrilled to have the chance to "talk" to you!
My questions:
Is there a Postsecret "will" of sorts that will ensure the project continues if something happens to you? Will you search for a "replacement Frank" when you want to retire, or will you let the project end?
I live overseas and love to travel. Do you have plans to start touring internationally? Do you believe (like I do) that this could really unite people around the world?
Does your job ever make you insecure about the relationships in your life, ie maybe trust issues arise because you assume everyone keeps things from everyone?
How do you think Postsecret would be different if the website was advertised on, didn't promote suicide awareness, and was more of just a funny/novelty website and books? I'd imagine it wouldn't be much different than www.fmylife.com or the like.
Have you ever considered doing a compilation of the most common secrets? I'd suggest doing an entire book about all the most uniting secrets, with each page or 2-page spread being filled with different post cards revealing the same secret.
What special treatment do you give your mail person?
Is there a time of year when more secrets are mailed?
Do you get recognized on the street?
I have a million more, but I'll stop there!
Thanks Frank!!!
-Sheryn, 24, Dubai
Do you think we'll ever reach a point in time when people won't have secrets anymore?
Where and how do you store the physical postsecrets such that you can draw the ones you want, seemingly at will?
(Or did you actually fumble when asked by neatorama to show your favourites?)
Some of the secrets you post recount some sort of illegal activity, usually of a pretty minor and benign character, but sometimes not. For example, you recently posted one that admitted meeting with someone about becoming a suicide bomber (albeit 25 years ago, if my memory serves me). My question is, have you even been contacted by authorities requesting or demanding the postcard and/or whatever other information (address?) you may have about the sender?
I have felt this way my whole life and it has caused a huge number of conflicts for my spiritual self. I have such a hard time praying and praying after telling people I'm an atheist or that I don't believe in God, but I still always say stuff like that. I'm so happy there is someone else who is having the same conflict.
Thank you so much for PostSecret! I can't even remember a time when I wouldn't wake up Sunday mornings excited for new secrets.
I've always wondered, though, have people ever sent you anything other than postcards? I've seen a few letters throughout the years, but they usually have something written on the envelope and are unopened. Have you ever opened those letters and read them, or do you think that would be unethical?
Has anyone ever sent you any secrets in other mediums-- maybe journals, home movies, paintings, etc?
Have you ever received anonymous gifts or trinkets? What do you do with them?
Finally, what is the most interesting non-postcard secret/thing you've ever received?
I think that would be an interesting contrast to the books you now have. It could be called Secrets Revealed or something. I love your project btw. Keep it up :-) I check the blog every Sunday religiously.
My question
When postcards come in and you pick the ones you want to feature every week, do you ever wonder who the people are that sent in the cards? Given them a back story if only in your own mind? Perhaps reached back out to someone who put a return address on the card?
Thank you so much! You have helped so many.
What a wild concept and an interesting set of books. What I'm curious about is your opinion of what makes people want to "confess" to you (and us). Do you think it is to make themselves feel better about something bad they've done or at attempt to get attention (albeit anonymously) or something else entirely?
Thanks!
my question is this- do you ever get multiple secrets from the same person (that you can tell?) or about the same person?
i ask because for awhile there, there was someone in my life that i had a lot of powerful emotions about *not altogether good ones* that i couldn't share with anyone i knew. i just wanted to make a postcard for every aspect of the love/hate secret just to get them out there and out of my head...i've always wondered if other people felt the same way.
What is one of the most intriguing mediums that you have ever had submitted?
I often read your site and am overcome by some of these secrets and often wish I could counsel, congratulate, or reprimand some of these people. Knowing you cannot...there have to be some that reach you like no other.
How has this art concept changed your life, or the way you look at life?
I've read your site (and purchased your books) throughout the years and specifically remember the first PostSecret book having a secret that confessed to a murder. My question is, have you ever considered going to the police or trying to track down criminals who confess to these sorts of things?
When someone I know complains about someone else - I ask him/her if they're aware of Post Secret and if not to go and read it. Then the next time they're upset at someone or frustrated or whatever - to take a moment and think about what secrets that person may be dealing with. Life is much easier when you can give people the benefit of the doubt.
So thank you Frank - it's wonderful to see how a small idea has blossomed into something so beautiful.
This reminds me a lot of gorilla art, taking art to the people, what other gorilla are moves have you made or would like to make?
Thanks
Jamie
What and Why?
How does knowing all these secrets make you feel? Do you think people have found any relief in passing on this info to you?
but whats the first postsecret you ever received?
and is it something you felt was a turning point, or was it just like a 'wow cool, i got one back!' moment?
What do you do with all the postcards (whether they get published or not?) Do you have a filing system? A storage locker? What happens to them all?
What's Your Secret?
i was wondering if you could tell us what it was like for you growing up?
what did you like to do to past the time?
and does your family support you in your books?
im doing a project in school and i choose and needs to fill 10 pages and your short bio would help! thanks!