By Peg Brantley
This post originally appeared on my blog, Suspense Novelist. I'm trying to finish up the first draft of my new manuscript so I have another book to add to the many millions that are available. That's how crazy I really am.
Somewhere in the neighborhood of 1,000,000 books are published each year in the U.S. alone. That's more than 83,000 a month. 2,700 a day.114 books a minute. Every minute. In the time it takes you to read and comment on this post, more than 1,000 books are likely to have been released.
Is it any wonder that it's difficult for new authors to get noticed?
The internet, which has given us wonderful things like Google and Amazon has also given us social networking opportunities like Facebook and Goodreads. There's Twitter and Pinterest and LinkedIn and new things popping up almost every day. As authors, we're are using these things like crazy to try and get the word out about our books.
There's nothing wrong with marketing ourselves. We all have to do a certain amount of promotion regardless of whether we're traditionally published or independently published. Doing nothing pretty much guarantees that your books will languish at the bottom of the pile. And the pile just keeps getting bigger.
Most of us are learning that a constant blast of "notice me" in any form is sure to backfire. But there's more than just the one-dimensional person who is only about Blatant Self Promotion, there are those who are so desperate to get attention they'll do almost anything, including buying followers on Twitter.
Are you kidding me?
There are so many Don't Go There possibilities we've all heard about. From writing fake reviews (positive for you and negative for an author you consider competition) to spreading rumors to calling yourself a "bestselling author" because your book hit the top 10 when it was free.
Here are some of my personal requests to all of my fellow authors:
1. DON'T ask me to vote for your book if I haven't read it. I'm constantly asked to vote for a book or a short story in one competition or another and I'm pretty darned sure the author knows I've never read anything they've ever written. They're desperate and I understand that, but don't ask me to sacrifice my honor for your fake moment of pride. Because it would be fake, wouldn't it?
2. DON'T offer to trade reviews with me. What if I don't like your book? Are you going to dis mine? And don't give me a great review, then send me your book expecting the same in return. That just feels sleazy. And once again, you could be asking me to basically lie.
3. DON'T ask me to "like" a review for a book I haven't read. I hereby announce that I will no longer trade my self-respect for one stupid "like" just because someone I truly do like asked me. And by the same token, don't ask me to say a bad review wasn't helpful for a book I haven't read. Between you and me, those bad reviews can be goldmines for sales. Something to think about.
4. DON'T ask me to "like" every Facebook page your mind can dream up. Some of you caught me unaware and it took me five or six pages before I finally realized you were in serious need of an intervention.
5. DON'T ask me to read your manuscript with the idea you can save money on an edit. I'm not an editor. You need to hire one. Sorry, but you do. And don't go cheap.
These are mostly Facebook and Amazon things, but I'm sure there are plenty of Twitter issues along the same lines.
As a new author, I appreciated the support of those who had gone before me, and I want to do the same. But desperate to the point of total crap doesn't cut it with me.
Authors—what have I missed? What requests or other things make you cringe?
Readers—have you come to be able to see through a lot of these ploys? Is there anything you trust any more?
It's a good list, Peg. I would add: Don't send me a Twitter direct message telling me about your book before I even know you.
ReplyDeleteAlso, don't add me to your email list without asking, especially if it's an unprofessional list that has no unsubscribe option.
I lagree with both of those. Especially the second one. It takes a while to train those emails to go directly to my spam folder. Irritating.
DeleteGreat list, Peg. This doesn't just apply to internet marketing. I've spent a great deal of time at book festivals and in bookstores signing books. My biggest pet peeve is when an author comes up and takes up my time telling me about their book. I'm more than willing to help other authors. Hardly a day goes by that I'm not answering a question or giving information that I have gathered to another author, but I can't do it when I'm working. Authors, please, when you're at an event take the time to introduce yourself, meet the author, get their card, and then move on so they can complete the task they came to do.
ReplyDeleteWow. Great point. The closest I've come to working directly with readers was Left Coast Crime. There's a time and place for shop talk, but when an author is working an event… has often paid for the privelege of working that event… let 'em work.
DeleteGreat list, Peg! And the additional comments are useful, too.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jodie.
DeleteWell put, and I share your sentient. Especially tired of a recent wave of page liking, though grateful for the likes I got. I just can't believe they make that much difference.
ReplyDeleteWell darn, make that sentiment.
ReplyDeleteI know (and sentient is kinda cool) and I'm embarrassed to say I went through a wave of the "like" thing.
DeleteHow about when strangers post their books and other publication releases on your Facebook page...without asking? It drives me nuts! Same thing in the comment sections of blogs, looking for free advertisement. Of course, there are some who do write something like, "My book fits well with your topic so I knew you wouldn't mind me posting a two page review on your site." Yeah, right, your book about making cupcakes from organic donkey dung fits so well with my police and forensics blog. How about reading at least one of my blog articles before shoving your ad under my door...
ReplyDeleteLee, how do you really feel?
DeleteI agree that Facebook is a great way to reconnect with old friends and make new ones. I have no problem with writers promoting their books through FB (I do it!). My peeve regards writers who also give a running commentary on what they're doing every minute of each day. I like you but I don't need to know what you had for dinner or when you finished folding the laundry. I find myself doing more and more skimming on FB rather than reading each and every post. With so much input from all the social media outlets, I'm getting technology overload.
ReplyDeleteI've always skimmed. Mostly it's because through the internet I have developed the attention span of a gnat. My mother would be horrified.
DeleteAgree with everything you say, Peg. (No surprise there.) For more on this, check some of the past blogs by Steven Pressfield. Writers who want help with craft are one thing; writers who want your audience are another.
ReplyDeleteWhat you're describing are people who either don't know what it takes or are trying to circumvent what it takes. Ignorance, laziness, short-cuts. Most of them, to give the benefit of the doubt, aren't being intentionally rude or discourteous, but that's what it amounts to.
The line between fan and pro may be blurring (fan-fic?), but it's still there. Also, as you and others point out, there are avenues for the help they need, legitimate avenues, be they professional editors (Hi, Jodie!), marketing professionals, etc.
Great post.
Now here's a question for the Collective that's been buzzing me: How did you all get started? (Maybe that could be more than a post; it could be a permanent tagline at the top or something.)
And of course, Thanks!
You're right, David. This is a marathon, not a sprint. Taking short cuts never works. We'd be well to be reminded of the fairy tales of our youth.
DeleteGood blog. Nothing substantive to add, except my name of course (grin). As a frequent reviewer of crime fiction I don't mind being asked, but please, practice patience! If I say I'll get to your book, I will get to it. Oh, and Teresa Burell? Excellent point.Say hello and move on! I can't tell you how many times....well I won't.
ReplyDeleteLOL, Carl. Thanks for the chuckle.
DeleteI am only an aspiring author, but I am a big fan and love to follow the authors I appreciate on Facebook. It does get old when they *only* post promos for their books. I don't need to know what they had for dinner, either, but I don't want all their posts to be "commercials."
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting, Bonnie. Good luck with your writing!
DeleteGood list! I also agree with Lee about people co-opting a blog or FB with their own advertising.
ReplyDeleteTwo other things I would add are:
1. Don't set up your twitter account to pimp your book 4+ times a day for weeks. It will only get you ignored.
2. There is a LOT of information freely available on the web about both traditional and indie publishing. Try a Google search to get questions answered first. Alternatively, join a writers organization and network there. I also answer a lot of author questions and try to help other authors. But I admit to a lot of frustration when the question is one that I know is easy to find on the web.
Excellent adds. Thanks.
DeleteHere's me:
ReplyDelete1) Being invited to at least 10 "events" a day from people launching a book, or a Pet the Flower Day, or a God-knows-what. People whose book I've never read, flowers I've never seen, and really, who I barely know.
2) The new annoying bait and switch technique being employed by many authors-to-be: they follow you, then as soon as you follow you back, they unfollow.
3) Another Twitter trend that's been around even longer and which I dislike most: They follow, you follow back, and then you get a message thanking you for it...along with an elevator pitch for their book (link included). That one makes me feel like running for the showers.
Next stop for me: going through my mailing list and removing friends who didn't ask to subscribe. Even some seasoned authors still make mistakes :)
Those event letters are annoying, aren't they? Unless I really reallly know the person and really really like the person, I ain't goin'. Just sayin'.
DeleteGood list, Peg. I dislike Twitter for the bots and those who use it solely for promotion. By all means promote, but engage your followers, too. Promotional peeves are me are repeated requests for page likes. When I get one, I'll check out the page (I'm always willing to help), but if I'll only like it if I like it. If I'm not keen, I'll move on. Ask once, but don't ask again and again. That will get you blocked :-)
ReplyDeleteI try to go a little easy on someone asking me a couple of times to like their page, even if I already have… Facebook isn't always accurate on who you've asked. But I agree, move on.
DeleteThanks for this, Peg. The BSP really is getting out of control!
ReplyDeleteGood to see you here, Lourdes. Thanks for your support!
Delete