Well, I debated long and hard about writing this, and here we are, so here we go.
Maybe it's just the normal evolution of groups of people who congregate together spurred on by a common goal- when a lot of them achieve it, the dynamics change. Cliques form, and there are the insiders and the outsider.
I guess I will always be an outsider, even if/when I do publish a book (and don't think I couldn't have done one by now- I have had several offers of help to self publish and at least one manuscript that could be sent out there into the world today. But I want to think it all over some more first, for many personal reasons. I digress.)
Here's the thing.
When I started this blog most of us (by 'us' I mean the writers who read here and whose blogs I also read) were in the same boat. We were all overwhelmed in a lot of ways by the query process (hence the origin of this blog's title, even though my query history numbers at having tried two agents) and had a lot to share.
Then some folks got agents and/or book deals and I rejoiced with them- I still do.
If you have honestly really ever read here or read my comments on other blogs you know that nobody is happier for a writer finding success than I am. And I mean that sincerely. I am not jealous- I am not petty. I am HAPPY for them.
In the past six months or so, however, I've noticed a huge shift in the writing blogaverse and it's really beginning to get to me and makes me question if I should even be reading writer/writing blogs and Tweets and all at all anymore. If I should be the outsider in the group any more or just quietly fade away.
That thing is that, due to the huge surge in self-publishing, almost everybody I know now has a book out.
And for many of them, it's all they talk about.
Ever.
And it's boring as hell for the rest of us.
Now, I know I might not win a thousand blog followers by saying something that's not entirely nice sounding (not that I ever expected to anyway--follower counts mean little- it's reach that matters when it comes to blog stats anyway) but I don't care. I have always been honest and real with all of you, shared my troubles and hopeful times, and shared as much of your real lives as you would share with me.
So even if this is the last blog post I ever write- I feel I have to warn you that some of you are in danger of losing your audience.
Egos are spinning out of control, folks, and it ain't pretty.
Now some of you folks, a rare few, I have to take my hat off to you because (and I'm not going to name names because I risk leaving someone out with my brain being what it is) you do the marketing thing VERY well. I mean that, from the bottom of my toes. You ROCK it. I mean I even know of one incredible published author who I won't name but whose book has been turned into a screenplay (and she has more books on the way) and this author amazes me with how she does it all. She's a class act all the way and when I grow up I want to be just like her.
So it CAN be done, WELL.
Those who do it well talk about other things on your blogs- your families, your passions outside of writing (music, movies, your day job, video games, ANYTHING...) You are fun and interesting people and it makes me WANT to know about your books. It makes me want to buy them and read them and tell people about them and drive your sales numbers up as much as I personally can.
Others...
Guys, please remember I'm only saying this cause I love you...
Some of you are losing us, the audience you hope most to market to. Because you just don't know when to stop.
If your every Tweet is about the book you have out, had out a year ago, or will have out in the future- I will stop hearing you.
If you endlessly tweet LISTS of people you want me to follow- I will unfollow you in no time flat. I have to ration my eyesight, I don't have time for spam.
If your every blog post is about every nuance of your book and characters and sales and promotion, it's a commercial, every time, and I just can't take it. And I know I'm not alone.
Most people would not tell you this- they would just silently unfollow you and that's the end of it. And you've likely lost a reader, or as you may think of it, a potential sale- for the duration of your writing career. I'm telling you because with a little dialing back, you may retain the people you'd otherwise lose.
I am not saying my opinion matters. I'm nobody.
But I'm a nobody at a point of frustration and posting this so my brain doesn't explode.
That's right, I'm first to tell you that I'm nobody. I'm not published, I'm not agented. Right now I don't even know if I ever want to be either at this point in my life.
I just love writing stories. And I have kept this blog to connect with people- really connect- and give them a place where they feel they can hang out and be who they are.
But now so many of my writer 'buddies' have ceased to be who they were.
They have been swallowed whole by their books. That's all that's left. Sales figures. Promotion. Presence. Branding. Blog tours and marathons.
How I love you guys, but some of you are making it so much harder to love you these days. (and I'm sure most of you will probably hate me after this.)
I'd just like to remind you though that before you think too much less of those of us who haven't made the leap yet (for many and varied reasons) that with self publishing- now anyone and everyone can have a book out. I could have a book out too. I really think that soon more people will have a book out than not. That's where we're headed. At least, anyone who wants to.
And lest anyone think I'm dissing my indie author buddies-- I'm not. If you went the traditional route I'm not completely impressed by that fact alone either because the traditional people also published Snooki and the Kardashians. So the book has to stand on its own feet, to impress me.
I'm just asking you to consider this.
As important as it is to you that your books sell and you create an audience- please remember that the friends who were with you before you were published- however you were published- are the ones most likely to still be with you if it all went away tomorrow.
Don't drop us the second that you become an 'author'.
Remember us, and we will be your most loyal cheering section, fans, and friends too into the bargain.
Sell us out the second you're published and we will remember, with great sadness, how quickly you forgot.
~bru
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
44 What say you to that?:
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This is why I love you so much. You always give me something to think about. I hope to God, I'm not one of "those" authors, and I don't think I am, but if so, let me know and I will dial it back a few notches.
ReplyDeleteNot an easy thing to write about and I so appreciate your unflinching honesty.
ReplyDeleteI have felt that the blogging community seems to have been morphing in a way that I am unsure about. I've stopped reading as many blogs and I've chalked it up to my state of mind more than anything else. But maybe what you've written here has played a part. It really isn't much of a community when some are, like you say so aptly, "swallowed whole by their books" and everything seems to unidirectional. Maybe like everything else that is in the hands of the masses, blogging is constantly working itself out. I do miss some bloggers now that I don't read that much, but I have given up on a few of them in my mind. A community is made out of interweaving of communication, each member giving and taking at different times and in different ways. When it ceases to be that, it is no longer a community but something else. I am not sure exactly this "something else" is, and at the moment, I'm removing myself toward the sideline.
Thanks for your post and for allowing my rambling thoughts.
Anne, you know I love you too! I think you're doing a fine job personally but that's not what matters. What matters is doing what your heart tells you.
ReplyDeleteThat you care at all about not becoming one of 'those' authors means you can't. To care about it, and take care in it (as you do) means that you can't become it, it's impossible. So you're on the right track there, my friend.
I still have A Wife for Winsbarren on my 'to read' list already uploaded to my Kindle! *hugs*
Yat-Yee thank you so much for your kind words and your extremely thoughtful comment (you didn't ramble!)It seems that you are feeling the same shift that I am- that 'something else' and like you I'm not sure I have a place in it.
Maybe there's something more in the 'something else'- a place within it or off to the side as you put it- for those of us who want more out of our exchanges with others than just the commercials and self-promotion? I hope so. Maybe we can build it together.
Thank you for your remarks, so much appreciated and makes me glad I posted this. hugs, bru
I hear you, and it's frankly one of the things that scares me off traditional publishing--that one has so much pressure from those invested in one's book to be out selling yourself all the time. It must be tough living with that pressure, and sadly bowing to it cuts one off from genuine support, like you say.
ReplyDeleteNo, you are right, Bru. I am uncomfortable with promotions and never been able to force my book at anyone. I don't want to be one of those that the book is all I talk about. Which is why I blog about all sorts of other odd things. If I'm excited, I'll throw something in there. Or if it will help someone else, like today's post. But I hope I'm never one to talk only about my writing because there is a lot more to me than that.
ReplyDeleteAnd I hope you do not leave this community.
Laurel, thanks for weighing in and you're right- there has got to be immense pressure. That pressure is one the reasons I have been rethinking if I ever want to be published, in any way. Ever. Of course I guess if I did I wouldn't have to bow to it if I self published- one of the dearest people in the world to me just published his book and he has done zero marketing. None. He has no blog, he has no Twitter account, he's not on FB. He did it because he just wanted this story out there- and out there it is. I admire that- that he did it just for the sake of his art. He did it on his own terms and that's an inspiration to me.
ReplyDeleteUsed to be (from my understanding anyway) that the big publishers/agencies had promotional people to do it all for the authors as part of the deal but not so much anymore- they expect you to do your own promotion. And let's face it, most writers (myself included) have no professional training in promotion so there's a huge potential for error.
I find myself thinking more of self-published authors or authors with small presses when I write this post- that's where I've personally seen the most over the top self-promotion going on. I think they feel they have something more to prove (or are hoping that if their book sells big it'll get picked up by a bigger publisher and so they really go all out.
I wish them the best, whatever they're trying for. I just hope they find it. So many seem to dissatisfied, no matter how far they go. It makes me sad. thanks again for commenting!
Alex...you have a book out? Next you'll be telling me there's going to be a sequel! *grin*
You know I kid. You also know that I have CassaStar on my Kindle. It's still on my to read list.
You are certainly more than a one-trick pony, and have definitely not been swallowed by your books. You know how I feel about the bigger blogging campaigns and all so I won't go back over that ground-- I appreciate how you support your fellow writers, myself included, in more ways than just with their writing. Thanks for caring if I hang around the community- honestly I'm just trying to figure out if there's still a place there for me in it. hugs bru
This so needed to be said! Thanks for posting this Bru. I have often thought about this and have watched how some of my friends have done things. I've been surprised at the change in some of them. It just makes me sad.
ReplyDeleteAn honest and interesting post. It is hard to keep following someone who does nothing but promote themselves, but if they do that, I assume they're trying to reach out to readers and get them to buy their books. I'm probably not who they're looking for, so I pass on. But I sympathize with their dilemma.
ReplyDeleteThanks for keeping it real, Bru! I'm cataloging all this...:)
ReplyDeleteYay, Bru! I love it when you come out and say what a lot of us are thinking, but are too chicken to express ourselves. You are so brave!
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite posts of yours was when you said the A to Z Blogging was like shouting nonsense really loud all over the internet, because that explained succinctly why I stopped visiting blogs last April.
I enjoy reading blogs about books and writing and people's personal lives. Constant promotions, giveaways, and blogs written just to satisfy a letter of the alphabet really aren't my cup of tea. I don't want to offend the participants. I just ... abstain.
Maybe I'll take April off this year. Mostly. Well, partly. Oh, who am I kidding? :D
Please stop saying you are nobody. Judging by this post alone, you are a thoughtful and articulate writer. And even if you were not a good writer, you would still not be nobody. You are doing what you want to do.
ReplyDeleteSelf-promotion is a necessity in the world of publishing now, but you are right on about the need for balance.
I came here via a link through the Sisters in Crime listserve, in case you are wondering (since my name won't be familiar to you.) Don't give up. Don't stop sharing your thoughts.
I think for some of us who have self-published, our blogging motives/goals have shifted. When I began blogging, my blog focused on writing/querying/promoting other bloggers, etc. However, when I would check my stats, I found that lots of people were finding my blog by googling my name or the names of my books or series. Those are readers and they could care less about the merits of 1st person pov vs. 3rd person, or that passive voice is a no-no. They want to know about the books, see if there are excerpts, find out about upcoming books. Those people don't usually become followers, but they are visitors and they rarely comment. They are now who I blog for. In fact, the name of my blog has morphed from The Write Stuff, to Mary McDonald has the Write Stuff, to simply, M.P. McDonald.
ReplyDeleteI still love to read blogs about writing and publishing though. When I post about writing or publishing,I feel like I'm alienating readers, but when I post about my books, I'm alienating other bloggers. :-/ Mostly I post about heroes or Friday Night Lights. haha
Carolyn, thank you for saying that- it seems you've felt some of what I have, watching people change. I really appreciate you speaking to this, thank you!*hugs*
ReplyDeleteHi Helen, it's nice to meet you, thank you for visiting and for commenting. I'm sure you have a much better understanding of all of this than I ever will (I've taken a look at your website- as an editor you have much more insight than I could). Thank you for your remarks, much appreciated. I will try to keep that dilemma in mind when I am frustrated by the social media onslaught.
J.B. You do everything with such grace- I know when UNCHARTED comes out this fall that you'll find the right balance with your marketing too. You're an artist in all things, I have no doubt you'll handle the marketing just as artfully. I can't wait to read it, honestly. xoxo
more comment replies on the way just a sec...
Thank you.
ReplyDeleteOn Christmas Day, four people, ON CHRISTMAS DAY, tried to sell me a book through their Twitter feeds. No Merry Christmas. No thoughts about the holidays. It was "Buy my book! Here is the Amazon link!"
I unfollowed them.
Since then, I've un-followed about a dozen authors whose blogs and Twitter feeds consist of nothing me me me, buy, buy, buy. Boy-howdy, Twitter got interesting again.
Mary: There is a distinct difference in writing and communicating to your readers and pushing your wares in relentless, mercenary fashion. Readers want a connection, they want to know more, and, ultimately, buy more of your books. You won't alienate other writers by writing to your audience. What Bru is pointing out, everyone is alienated during the constant sales pitch. I went to your blog and it was perfectly nice for a reader.
To sum up Bru's excellent blog post: I don't follow brands. I follow people.
Dianne, you're my hero. Thanks for saying all that- you have no idea how much sleep I lost over that post (and will likely lose over this one, my stomach has already had butterflies in it all afternoon.)
ReplyDeleteI hate ever risking hurting someone's feelings. But after all I've seen the past few days especially I just couldn't take it anymore.
It is so good to know I'm not alone in my frustrations and the sadness of watching people you thought viewed you as friends relegate you to the 'marketing' pile. It's disheartening, and it makes me even more grateful for those who really do care (like you). And since you brought it up- I may take April off too- though more likely I'll just do what I did last year and visit blogs that are also abstaining from the big thing, because it just gets to be too much.
You're all kinds of awesome and I adore ya. Thank you!
Hello Ramona, it is such a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for coming by, reading, and for your kind and encouraging words. I'll have to see if you have a blog linked to your profile and if you do I'll check it out. Thank you for caring enough to speak so compassionately. I hope we'll cross paths again!
Mary, it sounds like you're still trying to find a balance and that's key. That you care about alienating anyone matters. I think the biggest issue, for me, in all of this is exactly what Carolyn said in her comment- watching friends change, and being saddened by it.
So maybe the question I should have asked people to consider is, not how hard are you promoting your book but are you over promoting it to your friends, and to the point where you lose all sight of what's going on with them in their lives too?
There's an attitude here beneath it all that is what bothers me most- I don't quite know how to articulate it.
I think it started for me a year ago- when someone I thought was a friend- someone I had tried to encourage through some worries and things on Facebook when I was still there- one day just blocked me from their 'friends and family' list and moved me to their 'marketing' or 'author' FB account.
It really hurt my feelings- and it seemed to be a turning point at which stuff started changing online for me.
It was that feeling of being good enough only to be sold a product- after I'd considered a person a friend- that got me thinking and kept me thinking and similar situations have played out over the past year that led to this post.
So...anyway. Sorry for going on so- it's time for me to take a break but I will try to respond to all replies to this post a little at a time as they come in.
hugs to all, bru
Anthony...that Christmas Day kind of thing is EXACTLY what I'm talking about. As to that I can only say yikes- and to the rest of your comment I can only say thank you!!! I think Twitter is gonna be getting a lot more interesting for me again soon too LOL. hugs, bru
ReplyDeletevery well said. as always.
ReplyDeleteYou just reminded me why I started following you in the first place and why I didn't really miss most blogs I "follow" when I was on my break. So much of the same. I'm all about promoting my writer friends' books or stories when they come out, but you don't offer to give me stuff to do it. If we're really "friends" you don't have to offer a reward to make me pat you on the back in a public way. And I don't care if it's traditionally published or self published, if that's all you talk about, I'm done listening.
ReplyDeleteBru~ again my friend your honesty is refreshing, that coming from one outsider to another. You are so right... it is hard to follow egos and damn boring reading.
ReplyDeleteBig Hug! :)
Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow
Thank you for writing this, you gorgeous, brilliant writer you. You call yourself a nobody? P'shaw. (That's right--I just said "p'shaw")
ReplyDeleteI for one am terrified of becoming someone who can't hang out (virtually) with my online friends because I'm too important to do so. I've seen that happen, that space between now and what used to be, and I don't like it.
That being said, I'm pretty sure that even those with the bestest online social platforms cannot become bestselling fiction authors because of their online personae. It's the book that matters (unless you're a Snooki, but again, I was referring to humans). The book has to speak for itself. No amount of in-your-face promotion will make a bad book sell well.
So this is my conclusion, and I'm so very relieved to have come to that conclusion. Because it means I can keep being myself. I will promote my work when the time comes, but I hope it will be like a shadow behind me, instead of a cartoon cutout that stands in front of me. Does that make sense?
Author, agented, published, unkempt and underslept, whatever. I'm going to try hard to just be me.
It's hard to blame the heavy promoters; they're under pressure not just to succeed, but to escape the ravenous vortex of obscurity. Like the dead people in "The Sixth Sense," they don't know they're irritating.
ReplyDeleteSo we ignore them. I'm always interested when a friend comes out with a new book, and I'll buy it and review it if I can (no one can read them all). After that, I simply tune the person out, as I would a political candidate giving a stump speech for the 100th time.
Good advice. We should all remember that others may have some interest in more than our own microcosm.
ReplyDeletealso, thanks for reminding me that i don't want to be popular. i'd rather be treasured.
ReplyDeleteI say that this is a wonderful post and I agree with much of what you said, and you are NOT a nobody! Everybody is somebody and entitled to state their opinion--which you did with respect. This was not ranting, but a thoughtful expression on your feelings. Well done!
ReplyDeleteYou're right, everybody is publishing now and most are jumping on the publicity frenzy and making demands of others. It's annoying and taking the fun out of writing relationships--which is one of the things I've come to treasure the most. Thanks for bringing this up!
bru, thanks for writing this. It gives me lots to think about. You are definitely somebody to me. xoxo
ReplyDeleteI understand exactly what you're saying, but I empathize with the other side, too. Especially after Alex C recently said to me, "Oh, I didn't even know you had a book out." It's posted on the side of my blog, but I rarely talk about it, so he didn't even know. You're right that it can't be all you talk about, but you can't never talk about it either. I don't know where the balance is, but, evidently, I'm on the side that creates 0 sales in December. >shrug< I don't know... It's a hard thing for people to figure out, especially if they're just excited about it.
ReplyDeleteAll very good points, Bru! The best part about the business model of self publishing is that it's a choice, and with that choice comes both benefits and consequences. If self-published authors go overboard on promoting themselves, they'll either gain readers or be ignored. But for those who think selling a bunch of books will get them noticed by traditional publishers, they may want to think again. The trad pubs could scrutinize these self pubs as risky business. Not only will they shy away from taking on a book that no longer has 1st rights available, they may also have concerns about competing titles. I suppose it's not too different from sharing an author with another publishing house, but there are already lawsuits happening with authors who break contracts to self-publish. This is the time to watch and learn.
ReplyDeleteMichelle: Thank you so much, my friend! And believe me you are treasured (and popular too, with me and I know many others!) You are another person who really hits a great balance. xoxo
ReplyDeleteHi Hannah, thank you so much for the kind words. I really love your comment- you bring up another point that has been a sticking point with me- if you have to give things to your 'friends' to get them to support and promote your work are they really your friends?
I think that FB has really twisted what that word means to the general population these days. I will do all I can to support my friends- in more areas than their writing, whatever they may be passionate about. But if they start to treat me like a member of their 'public' or suddenly forget I exist unless I'm doing something for them, then that's not friendship, that's being used. Excellent comment- thank you!
Jules, big hug right back to you. Thanks for finding my honesty to be a good thing- I know a lot of people would likely rather I just kept my trap shut. I tried, really I did, for a long time and then I just lost it. Thanks for listening and for being here. Lotsa love to you.
Lydia- what do I even say to all that? Firstly, you are way too kind (and the P'shaw just totally cracked me up LOL) thank you.
I believe that you are way too smart and way too cool to allow that 'too important' thing to happen to you. I believe you'll have a long memory for those who invest in a friendship with you and be able to keep that apart from who your fans are when your book comes out. You've already shown through your blog how much you give and how fun you are to follow- I really think that's going to carry over and that you'll have a LOT of help getting the word out when the time comes- and people who genuinely just want to talk about it, and you.
There's too much good stuff here in your comment for me to water down by trying to add to it- so I'll let the rest stand. I'll just say that I think you're great and that I love your take on all this. hugs!
Steve, you had me roaring over here. "they don't know they're irritating." Your comparison to stump speeches is PERFECT- in fact last night I was turning down the volume on the news thinking how much of that I will be tuning out in the next 10 months or so. I just wonder how many writers realize that they've turned off a lot of people- and that we have pushed 'mute'?
As for me (and you know I'm a weirdo) I'd rather always be obscure than obnoxious. I don't believe it's better to be remembered for the wrong reasons than no reasons at all, you know? But again, as I said, I'm a weirdo. thanks for visiting (it always makes me so happy to see you here.)
More comment replies in a minute...
Hello Ellis, it's nice to meet you. Thank you for stopping by and for that reminder!
ReplyDeleteHello Theresa, it's great to make your acquaintence, thank you for visiting and for the great comment. I appreciate that you didn't see it as a rant and took the post in the spirit it was intended (I really felt such mixed emotions about wading into this but given the response I'm glad I did even though it wasn't easy.)
It is the frenzy and the sheer numbers that I think are the issue- also the fact that when writers are trying to promote their books to other writers primarily of course it's going to get crazy. It's only possible to read so many books (as Steve pointed out) and with everybody working on their own on top of it- it gets to be a lot.
I think of the old saying about going to the well once too often. If people keep bombarding the same group over and over with their marketing- people who are already aware of their books and have either bought them already or don't really want to- then people are going to get irritated and tune them out.
I would also really like to thank you for posting about this post on the Five Scribes blog http://www.fivescribes.blogspot.com/2012/01/warning-publishing-can-be-hazardous-to.html that was incredibly kind of you! I love the post you wrote there and especially the part where you spoke about 'success being fickle and fleeting and family and friendships being far more enduring'. With that one sentence you hit on the very heart of what I was trying to say here. Thank you so much!
...still more replies on the way! Sorry for the delay everyone been a long day health-wise today.
Madeline, I have to say publicly and adamantly that I admire you- as an author and as an inspiration to so many, myself included. If anything in my post applies to you it's the part about those who do it well.
ReplyDeleteAdditionally- your book is on such a vital and important topic that I don't think it could possibly EVER be over-promoted. Leaving The Hall Light On is helping people- your work with it is changing (and potentially even saving) lives. That is in a whole other universe than the stuff I was posting about.
You're definitely somebody to me, too- and thank you so much for that. Thank you too for all you've done and are doing to bring awareness to the issues of mental health and suicide. xoxo
Andrew- if it makes you feel any better at all, I knew you had a book out! I haven't had a chance to look into it yet, but I did know- and you know I love reading your blog. I think I love reading your blog just because of the fact that you aren't pushy about it- but in case you're wondering readers (like me) even if we don't comment on it are very likely aware of it! I hope that you find a balance you're comfortable with- and please don't let that number for December get you down. I would be VERY willing to be that you've got company- but people just don't want to talk about that. Thank you for being willing to- and helping plead the case of those who are trying to just figure it all out and get their work out there too. Much appreciated, as always.
Karen, thank you for coming by! You raise a bunch of interesting issues- thank you for that, lots to think about. There's so much to all this trad v. self pubbing stuff that I haven't even stopped to consider because honestly it makes my head spin.
Part of my holding back from self-pubbing anything (I wouldn't do well trying to go the trad route- I know myself too well) is fear of the whole writing as business thing. To me, it's a manifestation of my art and I just cannot bring myself to turn my art into a business proposition. I do not judge anyone else who does (most of my writer friends view it as a hybrid of both art and business and it works for them so that's cool) I just can't do it myself.
I know there are those who still aspire to make their sole living writing (and more power to 'em, I hope they make it!) but for me- I think the cost, the trade offs of it for me personally to try that would be too high. That's why I say that I practice writing in the Dickinson method- everything I write will go into a trunk and my progeny can decide if it's worth anything after I'm dead LOL.
Seriously though- I really appreciate you bringing those issues up, giving those reading here another set of issues to consider in all this. Thank you very much!
*whew* I think I'm caught up...!?!
Hello, I thought this was an interesting post. I've recently been offered contracts with small presses, and it's always difficult to know what to blog about. I probably do go overboard sometimes on my stories or characters, mostly, because I'm not sure what to write. This is definitely something for all of us to ponder. Great post. ML Guida
ReplyDeleteYou are NOT a nobody. You are a writer, and from what i can tell from this, a pretty cool person. I agree with what you said here. My personal pet peeve iswhen i follow someone on Twitter and the first thing i get is a message to BUY MY BOOK!
ReplyDeleteI have to confess I didn't read all the comments, but I'd like to say, this post has gaine you a new follower, me. What you said resontaes with me.
ReplyDelete:} Cathryn
Excellent post, and one I preach often to my own readers. I glance at almost all Tweeters following me, and if I see tons of "buy my book" messages, I will not follow. It is indeed a drone, and thanks for wording this impression so well. It needed to be said.
ReplyDeleteC. Hope Clark
www.fundsforwriters.com
Honestly, my biggest issue is that I don't want anyone to feel obligated to read my book, and I'm scared if I push it a lot it will turn into that. No one wants to read anything they're obligated to read. And I want people to want to read it. I suppose I figure the best way to get people to want to read my book is to write an interesting blog. To want to read more of what I write.
ReplyDeleteI'm just not sure that that works. I guess we'll see when I finish the next one.
Thanks for the insight! I always appreciate hearing an honest opinion.
ReplyDeleteThis is my first time here -- I found this post via Hope Clark's tweet. Very wise words.
ReplyDeleteHope I'm not one of those authors. I sure try not to be. Thanks for being honest here, Bru. It's what I love about you and your blog. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for an interesting post. I find many authors do change as their careers take off or unravel, depending on their pitching luck. Maybe a good balance is something one can strive for: using the 4:1 ratio of four good posts on writing/tips and one little toot from the self-promoting trumpet. I find I get annoyed on Facebook as well when people constantly send 'Like' requests for their book. Once is enough. My feeling is that if someone is interested in anything I have to say/write, they will toddle off and find my books on their own.
ReplyDeleteThe old world of publishing is gone. Vanity publishing, once despised, is now heralded. People publish books that have numerous typos and grammar errors. As for selling, I know a woman who wrote a so-so book, but sold a huge number of copies, mainly because she was attractive and friendly and could probably sell Holy Bibles to the Taliban. Being a "published author" was once an honor. It is no more. Anybody can be a published author, even the guy who sprays my trees for bugs (and he is). Just pay the price, and you're a literary wonder. We once had a clearing house for writers, where only the best stuff would appear. Now the best is swamped by the worst. And yes, a Baywatch Babe was asked by a major publisher to write a novel. That says it all.
ReplyDeleteHey all- just a quick note- my problematic and genetically mutated back and hip have gone out again and i'm a little laid up. it's improving but it'll be probably Monday before I can answer these new wonderful comments in earnest- please be patient with me. I promise, I will (this goes for emails too as I know I owe several people those as well.)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for visiting, the retweets, all of that. Means a lot, especially as this post was very difficult for me to write.
hugs and thanks-- I'll be back soon.
bru
Hi M L, thank you for reading and commenting.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your offers from the small presses!
I hope it all turns out well for you. I know finding things to blog about can be a challenge for a lot of people, I hope that you can find your comfort zone between sharing your work and talking about things that show a little of who you are to your readers. I know I always find those kinds of posts interesting but it's a tricky line to walk- I have seen it go both ways- sometimes authors share too little and fall flat and other times it's 'too much information' central. I hope you can find your happy place. Thanks again for reading!
Hello Linda,
Aww, thanks so much for your kind words. I'll have to check out and see if there's a blog linked to your profile here. I appreciate that you understand where I'm coming from with all this- thank you!
Hi Cathryn, thank you, and welcome! I hope that you enjoy your visits here.
Hello Hope, thank you so much. I am glad to see this post resonating with people- means a lot. Thank you for visiting and saying so!
Andrew, my friend, I'm not sure how it all works, honestly, with why people buy huge amounts of some authors and not others. But I will tell you, as you already know, I find your blog VERY interesting and always enjoy reading it! And that is more than I can say for a LOT of the published writers I have long since unfollowed. Their blogs I didn't miss when I checked them off my list. Yours, I would. Wishing you the best of luck with the book(s)...
murcuryval- thank you, and thank you for stopping by!
Hi Elissa, and thank you for your time reading here and for the comment. Glad you liked the post!
Michelle, I know you've struggled with the issue of marketing- how much you wanted to do and how much you felt you had to do- but as much as you've done at any given point you've never lost sight of one very important thing- and that's caring about your friends who are writers and your readers.
You did that whole series on self-publishing that I know inspired many people (as did your own journey before you were traditionally published) and gave us all much to think about. Your Tweets and blogs share glimpses into your life and who you really are with an honesty that I admire- a lot. Your post today is no exception but a perfect example of that.
You deserve every bit of success that comes to you (you've worked for it!) and I will always be among those standing by to cheer you on with every milestone you pass! hugs.
Hi Fiona, fantastic comment, I love it! If everyone could follow such a model then the internet would be a much more interesting place, I think. I personally left FB last year because I got sick of feeling more like a marketing tool than a real friend to the people who were friending me and you know what? Those who were real friends kept up with me even after I left FakeBook because they really cared. If people care, they'll find you, and I think the same is true of a writer's work. Love your comment, thank you!
Hi Larry,
ReplyDeleteI don't think it's necessarily a bad thing that the bug spray guy might have a book out (I mean, I'm a nearly blind, multiply disabled housefrau- but I could have a book out too and who knows it might be interesting to a few people here and there, like my blog! Maybe the bug spray guy can write!)
Seeing what is coming out of the big publishing houses these days,(and what isn't) I think that they have long since stopped being the yardstick by which anyone should measure artistic greatness (just my own opinion. I can't remember the last novel I bought that wasn't written by someone I know, or at least know of. Nonfiction, maybe. But not fiction...so the big houses lost me a long time ago as far as impressing me.)
I think the problem comes in not with the average joes/janes of the world writing, so much as with so many people marketing so much all the time, constantly. Like a television that plays only commercials, no actual programming.
I think in the end the responsibility lies with us, the reader/consumer- to shut off the channels- in this case the twitter feeds, FB friends, and blogs- that get too in our face. I am sadly beginning to include in that any circle of writers that perpetually market each other's work in a sort of 'you blog my book, I'll blog yours' never ending ring. Too many voices, too much noise- like the Borg from Star Trek. And I'm closing the channel, even if it hurts and is to blogs I have in the past enjoyed. Cause I just can't take the noise anymore.
Be it blogathons or blog tours or what have you-I'm just over them, entirely. I have to ration my limited eyesight. I will not spend it on endless advertising no matter how much I might like a particular blogger. I just can't afford to.
If enough people send the message that they've had enough of the hard sell, maybe things will chenge a little. Then again, maybe not, but at least I (and those who share my frustration) won't have to hear the never-ending salespitch.
Maybe then people will realize that other people talking about your book- genuinely and just because they love it- (which they WILL do if they love it) is the very best 'marketing' of all.
Thank you again to everyone for commenting, stopping by and new followers, I will do my best to stop by your blogs soon if they're linked to your profiles (my use of my eyesight is limited, I do what I can.)
I hope these replies made some sense forgive me if they didn't, I am under the weather today.
~bru
I agree with Ramona: stop saying that you are “nobody.” You are as much a “somebody” as any of the rest of us. You are a Child of God, and She loves you. Never forget that. (The rest of us think you’re pretty good, too.)
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