Sunday 10 July 2011

Oi, indie author, can I have a word, please?

Okay, now that you're here I have a bone to pick with you. Take a seat and listen.


You see, I do love you and I do want to support you and I certainly don't mind to connect with you, or have fun on the forum, twitter or facebook with you, but, and you knew there's going to be a but, didn't you? Yes, there's a big but and I will soon shed some light over the but to make it look a bit more like a but. Well, what I want to say is that although I understand your need to promote your book, to shout it from the roof tops, through a megaphone, even amplified if needed, and I know that you're proud of it, and so glad it's available for others to order and read, to scribble notes, to dog-ear, to bend, to keep it for themselves or rave about it to others, yes, I'm sure you've considered all those options already, what I finally want to say is that I cannot and will not understand why you would come onto my threads where I plug my book, shout from roof tops, in hope it's going to be heard by readers, so that their interest is piqued and they feel like they want to click the link I've provided in order to read more, download a sample, perhaps the whole book, to read it, to enjoy it, to dog-ear it, to laugh, to cry, to recommend; I wonder why you would come onto my thread to tell me, proud like a child who did its first drawing, showing it to its mother, that you have 'liked' my book on amazon, which leaves me with the feeling I have to return a favour, which, quite frankly, I don't want to return, not out of cruelness, but out of principle, because, if I'm honest, to me, it sounds a little desperate, especially, and I mean this in all honesty, when you whack a hint as heavy as a concrete pole over my head, and by that I mean you (un)subtly let me know that you're going to check out my humble writings, which, as you will understand, I certainly very much appreciate, even be thankful for, if it wasn't for the fact that, whilst letting me know, you're leaving a big fat link to your own work, which, of course, you expect me to look at, on my thread to plug my book, to plug your own book, uninvited. You see, I find this rather off-putting and, by doing what you're doing, please see, I feel I need to make you aware of it, you will most likely achieve quite the contrary. I, for once, am against swap buying, as well as review exchange, plus, and that's the most important reason, I am, and I'm sure so are you, able to click on names on threads and when you, being just yourself, having a good conversation with me, on the forum, twitter or facebook and you write in a genre I like, you will most likely be surprised that suddenly, there will be a new review for your book, that is, if I like what I read.


That's all I had to say, you're now free to leave and write a thousand times: I will not plug my book on Stella's threads again.

:-)

16 comments:

  1. I swear to kami I will NEVER plug my book on your threads . . . now put DOWN the butter knife and stop looking at me like that!

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  2. But...but.,..I've just released the definitie guide to How To Step On Threads To Sell A million Ebooks, with bonus chapter on auto-tweeting to develop stronger interpersonal connections and a free analytical examination of how you can maximize your social media without being social at all, using only a simple computer program. PLUS for a limited time, how to identify indie author threads from a safe distance... And it's only $19.99, which I am sure you will agree will pay for itself in the time you would have save developing real relationships!
    And the link is http://sellyoursoul.com

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  3. LOL you two crack me up.

    Sessha, you know me and knives recently. It's just a chocolate knife :-) And I also know you would never plug your book on my thread, but I would always help you to plug yours. xx

    Scott: Hilarious! lolol I don't mean to be mean, I just thought I'll quickly get this off my chest. I support and help wherever I can and people who know me know that, too. It's just this: go on, I bought your book, now buy mine. I don't respond well to that. I buy what I want and not because someone guilt-trips me into something.

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  4. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA Can't decide what's made me laugh more, the post or the comments!! SO TRUE!!!

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  5. Equally bad, in my opinion, are the authors using twitter (and other social media) to auto announce their book on the hour every hour.

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  6. Lee, that's something I sort of do. Not auto announcing, but I tweet regularly. But I won't tweet @leecarlon telling you to buy my book. I can ignore those who reguarly tweet if I'm not interested, but on MY thread on amazon? That's just rude.
    We indie authors have to get our words out and that's all fine, but I do see where it could get to you.

    Anne: well, I guess it's all a pretty funny matter, sort of. ;-)

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  7. Amen.

    But worse? Bunch of authors on kindleboards vowing to Like each others' books on Amazon. I agree to participate, spent 40 minutes liking everybody's books on Amazon. 8 friggin' pages worth! Not one of returned the favor.

    Good times...

    OK, not actually worse than your issue, stellar Stella, but equally infuriating. I heard the Amazon forum is in a downward spiral of doooooom.

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  8. Hey, Mr Canada

    You see, Steve, I've participated on liking and tagging on a forum once, fact is: who cares about 'likes'? I don't, honestly. I tag books and I will even tell the author since tagging is important. When I go to a book page, I look for reviews and blurb.
    I'm sorry you have made such an experience.

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  9. Hey Stella,

    I think tweeting about your book is fine, when it's mixed in with other tweets. The ones I don't like are authors who send a variation of the same 'buy my book' message every couple of hour, send you a welcome DM that reads pretty much the same way, and never post anything else.

    I understand it's hard to get the message out (I'm going to be facing the same problem in the next week or two) but I can't imagine the above tactic works.

    Lee

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  10. Lee, I totally agree. I often follow people on #ff days and shortly get a message saying 'thanks for the follow please take a look at my blog.

    I unfollow those people immediately and delete the message, it has the opposite effect on me. How about you prove me first that you want to connect and interact with people? Or on facebook, 'don't forget to 'like' my page. I can't stand it at all and it leaves a sour taste in my mouth. Message, deleted and I'll probably unfriend you, too.

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  11. Re: Amazon Like

    It don't make no difference to me, having a ton of Likes, but it apparently weighs in the Amazon algorithm and helps your book's visibility, like tags.

    Uh-oh. I fear I may be a twitter DM sinner then ;-) I don't see the harm if you use the "thanks for the follow please take a look at my blog" ONLY ONCE. I see it as a business card, given at introductions.

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  12. I didn't know about the effect a 'like' might have. Hm.. oh well.

    Maybe others aren't as annoyed about it, Steve, but I hate those messages. I follow you for a reason; either someone recommended you, or I found your tweets interesting. And if you have a link in your bio, I'm happy.

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  13. Well, since I can't interrupt your threads without permission, can you start one about how wonderful my blog is? :) (If it's not wonderful, just direct message me with suggestions.) The site is www.workingmomadventures.com, but you know that. :) How about that for a hint as large as a telephone pole?

    Nancy

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  14. Hi, Nancy. Grins

    Of course your blog is wonderful and it has so many dogs on it, I got dizzy :-)

    People, if you can, stop by her blog and say hello. She's also really lovely. I promise.

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  15. And this is why people love you! :)
    Jenni

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  16. I think the ones who've met me in real life will picture me, standing before that couch, index finger wiggling and telling the person off. lol

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