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jimhines has a post here about self-publishing, 'Part Whatever', and I've quoted the first of his five points because I wanted to expand on it here.1. Dear self-published authors: As a writer, I am not your target audience. I can’t count the number of times authors, mostly (but not always) self-published or PoD, have tried to hard-sell their books to me. Just don’t.
This is very true. I know it's hard to attempt to sell self-published fiction. I see more and more self-published authors manning tables in dealer's rooms at even small conventions (and also larger ones), and I am one of the people who assiduously avoid those areas of the dealer's room.
Why? Because I can't browse the way I would normally otherwise browse in a bookstore or similar venue (i.e. Larry & Sally's in the dealer's room). I can't pick up a book and put it back down if it doesn't strike or keep my interest; I can't read a page or two to get a feel for its contents.
If I attempt to do either of these things, I am immediately assaulted by the author assuring me that I will love this book, or that I must buy this book, etc., etc., and I am paralyzed with both revulsion and guilt.
Guilt because I don't want to insult your hard work and the labor of love that is obviously sitting on the table in front of you. I also write, and I do know that the casual cruelty of strangers is often painful. Because I can sometimes be sensitive (although it's best not to rely on it, especially if I am over-focused, when I have been known to walk into moving cars because I was thinking too intently on what was inside my mind), I feel that I am causing you this pain if I choose not to purchase your (usually expensive) paperback.
Revulsion because I have always loathed hard-sell; it's why I hate shopping for shoes. I want to be able to look around to see if things catch my attention; I want your help only if I ask for it. I'm capable of deciding for myself what suits my taste; this certainty doesn't materially change because you are pushing pushing pushing.
You will note that i have said nothing whatever about the quality of your work. This is because the quality of your work is entirely irrelevant to these two points.
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Date: 2010-09-07 10:41 pm (UTC)I also dislike the "buy a magazine subscription" promotion that is used as a fundraiser for schools. (I don't know if that's found in Canada, but it's very common here in the States.) If I want to buy a subscription, I'll buy one. I don't like being made to feel guilty when one of my kids asks me to buy something for their school. I'm more than happy to donate time and other things --hell, I'll even write a check as a donation-- but I don't like having things pushed on me for a supposedly noble reason.
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Date: 2010-09-08 12:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-08 12:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-08 12:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-08 01:36 am (UTC)Those almost cross over into scam territory for me, because the people who make the chocolates, which aren't ever very good, make a lot more money than the kids who are selling them to people who feel obligated to buy; they're making good money on these charity chocolates; it's not an act of any kindness whatsoever on their part.
Although it's true I don't know how much money the kids make from the magazine subs for their school, either.
no subject
Date: 2010-09-08 09:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-09-08 09:39 pm (UTC)