to keep my head down and just WRITE most of the time. I do a little bit of promo and belong to more than my fair share of loops but I don't BRAG. I don't shoot off my mouth and I tend to keep things in my little world fairly quiet. I mean, who needs the drama?I'm not naive enough to think we join loops just for fun. We're there, for the most part, to promote our work. There's not a thing wrong with quietly announcing that a recent release has gotten a good review or that you've received a new cover or contract. Perfectly acceptable. But if I ever happy dance or squeeeeeee...please shoot me and put me out of everyone's misery. Reading post after post of raving, wild bouts of celebration is like hearing someone rip a styrofoam cup to pieces. Nails on a chalk board? Same thing. It crosses the borders of good taste and dives straight into getting yourself labeled a braggart. Now, I don't know about you guys, but that was one of the things I was taught never to do.
A perfect example of a writer's bragging biting her on the ass came to my attention yesterday. She bragge
d to the owner of a popular writers' blog about her work, her new publisher who was going to put everyone else to shame, and how she was now an editor for said publisher. What did this bout of diarrhea of the mouth gain her? A review from the recipient of this shameless bragging. Her book, complete with excerpts, was totally trashed in a public forum. Last time I checked there were somewhere around 350 comments about how pitiful this book was and how HUGELY untalented was the author. They laughed. They jeered.Let me saw straight out that I don't care for blogs that bash people. I really don't and we don't do that here at Three Wicked Writers but this thing was like watching a train wreck. You know you shouldn't watch but are helpless to do otherwise. I feel sorry for this woman. No one wants to be made a public laughingstock. Guess the moral of the story is...don't behave like you are a legend in your time because nine times out of ten, you are only a legend in your own mind.
Sometimes Karma is a bitch!
18 comments:
So right, Regina! Bragging about how GREAT you are is bound to come around and bite you in the ass!
Yep. I try to never go off the deep end and do it. Sometimes, when something really great happens, I WANT to but fortunately I always restrain myself.
Yeah, not such a good thing to brag like that. LOL.
Regina, I'm as far from braggy as it gets. In fact, half the time I'm afraid to promote because I fear talking up my books and sounding braggish, or having someone say how much they hated my book...LOL I'm SO glad I'm not alone. Many of my writer friends tell me I'm silly (which I probably am *G*), but I have a really hard time with self-promotion.
Saw that review. Have been told she's selling mad numbers. Perhaps the review will harm her down the road, for now it will make quite a payday.
Still had to sting though.
Great post Regina! I'm too shy to brag about my own stuff, but I don't mind letting others know when I've found a great author, but even that makes me a little hesitant. I try to err on the side of restraint.
Actually Mia, I found this little tidbit while visiting YOUR blog. Funny. Maybe she'll start a new trend. Write something ghastly and make a fortune as comic relief. Hell, I don't know. The author better enjoy it while it lasts.
Completely WITH you Emma and Donna. Promoting myself makes me so uncomfortable. I've always kind of rolled my eyes at braggarts and swore I'd never behave like that. Maybe it's a very fine line. Still trying to work it out. So I'll announce a release or new contact in very low keyed terms. Maybe post an excerpt and just let people judge for themselves whether it sounds interesting or not.
We've ALL seen authors who monopolize every loop daily with their BIG NEWS and I normally delete without reading. There IS such a thing as too much promo.
I'm aware. The blog link circled my inbox several times. I admit to reading and chuckling. Admit also not commenting on blog to perpetuate the comments. Perhaps posting was ill-advised.
As to bragging, have posted to publisher loop regarding new mail. I see no issue with that as we are all in the business to publish. Agree that excessive posting gets tired.
I hope I am not listed among braggerts for the purpose of promotion. If so, will have to reconsider methods as that is not my intention. I'm bold but not mean or intentionally hurtful. Trust you will tell me if so?
Regarding self-promotion. I've been on chats with you, Regina. You do very well and I see you as a class act. Friendly, encouraging, and cheerful.
As a third-party observer, if you wondered how you were viewed, I'd say: viewed as an imitable example.
Thanks Mia! That's very nice of you to say. I do chats rarely but always in groups. I'm just more comfortable with that. Supporting other authors is just as important as promoting your own work because I've always believed that what helps one of us helps all of us.
And NO. You have a new release and that's the perfect time to get the word out. I certainly do the same during a release week. I still feel kind of funny about it but it's important to promote. I mean, who else is gonna do it? Always though, I worry about overdoing it. It's a fine fine line, I think.
Rita,
You are so not shameless!
I too hate promotion. I always feel like I'm bragging, which is a trait that I cannot stand. I was married to someone like that for way too long, so finding a happy medium is what I'm searching for.
Great blog and as for that author, even if she's selling a ton of books, people are still making fun of her and won't buy her again, I don't know, that doesn't seem worthh it to me at all. Career ending is more like it.
--it's important to promote. I mean, who else is gonna do it--
I have been told so often that I have to go out and promote my books, that they won't sell if I hide and hide them with me. Promotion is good. Reminder is good. I appreciate when you remind us you are blogging. Distracted as I am, I would forget to check without reminder. I appreciate when you attract my attention on a review. There are so many good authors around us that bragging is ridiculous.
I know what you mean, Taylor. I swear. That poor author. Wouldn't you just hate to know people were laughing at you???
That leads me to say...thank GOD for critique partners and friends who will tell you the truth. Wouldn't it be just awful to put something out there that was soooo bad everyone laughed?
You're right, Mona. Promotion is just a neccesary evil. Put it out there then leave it alone. That's the way I tend to do it. I DO have a problem posting my reviews for some reason. Don't know why exactly but I find it embarrassing to mention. Anyone else like that? I know I have to 'get over it' though. sigh.
Thanx Regina. I appreciate the confirmation. Always good to have second set of eyes when in doubt. Checks and Balances if you will. Had posted letters in same email to avoid over posting.
You never know when you are going to
fall, (fail?) so as far as I can see it's best to limit the self back patting. No one likes to hear it.
Actually I feel sorry for her, maybe she's clueless?
I am such a sap.
Myself, Donna. I like silly.
All I gotta wonder is, at this point:
Where is the blog?
and
Was it ME? OMG. I USED to be an editor at my first publisher, but then they knocked me down to proofer, but this sounds like something drunken-me would do...though I haven't heard of any bad reviews on my book, and haven't been selling "mad numbers" as far as I know.
Where is the blog, can you tell me? Maybe I can judge whether I should ever open my mouth, or if it's already too late.
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