Pimpin' Ain't Easy…

If you'll jog over to the lovely Julie Lindsey's blog, Musings From The Slush Pile, you'll find a post about how readers don't always want to friend authors on GoodReads because they're afraid they're going to get spammed about buying/reading/reviewing books.

This is a pretty legitimate fear, honestly. I'm so afraid of being that guy, that I probably don't self-promote enough on Twitter and Facebook. Or GoodReads, for that matter, because I mainly prefer to use it as a reader with the added benefit of other readers being able to find me as an author easily should they like.

I'm friends with a lot of writers and authors (don't ask what my pedantic difference is) on Twitter and, I have to admit, I get really tired of seeing all the book ads. Even from, maybe especially from, the authors I like, whether I like them as authors, friends, or, better yet, both.

Honestly, I probably undersell myself a lot because I'm afraid of becoming that tweeter. I link blog posts, but usually only twice the day it comes out. Maybe twice one more day if I think it's really solid work. I always heavily link my books or stories when they come out, but only for a week or two at the max. I do the same, albeit probably closer to the one week than the fortnight, for friends' and co-workers' books and stories. But that's about it.

So the answer here is...I don't know. I know social media is huge for indie authors and publishers, of which I am both. I also know that if others have managed to annoy me with their spammy behavior, then I would annoy many, many others with similar behavior. I think more frequent reminders and talking about my works at the blog (which then gets tweeted and facebooked) is entirely appropriate. But that's usually more about works forthcoming than works available now.

I guess I'll continue to do what I am doing, which is err on the side of not endlessly promoting myself. I'd rather dazzle someone with my humor and wit via Twitter or Facebook rather than tell them the title of my book. That way, when I do periodically tweet and post about something I've written that I think is pretty great, they might be more likely to believe me.

There's a pretty robust conversation going on at Julie's blog, so comment there or here. Tell me what you guys think! Let your voices be heard!

PS: Julie will have a guest post here on Thursday, so if you like what you see at her own blog, there'll be more here for you in a couple days!