Too many authors on Goodreads?

[Patti (baconater)]

you're hoping for a cookie

[Will]

Got one already.

get off GR and enjoy your last greasy day.

[Patti (baconater)]

stopped for lunch. still have a full afternoon ahead

[Lynne (Tigger's Mum)]

I like the authors too, (creep creep toady toady)

[Marc]

there's a world of difference between authors who participate in the thread discussions about both writing and non-writing subjects and those who only ever appear to plug their stuff. They don't even bother to join in discussions on writing

[Stuart]

I certainly find Goodreads the most balanced site. There are so many interesting groups (including this one!) and I find it fascinating reading the reviews of books I've read or want to read. It's a wonderful reading world out there!

[Patti (baconater)]

Marc wrote: "there's a world of difference between authors who participate in the thread discussions about both writing and non-writing subjects and those who only ever appear to plug their stuff. They don't ev..."

Hear, hear!

[D.M.]

David wrote: "Speaking of footwear, these look like a really bad idea!

http://www.bbc.com/autos/story/201407..."

I'd be a disaster on wheels. Look out everyone, here I come.

[Jamie]

Afternoon all,
It's wildly difficult to find balance but I think this site is the best there is. I'm an author though I don't promote much, although when I do I always do so on Goodreads. But I've found good books on here and I do enjoy the banter. Plus, I've received really positive feedback, reviews and even editorial assistance (Many thanks again Kath) all from being on this site. Plus I like seeing how fellow authors are doing - Stuart Ayris being a good example.
I use Twitter, FB, and a host of other sites but as others have said so many are just the same folk hammering out their adverts. I don't read my own twitter feed so why would anyone read my adverts? But I do want to sell books. Again, tricky to find a new outlet.
I think the balance will be achieved by the authors themselves. I've found with this site, if you put a bit in, you get a bit back. Now I'm off to put some links to my new book on my author page!

[Rita]

Clever!

[Stuart]

Jamie wrote: "Afternoon all,
It's wildly difficult to find balance but I think this site is the best there is. I'm an author though I don't promote much, although when I do I always do so on Goodreads. But I've ..."

Thank you Jamie. It's taken me almost 45 years but finally I'm a good example. Hurrah!

[Bob]

I've been a much happier bunny since making the decision not to self-promote.

I'm not going to turn writing (something I love) into something I hate by trying to sell it. I have a day job for the bills - writing is my golf.

[S.]

Depending on the thread you are in..but mostly yes lots of authors..

[Kath]

I'm happy with lots of authors as long as they spend most of their time being people and just a little being authors.

[Andrew]

My forum promotion has always been a little half-hearted, but since I noticed that I sell more or less the same number of books (ahem, about 1 a week...) whether I do it or not, I've really dialled it down. I'm only on forums of personal interest now, and only when I have the free time (which is almost never). At the same time I've started investigating paid ads and more structured promotions.

Frankly, when I get a friend request on Goodreads, it's almost always an "author" who immediately spams me with recommendations (of their own books) as soon as I accept. That stuff makes my heart sink, and I'd hate to think of anyone feeling that way about me when they see my name on the site.

[Will]

And that's my dilemma. I hate being spammed myself, but how do I get people to know that my books exist without doing it myself?

Maybe Bob has the right idea. Treat it like golf, only without losing so many balls and with less garish trousers.

[Stuart]

Loved Bob's analogy. It's the only way to do it without driving (excuse the pun!) yourself mad. Literature, in whatever form, is there to be enjoyed whether you're on the reading end, the writing end or both. It should never be a source of angst. Agonising over sales is an understandable (I've been there!) but fruitless exercise. I wrote a blog post about it not long back entitled The Butterfly Winter Effect.

Butterfly Winter is one of the finest books I've ever read yet it's sold hardly any copies and has barely a review to its name. Yet the effect it had on me was and still is immense.

Goodreads is a site - as far as I can see - about the love of books. And, in this age of anger and speed and austerity, how good is that?

[Lynda]

Or even no trousers at all - I'm all for that. ;)

[Kath]

Good morning, Lynda. Is it a bit draughty round your end? Oh, I could have put that a bit better!

[Will]

It will be if she's playing golf-with-no-trousers.

[Marc]

Will wrote: "And that's my dilemma. I hate being spammed myself, but how do I get people to know that my books exist without doing it myself?

Maybe Bob has the right idea. Treat it like golf, only without losi..."

Problem with that is it makes writing a hobby or pastime, which it isn't for many.

[Marc]

And linked to that is how writers behave. A lot of what they do by spamming and intruding is unprofessional. Now while we may not be making any money to confer the status of professional upon us as writers, that still doesn't mean we shouldn't behave professionally with an eye to that time when we might actually earn the status. Very simple, if a writer behaves unprofessionally, would you want to deal with them & have a relationship? I wouldn't.

[Will]

Marc - how some writers behave. I hope!

[Will]

I can't help feeling that there has to be a better way. I don't know what it is, but I'm fairly certain this isn't it.

All we seem to have done is to transfer the slush pile from the editor's inbox to our own collective inboxes. And we can see what publishers and agents have been seeing for hundreds of years - that there is a huge range of quality from the very best to the huge number of not very well written.

Which is putting it mildly.

So how can we connect readers to books without having to do this awful pimping marketing stuff?

Or do we have to accept the pimping as the inevitable way that the game has to be played these days?

[S.]

Phewww..had just being chased off of a group in FB as I managed to slip in unnoticed and then I made the mistake of revealing my true..err profession..so looks like I have to hang out here and wait for the storm to blow over there..lol..

[S.]

talking about behaving..lol..

[Marc]

Is it not a badge of honour to be chased from FB?

[S.]

no, definitely not. luckily it was a member who wasnt singling me out but others..

[S.]

ways of conduct..

[Patti (baconater)]

How can one be chased from Facebook?