Authors Promoting Your Books Take Note!

[Nick, Founder (In Absentia)]

I am not trying to squelch authors from coming here and promoting themselves, but please do so in the correct place. I have went through about five pages in the Introduce Yourself post and removed any author who just posted an ad for their book (I kept those who actually introduced themselves and didn't just post an ad). I also, politely, moved any ads from the Member's Chat to the Goodread Author's folder. From this point on I will probably just delete it.

You may ask why. Well, you are doing nothing but irking your potential audience by not following the rules. I have several emails in my box about it, and many hate digging through "ad posts" to find discussions. If it continues I may just ban the practice fully. I'd hate to do that because I love authors and want to promote them. Not like this however.

I will also be hopefully having a Goodread Authors months (one for scifi and one for fantasy) later in the year. I need to get with Brad and Cindy and ask them about it first. I've been only on here rarely lately (no job, searching for job, etc.) and a bit behind.

[Pat]

Good luck with the job, always a worrying time.

[Cathy]

Thanks, Nick! You're right, the policy benefits readers and authors alike. Thanks for taking the time to enforce it. And good luck on the job hunt! If a big group recommendation will help, just let us know :)

[John]

Well put, Nick.

[CV]

Thank you. The shill posts are annoying.

[John]

Are snake oil pitches ok?

Kidding! I'm kidding ... but seriously, are they? Newman's Own Snake Oil cures everything from Aggravated Orc Bite to Zombie Trench Foot ... ;^)

Nick, all the best on the job front. Tough times.

[Robert]

Definitely need to make certain authors don't abuse this. I had a huge problem with it in the old MySpace fantasy group. Guys and gals -- please respect the wonderful forum Nick put together.

[Grey]

If you like __, you'll just love my book...

Just kidding! Thanks for posting this.

[Todd]

Thanks for doing that. I'm all for fresh talent getting their books published, but all those posts of self-serving people plugging their books was really getting annoying.

[Patrick]

Sorry you had to look for work. I remember stressing out at pretending like I am an expert and pretending to be nice to people at whatever job opening they have available.

[T.L.]

I like it...

[Rachel]

As a reader and a writer, please, I would love for all authors to obey the rules of all the forums they participate in. Pretty please? Otherwise you spoil it for the rest of us as people assume all authors are just on GR to promote their books... when actually this is the best thing that ever happened to me as a reader (after, you know, learning to read....)

[Bill]

I do enjoy when authors participates in on-going discussions of their works without actually promoting. It adds another dimension to my reading and discussing. Janny Wurts is my favorite example of this.

But, I do not like all the self promotion I see on GR.

[S.]

It might help if someone fixes the group home page. Currently it says this;

PLEASE NOTE: From now on I will delete any post from an author wanting to promote their book that's not in the appropriate place. I made an entire folder for it!

Are you a GoodReads Author of SciFi or Fantasy? Want us to discuss your book? If so suggest it here:

New here? Introduce yourself here!

This is confusing for two reasons; first, there is no intuitive understanding of the word 'folder' (does it mean menu option? where are the folders?) Perhaps it would be better to identify it as a discussion topic or thread.

Second, and more importantly, there is no link after 'suggest it here:' - the next link takes authors to the introduction thread. It certainly confused me when I wanted to post details about my book.

[[deleted user]]

Kernos wrote: "I do enjoy when authors participates in on-going discussions of their works without actually promoting. It adds another dimension to my reading and discussing. Janny Wurts is my favor..."

Hello - I agree with you entirely but believe that is incredibly difficult to do without them being accused of promoting their work? I saw one thread on another group where the author was criticised for mentioning his own book even though it seemed to me it wasn't a hard sell. I'm told he left the group afterwards, which is a shame, though I'd question his reasons for doing that/being there in that case?
My point was; when is it acceptable for an author to talk about his book on here? I'd have been interested in that author's perspective as I'd just finished his book. Thankyou

[Marc]

Dex wrote: "I saw one thread on another group where the author was criticised for mentioning his own book even though it seemed to me it wasn't a hard sell. I'm told he left the group afterwards, which is a shame, though I'd question his reasons for doing that/being there in that case."

No need to question. When you get criticised like that it can severely reduce your desire to participate. I've never left a group over this but I can see where this other person's feelings would be hurt. If his book applied to, or was an example of, the topic at hand why shouldn't he have been allowed to mention it?

[[deleted user]]

Thanks Marc - I actually felt that way but didn't want to upset anyone being new and all. I can see how it would be upsetting but surely you have to be thicker skinned in the writing business? After all, bad reviews and disappointments are part of the territory aren't they?

[Marc]

Sure, but there's a difference between being told that someone read your book and didn't like it, and someone saying you're not allowed to talk about it because it's your own book.

[Chad]

I'd personally really hate to see authors banned from promoting their work here (on Goodreads). I mean, with the growing trend of authors self publishing, doing without the advertising engines of the big publishers, how else can they hope to be successful than by finding groups of people who love to read and putting themselves out there? Especially if they are new authors and no one has heard of them otherwise? I mean, I love that some established authors like Janny Wurts are participating, but I appreciate as well, those that are just trying to make a start. Also, I guess I've only seen a couple that I thought were being obnoxious and I generally feel they're just a bit worried that they won't be read.

[Maggie]

As a reader, I cant tell you how annoying it is to have authors promote their books unsolicited. All of us have had authors trying to friend us out of the blue, or noticed authors with fake accounts pushing a 'friends' book, or just spamming themselves on inappropriate posts.


There are a lot of writers in this site, and many of them participate and join in on reads and so on. I can say that most readers appreciate their input, as they are not obnoxious about promoting their books. Unfortunately, the people who are obnoxious ruin it for the writers that are being respectful.

I definitely like the fact authors come on GR, and would never want them banned. GR is a great vehicle for them.

PS:There are some articles around about what not to do as a writer

[Marc]

Maggie wrote: "As a reader, I cant tell you how annoying it is to have authors promote their books unsolicited. All of us have had authors trying to friend us out of the blue, or noticed authors with fake account..."

I don't do the spam attacks for my books. If people ask for recommendations I list several books that I think are as good as or better than mine, and tack mine onto the end of the list. I comment on threads quite often, and if the thread is about something that I have done in one of my books, I'll mention my books in that connection. I try to avoid saying the same thing too often by only talking about what is appropriate to the issue at hand, and I try to avoid saying it to people I've already said it to. But even that is too much for some people.

[[deleted user]]

I guess it's a balancing act and I can see both sides of this particular argument. On the one hand I really feel that authors need a vehicle to market their work as Chad says, but on the other I see how infuriating it can be to the reader trying to discern between genuine comments and spam.

[Rainy]

I would like to see GR add a signature option. Then (smart) authors can feel like they're getting their promo work done, but will be more inclined to post contributions to the topic more often and with less stress about "selling".

[Jon]

Rainy wrote: "I would like to see GR add a signature option. Then (smart) authors can feel like they're getting their promo work done, but will be more inclined to post contributions to the topic more often and ..."

Many GR groups have rules about authors NOT including or using promotional signatures, something I very much appreciate.

[Richard]

I think I may not understand, but if an author doesn't use his name isn't that being deceitful? If one of us terrors (authors) pretended to be a human being, wouldn't that be worse. Always a critic but never an author be.
Or does a promotional signature mean something else on this planet?

[TK]

So where do you post info about your website/book?

[[deleted user]]

There's a 'GoodReads Authors folder' where you can post a thread about your book.

[Jon]

I'd just like to say thank-you for giving us a place to showcase our books. Promotion is a delicate balance of garnering interest without turning off readers with blatant self-aggrandizing.

[Richard]

The main thing for GR is to keep some balance. Authors can be a right pain with their adverts, but we live in a world in which we all get used to seeing through adverts we don't like as though they didn't exist. As an author I understand well the desperation for publicity, a reward for hours and hours of work.
We all just need an occasional moment in the Sun, then we mostly disappear back into oblivion to try once again to write our perfect novel. Like with all adverts, when their is something one wants one loves them- that one day a year.
Let us not get like Library Thing has become, just a huge bashing authors club. Those who hate self-promoting authors should go there, you will love it. Sometimes, though, we do go to far, and then we deserve the delete. But especially new and naive authors should be given as much laxity as possible.

[Leonard]

Nick wrote: "I am not trying to squelch authors from coming here and promoting themselves, but please do so in the correct place. I have went through about five pages in the Introduce Yourself post and removed ..."

Good luck with the job hunt. I've been looking for full time employment for 2 years now.

[Karen]

What would be an appropriate thread for asking readers to give me their comments on a book cover I'm considering?

[[deleted user]]

You can still post in the Author's forum about that. :)

[Richard]

All the names should be taken off all the books on everyone's shelves immediately. Some of the titles need toning down as well. Disgusting publicity. In fact we should have no names on comments- so rude. No adverts for anything, anywhere. Bog of authors, you disgust me, trying to sell. Who the hell do you think you are?
Don't buy anything, ever, that is advertised- so common, so in one's face. BAN THEM, BAN THEM, BAN,Ban, yes BAN TALKING...

[Marc]

Richard wrote: "All the names should be taken off all the books on everyone's shelves immediately. Some of the titles need toning down as well. Disgusting publicity. In fact we should have no names on comments- so..."

Why Richard, one would almost think you didn't appreciate being ghettoized.

[[deleted user]]

Hey Richard...

In the entire time you've been in this group, you've posted 3 times.

Each of those times has been in this thread.

Each of those posts has been pretty bitchy.

Man up and join the group and interact, or find somewhere else to bitch.

[whimsicalmeerkat]

I don't know, Richard and his non-arguments being conducted with no one are rather amusing, bless his heart.

[Richard]

The wider the range of voices the better for me. As long as Richard is keeping his vitriol nicely contained to a single thread and not swamping the conversation, he serves well to remind us that we don't all think the same.

But Richard if you come across to another thread and disrespect one of my favourite books, well then watch out mate, I might have to engage with you and argue my side.

[T.]

Thank you for enforcing your guidelines, Nick. I dropped out of a Facebook group because instead of discussing the books or issues important to the science fiction/fantasy community it had turned into a Craig's List for people pimping their novels.

I don't always comment, but I really love reading the discussions here about what people enjoy and what they don't. I know how much work running a forum can be, so thanks for monitoring it!

Good luck on your job search.

[Helen]

Theresa!!! I was just going to say that. I am in a few groups (they've grown recently), one has always had an element of 'I'm an author', now two are going that way.

I don't respond to in my face ads by writer's and am getting pretty sick of seeing their titles and covers in messages or even their name tag.

I'm not disputing that some of these may be books I would love, that perhaps I would want to shout my book (I don't write) from every rafter but we're overloaded.

In two of my groups there is an author who is one of my buy on sight authors. You wouldn't know from her posts that she has published anything.

So yes, thanks alot mods.

[[deleted user]]

New to the group. I will try my best to follow your rules.

[Karen]

I'm a bit confused. Just where are we supposed to make promotion posts (specifically, alerting readers of a discount on Amazon)? Thanks for steering me where I should be!

[[deleted user]]

If you're looking to promote your own book, do so here: Author's Folder

If you're just posting about a sale on a book, use this thread: Sales

[Karen]

The Sales folder seems to be for ebooks only. It's my paperback that Amazon put on sale. Should I use the Author's Folder? Thanks!

Ala wrote: "If you're looking to promote your own book, do so here: Author's Folder

If you're just posting about a sale on a book, use this thread: Sales"

[Colin]

Denae wrote: "I don't know, Richard and his non-arguments being conducted with no one are rather amusing, bless his heart."

Quite a lesson in what not to do, but it did make me laugh. :-)

[[deleted user]]

Now I'm a GR Author too so I reckon I can weigh in on this one. I'm in a particular group on Gr and I'd been away for a few days. When I returned I noticed a new writer who had taken the opportunity to force feed everyone his book and blog by way of commenting back to welcome new comers. 'Hi Jo, you know you'd really enjoy my book'.

I actually called my husband over to look I was so astounded at his rudeness and persistence. But you know what I noticed? Hardly anyone replied to his comments. They avoided him. And to tell you the truth I avoided that group. It's a turn off.

I'm a bit of a bitch so I looked at the guy's profile. His page was covered with himself. All his comments in all his groups were the same. Seriously I'd run a mile if he came near me.

I love reading indie books. I seek them out. I find them, no need to shove them in my face. I take that attitude with my own work too. What's the desperation? I take pride in producing the best stories I can, then I send them out into the world. The rest is up to fate.

Sorry, bit of a rant. :) Georgina.

[Marjorie]

Thanks for this post, Nick. TBH I joined the group a month or two ago and never even read the rulez ((hangs head in shame)) but I also never even thought of being obnoxious and shamelessly shelf-promoting in fifteen different threads--especially not the Member Chat. Isn't that for chatting? Well, okay, I guess I can see how (as an author) chatting about one's book is like others chatting about their kids or their favorite TV shows or their favorite [whatever topic excites them].

Authors get exuberant about books they've written. They kind of lose their minds when it comes to good sense and not offending others with the incessant blabbing about it ((hi, Georgina, you know how I feel about incessant shelf-promoting))

And to be clear, I'm an Indie Author about to release my first book. I shall not even name it here :) but I shall go find the appropriate folder in which to promote it--once the damned editors finish with it already!! Argh I am soooo impatient.

Thanks for informing oblivious and obnoxious Authors that this is actually NOT acceptable behavior. Some of them really and truly just don't get how offensive they are--and they make a bad environment for the rest of us :-(

-Friday

[Marjorie]

Georgina wrote: "Hi Friday:)

I co-moderate a group on GR (actually two). "

Really? Which group(s)? Am I in either of them? (haha)

I especially don't like fly-by posters who just spam their book links. I wouldn't mind a fly-by so much if they also particpated at times (gee, can you tell that's what *I* do? It's a matter of not having time to come back rather than a lack of interest)

-Friday

[Brad]

I'm with you on all of your rant, Georgina.

[[deleted user]]

:) After all, are we writers or used car salesmen? The funny thing is that those that use GR solely to pitch their own books, are missing out on all the fun.

[Marjorie]

I learn new tips from other readers here by reading stuff myself and discussing reading stuff (not my own work) so yeah, if an author is just here to sell sell sell, they sure are wasting their time and our space ((ggg))