THE OBSOLETE LIST?

[Douglas]

Welcome Jason! You are on the list!

[Jason]

Got everybody on the list through Lolita. Will get the rest tonight.

[Douglas]

Thanks Jason!

I know doing the list can seem a daunting task, but it's a very powerful thing when you help others. I get the impression that a lot of people doing this get a bigger kick out of that than watching their own numbers go up. I know I do. :)

[Damon]

To Self-Published Authors

I have met people who are energized by their own genuine enthusiasms here on Goodreads, as well as in other online communities. I have a deep sense of gratitude and thankfulness for the correspondence that has been established between us, and still continues. But in terms of Goodreads, a community now having reached ten million members if I have read correctly, there is an even larger confusion of purpose.

Being an indie author is not cute. Nor is it clever or respectable. It is not enough to think an idea followed through to a bound book makes one a serious writer. In reality, to be an indie author is to be prepared to wallow in not only the malaise and self-doubt that comes with authorship, but the general belief in your uselessness and irrelevance from the publishing world, which includes readers. Ever hear the phrase “If you can’t do, coach?” It’s unfair but no different. Ever hear “No one wanted to publish your work, so you published it yourself?”

I am an indie author, but I wish to rescind the label. And I know, above all and before anything else, I am looked down on because I put money and effort into producing my debut novel. Perhaps I’ve earned a modicum of respect for the financial and temporal sacrifice, which is in its own right a generosity of spirit from people as frustrated as myself, people who could easily have not offered that. And I knew this ahead of time. I knew it would be a gamble, of perception, reception and reward. But I did it because of my understanding of two things:

1. I believe in the relevance and importance of my novel.
2. With the evolution of the publishing industry, I recognized the level of difficulty in convincing an agent or editor to consider a debut novelist who can not guarantee a return on initial investment, as well as a marketing plan that is to be handled mostly by the author. Most good books...hell...most amazing books, spend their time in slush piles before seeing the light of day. I understand established writers and their contention when it comes to self-published authors perverting the system. (And it should not be a system. But because it’s become a system, a tacky machine of superfluous words, the indie authors’ negative reactions to being shoved off in to the margins as not being “true writers” are NOT valid. So prove yourself!)

But just don’t try to prove yourself by engaging in some factory of Likes, Tags and Reviews being exchanged for those who don’t even read your writing. Recently, I commented on a thread here in Goodreads about kindness, humility and gratitude. Someone responded, adding to the end of his/her comment that he/she wasn’t promoting his/her own work before doing it a few hours later in the same thread. And what has pushed me toward this conversation is that today, when corresponding with a show host for books and authors in Canada, the host told me he’d be interested in my book, but mostly he feels self-publishing is a hustle. A hustle. And he isn’t wrong, especially when I see something like what I saw last night on Goodreads: a “writer” was actually asking for help with plot lines for the book. And people were lining up to share their two cents.

Pathetic.

And so, we are not writers here. We are salespersons. And I see fully, now, what is wrong with self-publishing. I am proud of my book, inside and out, and pleased with the company I’ve paid to produce it with me. Not for me. But I am also completely satisfied with one person a month falling in love with my story, indefinitely, rather than one hundred thousand readers “liking” it temporarily just so I will follow their blog.

Wrong.

[Douglas]

Welcome Damon! Soooooo, you don't want to be on the list? Sorry, I've been up all night and I'm too tired to muddle through the whole spiel- maybe after some sleep. I wish you well my friend. :)

[Michael]

Natasha - your links appear to be broken.

[Paulette]

Natasha wrote: "Dear All,

I stemmed my book from a life-changing car accident which brought me on a path of 'Awareness'. "Over the years, I have tried various methods of alternative healing, read books on positiv..."

Hi Natasha, I just liked your book and also put down two tags, "inspirational" and "awareness". I wasn't able to get into the UK site to like it but noticed there are no tags there either. The tags help readers search for books to read and it be really good for you to add more that would suit you inspirational read to get you some viewers and sales. To find where to tag scroll down on your amazon page beyond reviews and other ads and you'll see a tag place.

Good luck with you book, which sounds like a wonderful read. Here are my links for a click, and thanks.
http://www.amazon.com/Paulette-Mahuri...

http://www.amazon.com/Persecution-Mil...

http://www.amazon.com/The-Persecution...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Persecution-M...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Persecuti...

[Michael]

Tagged and liked - you need some tags for the paperback version.

[Douglas]

Hi Natasha and welcome! Gotcha liked/tagged, except I didn't see any tags for the UK link. Of course, I also added you to the list!

[Jason]

Catching up on the new guys...

[Grant]

Hi Natasha,

I liked and tagged your book. But I didn't see any tags on the UK site. Also, you can add up to 15 tags. The more you have, the more chances a reader has to find you. Here are my links:


http://www.amazon.com/Fantastic-Revel...
http://www.amazon.com/Silver-Earth-Se...
http://www.amazon.com/Deacon-Leeds-Py...

Thanks :)

[Jason]

Hi Doug,

I'd like to add my Amazon author's page to the list, if possible.

http://www.amazon.com/Jason-Parent/e/...

Thanks, and got you Natasha.

[Douglas]

Got it added Jason!

[Sherrie]

Just published my second novel, y1, at amazon.com. (whew)
Could I please get it added to the list as well?

http://www.amazon.com/y1-ebook/dp/B00...

Meanwhile I'll go back and get all you new folks liked......

[Douglas]

Gotcha Sherrie, congratulations!

[Michael]

I've done your new book Sherrie. You've probably already done mine, but if not I'm Michael B in the mega list.

[Joe]

Hi Douglas,

here my updated list:

My Books:
http://amzn.com/B007TJGJMS
http://amzn.com/1479130648
http://amzn.com/B008T4TAAA
http://amzn.com/1478354984

Author Pages:
http://amzn.com/e/B007WQDPL6
http://amzn.com/e/B008T8WXZU

Thank you! Will return the favor!

[John]

Hey Douglas, Great Idea! New author and learning the ropes. If you can add my book to 'The List' I would greatly appreciate it! And now off to learn and tag you guys...

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008GNDZ64/

The tags already present are fine to use

[Douglas]

Gotcha John, liked/tagged and added to the list!

Got your additional links Joe, liked/tagged and added!

:)

[Michael]

Liked and tagged you John. My links are MichaelB in the list. Thanks.

[K.M.]

Hi, am new to all this so not sure how to tag, but I will like all your pages, please could you like my book to its www.amazon.com/tearsofthefallen.

[Grant]

John wrote: "Hey Douglas, Great Idea! New author and learning the ropes. If you can add my book to 'The List' I would greatly appreciate it! And now off to learn and tag you guys..."

Hi John,

I liked and tagged your book! Here are my links:


http://www.amazon.com/Fantastic-Revel...
http://www.amazon.com/Silver-Earth-Se...
http://www.amazon.com/Deacon-Leeds-Py...

Thanks :)

[Michael]

Kelly wrote: "Hi, am new to all this so not sure how to tag, but I will like all your pages, please could you like my book to its www.amazon.com/tearsofthefallen."

Your link appears to be broken?

[K.M.]

http://www.amazon.com/Tears-fallen-K-...
hi, michael does that help

[K.M.]

hi everyone could you like and tag my book please, i will do the same for you
http://www.amazon.com/Tears-fallen-K-...

[Douglas]

Gotcha liked and added to the list Kelly!

[Michael]

Kelly wrote: "http://www.amazon.com/Tears-fallen-K-...
hi, michael does that help"

Yes, that works. Liked, but you don't appear to have any tags?

[Barbie]

Please add my book to the list: http://www.amazon.com/Portrait-of-Our...
I will agree to like & tag others! I'm new to all of this :)

[Jose]

Here's my debut book thanks.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1479...

[Michael]

I've liked your books Barbie and Jose.

Jose you need to add some tags to your book.

I've copied my links below:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008O7ZVXW
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008O7ZVXW

[Grant]

Barbie wrote: "Please add my book to the list: http://www.amazon.com/Portrait-of-Our...
I will agree to like & tag others! I'm new to all of this :)"

Hi Barbie,

I liked and tagged your book. Here are my links:


http://www.amazon.com/Fantastic-Revel...
http://www.amazon.com/Silver-Earth-Se...
http://www.amazon.com/Deacon-Leeds-Py...

Thanks :)

[Grant]

Jose wrote: "Here's my debut book thanks.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1479..."

Hi Jose,

I liked the paperback and hardcover versions of your book but I didn't see any tags yet. If you scroll down you'll see a section where you can add terms that describe your book: sci-fi, space travel, fantasy, etc. Once you add (up to 15) let us know so we can agree with them.

Here are my links:


http://www.amazon.com/Fantastic-Revel...
http://www.amazon.com/Silver-Earth-Se...
http://www.amazon.com/Deacon-Leeds-Py...

Thanks and good luck :)

[Elaine]

Douglas,

Can you please add mine to the list.

http://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Summer-e...
http://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Summer-V...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Atomic-Summer...

I am all caught up with everyone on the list but I couldn't tag Jose's since he didn't have any tags yet.

Thanks, Elaine

[Michael]

I've liked and tagged your books Elaine.

[Paulette]

Elaine wrote: "Douglas,

Can you please add mine to the list.

http://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Summer-e...
http://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Summer-V...-..."
Hi Elaine, Just did all of yours. I had only done one from before but just did all your links. Can you do mine if you haven't already? Tks.
http://www.amazon.com/Paulette-Mahuri...

http://www.amazon.com/Persecution-Mil...

http://www.amazon.com/The-Persecution...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Persecution-M...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Persecuti...

[Ray]

Hi Douglas, I would love to be on The List. I will go through it now to get everyone who I've missed from the other threads!

My 3 books are:
1) The Reborn
2) Of Mice and Hitmen
3) The Spiritual Singularity

Thanks, Douglas, for such a fantastic list!

[Ray]

Whew -- done. Got through the entire list! It took just under half an hour and some fast clicking!

Also: do you add new people to the top or the bottom?

[Danni]

Thanks for the list. I'm working my way through it and would like to be added to the updates when you have a chance.

Thanks so much.

http://www.amazon.com/Masters-Unspeak...

[Barbie]

Danni wrote: "Thanks for the list. I'm working my way through it and would like to be added to the updates when you have a chance.

Thanks so much.

http://www.amazon.com/Masters-Unspeak......"

Liked your book 1 and your author page 1. I couldn't find any tags to tag. Mine are http://www.amazon.com/Portrait-of-Our...
http://www.amazon.com/Martha-Emms/e/B...
Have a great day! Could you please especially tag these 2 -' husband addicted porn' and 'real life romance' under See All 12 tags... in tag area
Thank you, Barbie (Martha Emms)

[Graham]

I have tagged and liked -

Danni
Elaine
Barbie
Jose

Can you please do the same for mine -

http://www.amazon.com/Way-Out-But-Thr...
http://www.amazon.com/Graham-Aitchiso...

Many thanks.

[Barbie]

Graham wrote: "I have tagged and liked -

Danni
Elaine
Barbie
Jose

Can you please do the same for mine -


http://www.amazon.com/Way-Out-But-Thr...
http://www.amazon.com/Graham-Aitchiso......"\

Graham I did yours yesterday!

[Graham]

Ah, very good. Many thanks :)

[K.M.]

hi everyone, just gone through the list and liked and tagged, please could you do the same for me.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tears-of-the-...

[Michael]

I've liked yours Kelly, you need to add some tags.

My links are:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008O7ZVXW
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008O7ZVXW

[K.M.]

i did put some tags up but they dont seem to sure up for some reason, ok i do yours now

[Scott]

Hi yes can you put me on this list
Thank you Scott

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1478352051/r...
http://www.amazon.com/Colorado-Alaska...


Douglas wrote: "I thought I would post the list of authors that want their books and author pages liked and tagged here so it no longer monopolizes other discussions as it is rather long.

If you would like to be ..."

[Danni]

Thanks all. I've tagged the following folks this morning
Imagine
David
Neil
Lori
Ellen
Danielle
Anthea
JR
Bob
Joanna
Grant
Mia
Griffin
Kim
Graham
Lolita
Ruby
Marie
Alex
Paul
Douglass
Michael
and I'm working my way through so thanks and I'll be tagging the rest shortly.

[Barbie]

Scott wrote: "Hi yes can you put me on this list
Thank you Scott

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1478352051/r...
http://www.amazon.com/Colorado-Alaska...


Douglas wrote: "I thought I would post the list of authors t..."

Scott I Liked 3 and tagged all of them. I didn't see an author page. Mine are http://www.amazon.com/Portrait-of-Our...
http://www.amazon.com/Martha-Emms/e/B...
Have a great day! Could you please especially tag these 2 -' husband addicted porn' and 'real life romance' under See All 12 tags... in tag area
Thank you, Barbie (Martha Emms)

[Scott]

OK done Barbie.
Barbie wrote: "Scott wrote: "Hi yes can you put me on this list
Thank you Scott

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1478352051/r...
http://www.amazon.com/Colorado-Alaska...


Douglas wrote: "I thought I would post the lis..."

[Douglas]

Scott, your second link seems to be broken.