Give and Take

The Importance of Diplomacy

The New Radicals were right: you get what you give.

Recently, I ran across a Facebook post where the post author wanted to sell a product only through certain channels. I don't disregard the post author's right to sell their product when and where they like, but this person was rude to those who had questions about the choice. Probably not the best way to generate hype about yourself or your product.

Multitasking Scribbers

We authors wear many hats. There's the creative author hat, the critical editor hat, and the dreaded marketing hat. Most of us are introverts to some degree, and getting out there and talking to other people in order to sell our product (i.e. book) is tiring and anxiety-inducing. Unfortunately, this is the reality of being a modern-day author. We can't just sit on our laurels and expect others to know or care our books exist. That means switching out the introvert hat for one that plays well with others.

Feedback: Not Always Nice, But Maybe Helpful

Handling the public with sensitivity, kindness, and patience is important (and certainly a talent the world could benefit from in general). When a potential reader asks questions or poses concerns about your work, stop. That pause before replying is necessary. Put yourself in that reader's shoes. Whether or not they're right about your character being silly/rude/insertoffensehere is irrelevant. They believe they're right. Maybe they've only heard such things from a third party and are passing them on. Your job is not to argue, but to address the concern with patience and an eye toward improvement. I know it's hard. Your characters are your babies, and you don't want to see them maligned. But here's a hint:

They're not perfect.

Writing is an art, and like any art, it's a skill requiring constant refinement. You can always learn better methods. If someone approaches you with a concern about your story, your sales practices, or even your public persona as an author, listen. Listen to the customer and to your gut. Both have valuable insight.

Everybody’s a Critic

A friend once received a poor review on her book. Instead of throwing out the criticism (or throwing a tantrum in a public forum), she contacted the reviewer and mentioned she had revised and re-listed the book. Not only did my friend respond to the criticism in a constructive way, but she also gained a new fan who appreciated her responsive handling of the feedback.

You don’t have to agree with everything your reviewers/social media posters say (which is where your gut response comes in). If, however, multiple people are saying the same thing, they might have a point worth considering. Any review/interaction is hard to get. Why ignore them if you might benefit from them?

Give a Little to Take a Little

The most important thing you can do as an author is respond when someone makes an overture. Don’t be a brick wall when readers reach out to you. You can refuse to sell your product in certain forums, but if many potential buyers are expressing disappointment about that choice, weigh your options. Could you be missing a possible opportunity to improve your product or sales practices? Is the risk/benefit favorable or unfavorable? Whatever you decide, do so with professionalism. If you want someone to buy your book, the worst way to go about that is to be rude to people on social media. Even if those people weren’t going to buy it, the ones on the fence, who are reading those rude responses, are certainly lost customers.

Also important to note is the reciprocation of communication. If you just post an ad that says “Buy my book!” without first developing a rapport, you aren’t going to get very far. What else do you bring to the table before asking someone to plunk down their hard-earned money? Do you interact with that social media group before posting ads for your book? Get involved. Then ask for a purchase. Communication is, after all, a two-way street, and a potential reader will remember you better if you’ve chatted before about books you both love.

After all, the love of books is why we’re in this!